The holiday season is upon us, and for many people that means making purchases for gift exchanges and planning the menu for family and work gatherings.

But, for our nation's small business owners, preparing for the biggest and busiest time of the year can take months of hard work and involves more than just inventory on the shelves.

While consumers make their lists and check them twice, entrepreneurs have been working behind the scenes to prepare. They've spent nights and weekends learning how to market their business and getting familiar with social media. When things slow down they tur...