Are You Ready to Export?

Prior to making  a decision to engage in an overseas market or a new overseas market you may want to do an assesment of your readiness to export.  Make sure you ask the hard questions first before committing time and money to the effort.

1. How long have you been in business.  If you have a year under your belt then you are much better off than when first starting out.
2. Are you already experiencing success in a local market, a regional market, nationaly or in another international market.
3. Your company has the tools in place for communications with overseas customers and partners.  These include a permanent mailing address, marketing collateral, website, fax number and email address (using your own domain name).
4. A business plan is in place with an international marketing plan with clerly defined goals and strategies.
5. A research plan is funded to determine appropriate markets and product requirements.
6. Adequate resources are committed to develop for a reasonable time the selected export market.
7. The company will committ the appropriate marketing resources to develop products for the targeted markets.
8. The company understands and has budgeted funds to modify products and services, packaging and marketing materials to meet overseas regulations, standards (including safety) and cultural and language differences.
9. You understand the risks with exporting as related to payment mechanisms, mitigating credit risks, understanding payment practices and have financial advisment.
10. You understand the issues related to shipping your product overseas including shipping costs, time frames, returns, customs clearance and duties.
11. The company has adequate resources to engage locally based services such as legal, accounting, advertising, legal and IP protection.
12. You have the ability to monitor and be in compliance with your own countries export controls and laws.