Question 1: Why do I want to export?
Perhaps you have noticed growing demand in the foreign market, but you may also have a completely different reason for wanting to export your product or service. The most important thing is to have a clear goal in mind and a good reason for wanting to do so.
Question 2: What did my predecessors encounter?
Chances are you are not the first to want to sell a similar product abroad. By getting in touch with people who have gone before you and listening to their experiences, you can avoid running into the same problems they did. By learning from their mistakes and listening to their advice, you will be better prepared for the market and the export process.
Question 3: Is my organization ready for internationalization?
Not every company is suited to entering the international market. It is important to first analyze the internal situation of the company. For example, you can assess whether the staff is sufficiently trained to respond effectively to internationalization, whether it is financially feasible, and whether a particular product is even suitable for export. By identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the organization, it becomes clear whether the company is suitable for entering the international market.
Question 4: What does the market look like?
Which countries offer attractive opportunities and what are the pitfalls? Who are the main competitors? What is the political situation? There are various questions you can ask yourself to find out what the market looks like and whether a particular country is suitable for exporting your products. By combining the strengths of the organization with the opportunities in the export country, the strategy can be determined.
Question 5: What cultural customs, rules, and laws apply?
Every country is different in terms of regulations and (cultural) customs. In order to successfully export and sell your product abroad, it is important to be aware of the different requirements per country that apply to imports, safety, and public health. In addition, every country has its own etiquette: what is considered a compliment in one country may be considered an insult in another.
Question 6: How do I arrange logistics?
Although transport may not be the first thing that comes to mind, it is an essential part of selling your product abroad. To get the product to the right place, you can often choose between road transport, sea freight, air freight, or rail. Each method of transport has its own advantages and disadvantages. If you want to export products to a country outside the European Union, you must take customs declarations into account and it is useful to be aware of the various Incoterms.
Question 7: How do I finance the export?
For exports to some countries, it is possible to obtain a subsidy from the government, but this will not always be the case. Before you take the actual steps to export, it is important to have the financial picture clear.
Question 8: How do I profile my company effectively?
To make a professional impression, it is important that your website is user-friendly and that the information on it is correct. Correspondence with customers and clients should not be full of language errors or incorrect expressions.
Question 9: Where can I find a suitable trading partner?
Many entrepreneurs find it difficult to find a good trading partner. By attending various networking events in the country you want to export to, you can make many useful contacts. It is also important to be easily accessible internationally, both by telephone and email.
Question 10: What are the rules regarding invoicing and how do I take VAT into account?
Once a delivery has been completed, the invoice is sent. Although this works in much the same way as for shipments within the Netherlands, international shipments are often subject to different VAT rules and sometimes export costs, customs clearance costs, and other customs costs must be taken into account. It is often possible to leave the monitoring and arrangement of costs related to importing and exporting to the declarants of the logistics service provider.
Help with export
If you need help with exporting, HST Group can assist you. HST Group organizes transport to and from all countries worldwide and can also quickly arrange customs declarations. Would you like to know what HST can do for you in the export process? Request information or a quote without obligation.