International Trade

With 95 percent of the world’s consumers located outside of the United States, expanding your operations outside our borders can be a smart strategy for your business. Can being the operative word.

Your research may reveal a sizable market for your product or service in a foreign country. But before you open your doors in a different country, see how well you can answer these make-or-break questions.

1. Is your local business strong?

Most small business experts recommend achieving success at the local level before shooting for international stars. If you’re not already in business, you might be tempted to start from the ground up in a country with cheaper labor and fewer regulations. (more…)

Shipping to Embargoed Countries; Shipping to Sanctioned Countries; Special controls; Office of Foreign Assets and Control (OFAC); Source: Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS)

The Census Bureau serves as the leading source of quality data about the nation’s people and economy. We honor privacy, protect confidentiality, share our expertise globally, and conduct our work openly. We are guided on this mission by our strong and capable workforce, our readiness to innovate, and our abiding commitment to our customers.

A record $184.4 billion in goods and services were exported by U.S. businesses in March 2012, according to U.S. Commerce Department figures.  If you’re ready to join this growing export community, chances are you will need financing resources to take your small business to the international level.  Consider the SmallBusiness Administration (SBA) and its partners for loan programs to assist you with the various financial needs involved in beginning your exporting endeavor.

Export Express Loan Program. Financing is available for export transactions including support for standby letters of credit and export development expenses such as product literature translation.  The financing can be a term loan or a revolving line of credit.

To find the simplest and quickest financing avenue offered by the SBA, check with your existing lender to see if they participate—if so, you can apply directly with them—or go to the list of participating lenders by state which can be found on the SBA’sExpress Loan site. (more…)

Pro Forma Invoice; Help you Ship Economically; Help you Ship Safely; Ship in Compliance with U.S. export laws; International Transportation Department.

The Census Bureau serves as the leading source of quality data about the nation’s people and economy. We honor privacy, protect confidentiality, share our expertise globally, and conduct our work openly. We are guided on this mission by our strong and capable workforce, our readiness to innovate, and our abiding commitment to our customers.