Small firms that export goods to other countries have different strategies for competing in the global market. Larger small firms use strategies that match their size, while smaller small firms do not. The size of the firm does not affect how much they export. Exporting is a common way for small businesses to enter foreign markets because it is flexible and requires minimal resources. Small manufacturing firms in the U.S. play a big role in the economy, but only a small percentage are involved in exporting. Some research suggests that small firms go through stages of internationalization, but others argue that some small firms are international from the start.