• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Big Ideas for Small Business logo

Barbara Weltman

Big Ideas for Small Business, Inc.

Whitepaper download

Subscribe and download our eBook, "150+ Tax Deductions for Small Business A to Z."

This field is hidden when viewing the form
Get the:

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Big Ideas For Your Business
    • Idea Of The Day ®
    • SMB Legal
    • SMB Taxes
    • SMB Financial
    • Small Business
    • Newsletter Archive
  • Services
  • Books
  • Blog
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Radio Shows/Podcasts
  • Be a Guest Blogger

 Is It Time to Start Exporting?

June 2, 2022 / By Barbara Weltman

Is It Time to Start ExportingDid you know that 95% of consumers are outside the U.S.? Small businesses can expand their markets to other countries and capture new customers. Exporting can also be a risk management strategy because foreign markets may not suffer economic downturns at the same time are your home economy. Small businesses already comprise 97.4% of all U.S. exporters and you can be part of this impressive statistic. The concept of exporting may seem challenging, but it’s easier than you think.

Basics of what you need to do to start exporting

If you want to export, you’ll need to take certain actions to find global customers and be able to service them. Here are several ideas to get your started:

  • Website. Be sure your website is accessible to customers in other languages. You don’t have to post in multiple languages; just have your website designed to inform foreigners about your products and how to buy them. Fatbit has tips for a global-friendly website.
  • Financing. You may require additional capital to expand abroad. The SBA has export finance programs. These include Export Express Loans up to $500,000 that can be obtained within 36 hours, Export Working Capital Loans up to $5 million, and International Trade Loans for fixed assets, working capital, and debt financing up to a maximum of $5 million. The Export-Import Bank of the Unites States offers (EXIM) a working capital loan guarantee to help with financing. EXIM also offers export credit insurance to protect you from nonpayment by foreign customers.
  • Marketing. Determine how you plan to reach customers abroad. This may be through your website or social media, which knows no boundaries. Some owners may have family or friends in other countries who can offer help in getting started there. Decide whether to offer “geopricing”, which is the practice of adjusting an item’s sale price based on the location of the buyer.
  • Shipping assistance. Selling abroad may require documentation with shipping. Depending on what and where you sell, the list may be extensive, including commercial and proforma invoices, bills of lading, packing list, shipper’s letter of instruction, automated export system (AES) filing, certificate of origin, and more. You can get an overview of what may be needed with a blog and video from ATS, a company offering cross-border freight shipping. For most small businesses, international shipping can be done through such familiar companies as FedEx, UPS, and Shopify.

Mentoring to help

If you want help to get started or to overcome challenges you face, you can get FREE help through:

  • U.S. Export Assistance Centers. Find a center near you via your zip code.
  • Small Business Development Centers.
  • State Trade Expansion Program (STEP). This program gives grants to states to assist small businesses with export development. It’s not available in every state, but you can check availability to you here.

Final thought

You can start your exporting activities on a small scale. For example, if your business is in the U.S., you can begin by exporting to Canada and Mexico. Once you have experience in exporting, you can expand activities overseas. For more help, call the SBA’s Office of International Trade Hotline at 855-722-4877 or email to [email protected].

Tags exporting global customers international shipping small business

Primary Sidebar

Categories

  • General Business (498)
  • Guest Blog (109)
  • Homepage (21)
  • Small Business (990)
  • SMB Financial (322)
  • SMB Legal (66)
  • SMB Taxes (324)

Barbara’s Recent Posts

  • Scale Your Business by Stepping Up IP Protection May 29, 2025
  • Disasters Happen: It’s Important to Be Prepared Now May 27, 2025
  • How Work Order Software Transforms Small Business Operations May 26, 2025
  • The Numbers Are Up for Sole Proprietorships May 22, 2025
  • New Business or Project Crowdfunding: What To Know May 20, 2025
  • Old-School Estimating vs. Smart Solutions: What’s Really Holding You Back? May 19, 2025
  • Employees Getting Called to Public Service: What to Know May 15, 2025
  • Not Too Late to Prep for Summer Now May 13, 2025
  • How Will the Next Generation of Learners Affect the Workplace May 12, 2025
  • Moms Know Best: Lessons for Entrepreneurs May 8, 2025
  • Mental Health Challenges in the Workplace May 6, 2025
  • Let’s Celebrate Small Business! May 1, 2025
Awarded Top 100 Small Business Blog medal (link will open in a new window or tab)
Marquis Who's Who 2023 Badge
Top Small Business Blogs (Link will open in a new window or tab.)
8 Financial blogs small business Owners Need to Read. Invoice home.  (link will open in a new window or tab)
Best Small Business Blog, Expertido.org
Top 50 Small Business Blogs 2018
Best Small Business Blogs
BizHumm Top 100 Business Blog Award to Barbara Weltman
FitsSmallBusiness.com: Award for Best Small Business Blog 2017 (link will open in a new window or tab)
FitsSmallBusiness.com: Award for Best Small Business Blog 2016 (link will open in a new window or tab)

Footer

Big Ideas for Small Business logo

Small business ideas, business tax news and small business consulting from Barbara Weltman to provide business owners with the information they need to succeed. Visit our small business blog, Idea of The Day®, small business books and articles on small business taxes, small business finance and small business legal advice.

Contact Us

[email protected]

(772) 492-9593

gacor maxwin situs slot thailand terpercaya situs slot gacor situs gacor akun pro thailand slot bandar togel terpercaya

Latest Tweets

bigideas4sb Big Ideas for Small Business® @bigideas4sb ·
May 29

“The important thing is not being afraid to take a chance. Remember, the greatest failure is to not try. Once you find something you love to do, be the best at doing it.” - Debbi Fields, founder of Mrs. Fields Bakeries #quotes #inspiration #failure #entrepreneurship

Reply on Twitter 1928219773386518957 Retweet on Twitter 1928219773386518957 Like on Twitter 1928219773386518957 Twitter 1928219773386518957
Retweet on Twitter Big Ideas for Small Business® Retweeted
bigideas4sb Big Ideas for Small Business® @bigideas4sb ·
May 26

How Work Order Software Transforms Small Business Operations - https://bit.ly/43duDcb #smallbusiness #operations #software

Reply on Twitter 1927040855644250115 Retweet on Twitter 1927040855644250115 1 Like on Twitter 1927040855644250115 1 Twitter 1927040855644250115
Retweet on Twitter Big Ideas for Small Business® Retweeted
bigideas4sb Big Ideas for Small Business® @bigideas4sb ·
May 27

Disasters Happen: It's Important to Be Prepared Now - https://bit.ly/3HbQWXc #smallbusiness #preparedness #hurricaneseason #disasters

Reply on Twitter 1927409567794675789 Retweet on Twitter 1927409567794675789 Like on Twitter 1927409567794675789 1 Twitter 1927409567794675789
Load More

Copyright © 2008–2025 Big Ideas for Small Business, Inc  |  Designed by Hudson Fusion

  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap