PRIME RATE 
Interest rate which is charged to business borrowers having the highest credit ratings for short term borrowing.  

PRO-Net 
An Internet-based database of information of small, disadvantaged, 8(a), and women-owned businesses seeking procurement contracts.  

PRODUCT LIABILITY 
Type of tort or civil liability that applies to product manufacturers and sellers.  

PROFESSIONAL AND TRADE ASSOCIATIONS 
Non-profit, cooperative, and voluntary organizations that are designed to help their members in dealing with problems of mutual interest. In many instances, professional and trade associations enter into an agreement with the SBA to provide volunteer counseling to the small business community.  

PROPRIETORSHIP  
The most common legal form of business ownership; about 85 percent of all small businesses are proprietorships. The liability of the owner is unlimited in this form of ownership.  

PROTEST 
A statement in writing by any bidder or offeror on a particular procurement alleging that another bidder or offeror on such procurement is not a small business concern.  

RATIO 
Denotes relationships of items within and between financial statements, e.g., current ratio, quick ratio, inventory turnover ratio, and debt/net worth ratios.  

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS 
Solicitations for offerings for competitive negotiated procurements when it is impossible to draft an invitation for bids containing adequate detailed description of the required property and services. There are 15 circumstances in the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) which permit negotiated procurements.  

RETURN ON INVESTMENT 
The amount of profit (return) based on the amount of resources (funds) used to produce it. Also the ability of a given investment to earn a return for its use.  

SECONDARY MARKET 
Those who purchase an interest in a loan from an original lender, such as banks, institutional investors, insurance companies, credit unions, and pension funds. 
SERVICE CORPS OF RETIRED EXECUTIVES (SCORE) 
Retired and working successful business persons who volunteer to render assistance in counseling, training, and guiding small business clients.