UNDERSTANDING the business culture in the United States and avoiding approaching it as a single consumer market increases Australians’ chances of business success in the world’s largest economy, according to a new guide launched by Austrade. Doing Business In The United States provides assistance to Australian exporters looking to further understand and break into the vast consumer market of the US. Austrade’s senior trade commissioner in New York, David Howard, said that despite Americans and Australians appearing similar in language and culture, the two countries are actually quite different, making it vital for Australian businesses to research and understand the US market. "The US is actually made up of hundreds of different geographic and demographic consumer markets, many with distinct tastes, purchasing behaviours, distribution systems, regulations and climates,” he said. “The majority of the 8,000-plus Australian companies selling or operating in the US are small operations that often have only a handful of employees and a limited budget. The key to success is not being large but having a strong product or service offering and being able to clearly articulate your competitive advantage.” With more than $41 billion in two-way trade, Australia and the US have a strong and long-term commercial relationship.