Tips and procedures for importing products from abroad

Small and large businesses face more challenges than ever before in the world today. From growing levels of competition to rising energy prices to the ever increasing tax burden, it can be difficult for the small business to survive, let alone grow and thrive.

One way many small business people have learned to adapt to the new marketplace is to find the most cost effective source of the supplies they use in their business, or the products their business sells. Many new business owners are mystified by the logistics involved in bringing products or raw materials halfway around the world, but the process does not need to be so complicated or so difficult.

The good news is that there is plenty of help available from the government. On the federal level, state level and local level, government officials are anxious to see the businesses located in their districts grow and thrive, and they can often help owners of small businesses work out successful import procedures and secure the contracts they need.

So a good first step is for the business owner to contact his or her congressional representatives and senators. When making this initial contact it is important for the business owner to provide as much information as possible, and to put the request on their company letterhead. At a minimum, the initial contact letter should include the name of the business, where it is located, a brief description of what the business does and the products it sells, and the company contact information.

The letter should also state that the business owner is seeking help in importing products from overseas in order to save on the cost of materials, find unique products to sell, etc. It is important to be as specific as possible on what type of help is being sought. Do you need help cutting through the red tape to get a shipment through? Do you need a list of possible trading partners? Again, the more information the business owner can provide the better the response can be.

In addition to government help, plenty of additional help is as close as the computer sitting in the office of the company president. There is a wealth of information, and a large variety of potential trading partners in countries around the world, just waiting to be found. There are literally thousands of import directories available on the internet, and these import directories can be a great place to start.

When contacting companies through these import directories, it is a good idea to contact only those companies whose products the business owner has a real interest in. Doing so will help the business owner pare down the thousands of choices to a reasonable level.

After the business owner has several potential suppliers lined up, it is important to evaluate the merchandise carefully before making a decision. In most cases, it will be necessary for the business owner to import products in bulk, so it is vital to make sure they are of the highest quality possible at the lowest price. In most cases, the exporter will be able to provide a sample or two.

After the supplier has been lined up, it is important to make sure that all the basics have been taken care of to the satisfaction of both parties. Things like the details of the contract, and of course the payment, must be taken care of before the supplier ships the products or raw materials.

When arranging delivery, it is important for the business owner to determine if the contract calls for delivery of the products or raw materials directly to the business address, or if the business owner is responsible for picking up the products from the manufacturer. If the business owner must pick up the products, he or she will have to arrange for shipment with a transportation company or courier service.

No matter what the shipping arrangements, it is important for the business owner and the supplier to agree on the payment details. There are many questions that must be answered to the satisfaction of both parties, including: When will the supplier receive their payment? In what currency will the supplier be paid? Will they be paid in local currency or U.S. dollars? Who will pay the import taxes? When are the import taxes due?

About The Author:
Jason Petrina is the Editor and Publisher of Article Click. For more FREE articles for your ezine and websites visit - www.articleclick.com