Enterprise -- In Box

EXPORT ENERGY

Small companies that export do better than those that don't, suggests the latest annual survey on small business from the Arthur Andersen Enterprise Group and National Small Business United. Exporters averaged $3.1 million in revenue last year, for example, compared with $2.1 million for all companies in the survey. In 1996, exporters' profits increased 4.4%, while the overall average was 2.6%. Exporters are also more tech-savvy: 92% have computers (vs. 79% overall) and 70% use the Internet (vs. 44% overall). But there's a downside. By 13 percentage points, more exporters worry about finding qualified workers.EDITED BY EDITH HILL UPDIKE