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With over 25 years of frontline experience Tom Shay is America's leading small business management expert. He's a "Must Have" for your next event.

Small business knowledge test from Profits Plus

Answer each of the 20 multiple choice questions. At the bottom of the page, click on the submit button. Within a couple of seconds you will have your score as well as the answers to any questions you answered incorrectly.

1. Customers walking into a business, traditionally:
Look and walk to the left
Look and walk to the right
Turn around and walk out
Look for someone to wait on them


2. What percentage of shoplifters are reported to the authorities?
90%
25%
50%
75%


3. A new customer costs an average of $20. A current one costs:
$20
$15
$9
$4


4. Surveys show a merchant's greatest concern is:
Category killer stores
Staffing
Internet
Economy

5. By explaining the benefits of a unique product, your price can be higher than the competition by what percentage?:
0%
20%
5%
10%


6. The most frequent reason a business fails is:
Advertising
Employees
Location
Cashflow

7. The average price of an item taken by a non-professional shoplifter is :
$5
$20
$27
$55


8. "Keystone" means:
Pennsylvania
A beer
Selling price is twice the cost
No freight factor


9. The percentage of new businesses surviving 5 years is:
85%
5%
50%
63%


10. The percentage of new businesses surviving 10 years is:
2%
50%
25%
33%


11. As a percentage of sales, shoplifting is approximately:
3% - 4%
4% - 5%
1% - 2%
2% - 3%


12. How does most "shrinkage" occur?
Shoplifters
Employees
Poor paperwork
Vendor errors


13. Where does most employee theft occur?
Sales floor
Stock area
Point of sale
Receiving area


14. A "yes" or "no" answer is a response to what type of question?
Leading
Assumptive
Open ended
Close ended


15. 2/10 means:
1/5% discount
2 out of 10 people pay their bills
2% discount if paid within 10 days
it is an expression for use with CB radios


16. "Open to Buy" means:
I am in the mood to day to write a purchase order
Looking over the shelves to see if any additional inventory is needed
a method of calculating how much inventory should be in the business
it is the time of year when most trade shows are held


17. When standing before a customer, a sales person's arms and hands should be:
Arms at our side, hands with palms up
Folded in a cross arm configuration
It makes no difference
In your pocket


18. The best selling space in a business is:
2'-3' from the floor
stacked on the floor
hung from the ceiling
4' to 6 1/2' from the floor


19. Businesses frequently determine their advertising budget as:
No set pattern
Set dollar amount
Percentage of net profit
Percentage of sales

20. FOB: Destination means:
Beats me
Friend of Bill at the Destination Tavern
Freight paid by the customer
Freight paid by the shipper

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©1998-2026 Profits Plus Solutions, Inc.
Tom Shay
PO Box 128
Dardanelle, AR 72834
(727)823-7205

NOVEMBER 2026
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Small Business

AdvisoriES


Seems like today, everyone is a consultant for something. Most small businesses owners have likely received an email, phone call, or visit from someone wanting to sell the services of a consultant.

 

You might find the right combination of consultants (let's call them advisors) in your own neighborhood. And they would likely trade their advice for some advice from you. This month's Small Business Advisory explains how.


Small Business

NewS

Top Story

November has two special events tailored to small businesses. The first occurs in the third week of the month. It's the Great American Teach In Day. Your help will be needed and appreciated.

 

The second event is Saturday, November 28 - Small Business Saturday. Details of how to participate in each is in this month's newsletter.

Article of the Month

Approaching the end of the year, many small businesses start to consider their pay scale for 2027. With some small businesses, bonuses at the end of the year are a tradition. The article of the month shares ideas of how to approach payroll as the new year approaches.


Book of the Month

You are awesome at what you do. You are a small business owner and that takes a lot of bravery to do what you do.

 

Part of what you requires what Malcolm Gladwell calls, "thin slicing." Others refer to it as "gut feeling." The book of the month talks about the need to stop doubting your greatness.

All this plus the Internet Tool for Your Business and a staff incentive idea for your business.
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BOOK US

With over 25 years of frontline experience Tom Shay is America's leading Small Business Management Expert. He's a "Must Have" for your next event.

Small Business

Advisories

Seems like today, everyone is a consultant for something. Most small businesses owners have likely received an email, phone call, or visit from someone wanting to sell the services of a consultant.

 

You might find the right combination of consultants (let's call them advisors) in your own neighborhood. And they would likely trade their advice for some advice from you. This month's Small Business Advisory explains how.

Small Business

News

 

Top Story

November has two special events tailored to small businesses. The first occurs in the third week of the month. It's the Great American Teach In Day. Your help will be needed and appreciated.

 

The second event is Saturday, November 28 - Small Business Saturday. Details of how to participate in each is in this month's newsletter.


Article of the Month

Approaching the end of the year, many small businesses start to consider their pay scale for 2027. With some small businesses, bonuses at the end of the year are a tradition. The article of the month shares ideas of how to approach payroll as the new year approaches.


Book of the Month

You are awesome at what you do. You are a small business owner and that takes a lot of bravery to do what you do.

 

Part of what you requires what Malcolm Gladwell calls, "thin slicing." Others refer to it as "gut feeling." The book of the month talks about the need to stop doubting your greatness.


All this plus the Internet Tool for Your Business and a staff incentive idea for your business.