Perhaps you are a manufacturer who wants to grow your business selling your product overseas. Or you may want to start an export business because you have relatives or contacts in a foreign country. Before you export any product, you should determine your company’s “export readiness” and develop an export plan. Before writing or as you write the plan, you will want to do market research to make sure there is sufficient demand for the product(s) you want to export. You will also want to make sure you include all your expenses and an adequate profit margin in your final selling price. The general business counselors in the Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) regional offices throughout North Carolina can help you get started. There is no charge for SBTDC counseling.

If you are a start-up company, you will need to get your business established here and develop a business plan. You may sign up for one of the SBTDC "Pre-Venture Orientation" educational sessions before meeting with a general business counselor. Go to the SBTDC homepage at www.sbtdc.org and click on OFFICE LOCATIONS to find the general business counselor nearest you.

If you are establishing an export trading company, you may wish to read the SBTDC’s "Starting an export trading company" for more specific information on this type of business.

The following resources are recommended:

1. "Developing an Export Strategy" (chap. 1, pp. 3-6) in A Basic Guide to Exporting (at http://www.unzco.com/basicguide/index.htm)
2. "Are you Ready to Export?": This quick self-assessment test can help you make the decisions necessary to expand your market. While designed for agricultural exporters, the concepts translate to non-agricultural exports as well. See http://www.fas.usda.gov/agexport/exporttest.asp.
3. "Management Issues for Exporting": Make sure your company's management team is committed and has adequately planned to support ongoing export operations. See http://www.export.gov/exportbasics/managementissuesforexporting1.html.

If you determine that your company is ready to export, various public trade facilitators exist statewide to help you explore the international marketplace. Some are listed below. If you would like a copy of a complete directory of all NC trade service providers, go to the SBTDC website to find the NC International Service Providers Guide (http://www.sbtdc.org/pdf/isp.pdf).

The NC Department of Commerce’s (NCDOC) International Trade Division—through two domestic and six foreign office locations—provides expert assistance to export-ready North Carolina businesses seeking to take advantage of overseas marketing opportunities. The NCDOC’s business development consultants specialize in industry sectors, working with you and consultants in the NCDOC foreign offices (Germany, Mexico, Canada, Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong) to articulate your needs and strategies for product market entry.  Contact the NC International Trade Division at 919.733.7193 or see the NCDOC homepage for more details at http://www.exportnc.com/.

The US Department of Commerce’s (USDOC) Export Assistance Center offices in Charlotte (704.333.4886), Greensboro (336.333.5345), and Raleigh (919.715.7373 ext. 612 or 613) provide many export promotion services for export-ready companies. USDOC trade specialists assist local firms in realizing their export potential by providing expert counseling and advice, information on marketing abroad, international contacts and matchmaking with potential buyers, and advocacy services. Their network includes 165 offices in 82 countries. See the USDOC website www.export.gov/cs for more information.

If you are looking for international marketing opportunities to sell a food or agricultural product, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture has international trade specialists ready to assist you. See http://www.ncagr.com or call 919.733.7125.

The SBTDC's International Business Development (IBD) program provides service to those companies needing assistance with export financing, either pre-export (export working capital) or post-export financing (getting paid for the shipment and/or helping the overseas buyer find financing to purchase the product). IBD supports the US Small Business Administration's (SBA) Export Working Capital Loan Guarantee program. IBD also serves as North Carolina’s City/State (or local) partner for the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank), representing the bank in a business development role.  Ex-Im Bank is an independent US government agency that helps finance the overseas sales of US goods and services.  For more information, see SBTDC/Ex-Im Bank partnership or contact the SBTDC at 919.715.7272 (800.258-0862 in North Carolina only) for more information.

If you have determined that your company is not yet ready for exporting, there are resources to assist you in the learning process:

1. Basic Guide to Exporting: This highly recommended USDOC guide details the various steps in the exporting process. This is your key reference for developing an export plan. Available in hard-copy for $14.95 (by calling 800.631.3098) or free online at http://www.unzco.com/basicguide/index.htm

2. Export.gov’s Export Basics: This tutorial walks you through seven steps of the “Export Basics Life Cycle.” Besides the information mentioned above, this site includes links to a sample export plan, market research, and trade statistics (http://www.export.gov/exportbasics/index.html)

3. Export Ready Class:The NC DOC's International Trade Division sponsors "Export Ready" seminars on the fundamentals of exporting via the North Carolina Community College system. See their webpage at http://www.exportnc.com/ready for more information.

4. The US Department of Commerce's Trade Information Center (TIC) website (http://www.export.gov/tic)

5. SBA Guide to Exporting (http://www.sbaonline.sba.gov/OIT/info/Guide-To-Exporting/)

6. SUSTA: Basics of Exporting: The Southern United States Trade Association (SUSTA) is an agricultural trade development association comprised of the Departments of Agriculture from 15 southern states. Although this guide is written for agricultural and food exports, it applies to other products as well. (http://www.susta.org/export/index.html)

 

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For answers to your questions or to find recent articles, go to www.export.gov/tic, then click on Answers to Your Export Questions, then choose Frequently Asked Questions. Some common questions are:

• What should I consider when making the decision to begin exporting and how do I begin?
• Where can I find trade statistics?
• How do I obtain market research for a specific country or product?
• How do I locate trade leads for my exporting business? How do I locate potential distributors in overseas markets?
• Is there a tariff (duty) that applies to my product in a foreign country? What is a Harmonized System classification number? What is a Schedule B number? Is there a difference between HS and Schedule B numbers? How do I determine the HS or Schedule B number for a specific product?
• Do I need an export license to ship my product to a particular market? How do I obtain a license?

Join organizations involved in international trade. Members are helpful and some groups sponsor monthly programs. The NC World Trade Association is a membership organization and has chapters throughout the state. It is a good place to meet other exporters and those who provide support services. See http://www.ncwta.org.

Search also for "Sister City" connections or country-specific social/business associations (such as the Carolina Asian-American Chamber of Commerce) which may be available in your area.