Yet small businesses, in some cases, have been slow to establish a Web presence even though it can help distinguish them among the competition. Only about a year and half ago, roughly 40% of small businesses using the Internet still did not have a Web site, according to a report issued then by the Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy. And just about a third of those with Web sites sold goods and services online.

Daunting to many, perhaps, has been the sheer hassle of putting together all the pieces: that is, hiring a Web designer, finding a company to host the site, and perhaps someone else to coordinate any e-commerce business. The strain of trying to mesh different technology platforms and deal with multiple customer service departments takes a greater toll on a smaller enterprise that might not have a single IT person in its ranks.

Recognizing the nation's 23 million small businesses as a ripe market, a number of Internet leaders have stepped up efforts to court them with more-inclusive Web services, among them Atlanta-based Interland Inc., Microsoft Corp., with its bCentral services; EarthLink Inc.; and Kurant Corp., of San Francisco, through its StoreSense e-business tools.