One resource that businesses need to start looking into, especially in this economy, is credit management.
Many business owners write a business plan and a marketing plan ..... but don't have a credit plan or credit policy & procedures. This causes them to take unfortunate credit risks and end up with customers who owe them money, aren't clear on payment terms, or aren't credit worthy.
My friend Michelle Dunn writes about this topic on her blog. Michelle's blog Credit and Collections is loaded with information to help a business limit their credit risk ..... while setting up realistic procedures that they can follow to successfully have good paying customers and limit bad debt.
Michelle also offers a free e-book - "A Collection Guide for Business Owners" that can also help. Well worth your time to read .... and definitely put to use.