A Little Guy's Marketplace

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Regardless of who is right, one thing is clear: the exchanges that get the early lead will hold it. Just like eBay, whose widespread network of buyers and sellers draws even more members and ensures its continuing dominance, the small-business exchanges with the most liquidity should remain on top. "The ability to find the transaction and complete it is the real issue," says Onvia CEO Glenn Ballman, whose company lost $43 million in 1999. "As long as we're able to bring enough buyers and sellers together, we'll survive." And small-business owners should be able to do better as a result.