These days, it's widely assumed that most businesses are selling directly to customers via the internet. However, surprisingly, a Grant Thornton survey found that 39 percent of businesses are not yet selling online. Online sales might seem like a dream come true "” you reach larger markets with no middlemen, at higher margins "” but, according to the Grant Thornton survey, the dream can easily turn into a nightmare.

Sixty percent of CFOs believe the state of the U.S. economy will remain the same or worsen during the next six months, according to the Grant Thornton LLP 2013 Fall CFO Survey. The survey reflects the insights of more than 1,600 CFOs and other senior financial executives across the United States.