Small Business Import/Export Information
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Importing and exporting goods and services lets many small businesses find new markets, customers and suppliers. It lets small businesses around the world compete on a global basis with their larger competitors. If you doubt this, take a look at Even Small Businesses Can Benefit from Exporting.
It has been difficult in the past to gather information that would let you play in the global market place, but the Net has changed all that. Now you can find buyers, sellers, suppliers, partners and information anywhere, anytime.
One of the most common questions I receive is how to get into import/export. So, I've prepared a list of my favorite online resources for information about import/export, where to go, how to get started, and what to do. Start out by looking at Frequently Asked Exporting Questions, an International Trade Administration FAQ that does a good job in providing information and resources for getting started. Then try Expanding Your Business Globally, an excellent report from Deloitte & Touche that tells how to export, or even start operations overseas. Also read Export Opportunities, an excellent primer from the SBA on how to get into exporting. Developing a Successful Small Business Export Strategy is another article that explains how a well planned export strategy can be your key to success in the global market. Export Tutor provides a "ten-step roadmap" and plenty of resources.
The U.S. Government runs a number of good export/import sites. Start off with the U.S. SBA Office of International Trade which has info on SBA export finance programs, federal export programs, market-specific publications and trade regulations. The U.S. Bureau Of Export Administration provides information on the Bureau of Export Administration (BXA) which plays an important role in export controls. The U.S. Export-Import Bank provides information on Export-Import Bank which helps businesses finance exports and import. Import-Export Marketing Magazine from the U.S. Department of Commerce is designed to assist importers around the world in their efforts to find the American products or services they would like to buy.
Another resource to use is the American Export Register, a directory of more than 45,000 companies, listed in over 5,500 product and service categories, and used by buyers around the world to find American suppliers of products and services. The site is in English, Fran‡ais, Deutsch, Italiano, Portuguˆs, and Espa¤ol.
Serra International, Inc. is a tremendous overall resource for international business.They have country guides and directories, lists of contacts, export manuals, guides, and tutorials, freight and shipping information and contacts, travel, weather, insurance, how-to help, exporter's encyclopedia and more.
These sites can provide a good basis to get started. I have more international business and shipping and transportation links elsewhere on this site. |
