According to the 2008 Small Business Economy report, there are 27 million small businesses in the US, providing half of the nation's non-farm, private real gross domestic product (GDP). These small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face tough operating challenges, particularly in difficult economic times, and quality management is essential to increase bottom-line results, save money and manage risks. ISO 9001 is the most well-known and widely followed quality management standard, and certification to this standard is often a prerequisite before small companies can get the contract to act.