Research which companies already carry similar brands in that country, then contact the buyer with your pricing, minimums and documents. Warm introductions beat cold messages, and you should expect a longer sales cycle than domestic accounts.
Landed cost is the full cost of getting a product to the buyer's door, including freight, insurance, duties and local fees. Your export price list should be built from it so a foreign buyer's retail price still leaves them margin.
Common documents include a commercial invoice, packing list and, depending on product and destination, certificates of origin and compliance documents. Your freight forwarder will confirm exactly what each shipment requires.
Incoterms are standard shipping terms such as FOB, CIF and DDP that state who pays for freight and insurance and where risk passes to the buyer. Pick the term before quoting, since it changes your price and your liability.
There is no universal answer. Canada is often an easier first market for U.S. brands because of proximity, and the right choice depends on your product category, regulations and where your product already has demand. We help prioritize markets during the audit.
An export price list quotes prices on a stated Incoterm, in a stated currency, with export case packs and minimums that suit the freight. It reflects landed cost for the destination, not just your U.S. wholesale price, so a buyer can see exactly what the product will cost on arrival.
An HS code is a standard product classification number used by customs around the world. It decides the duty rate and the paperwork a shipment needs. Your freight forwarder or customs broker can help classify your product, and consistent classification avoids delays at the border.
A freight forwarder arranges the movement of your goods across borders. It books transport, prepares or reviews export documents and can coordinate customs clearance. For a first export shipment, a forwarder is usually the fastest way to learn the paperwork and get an accurate cost.
We research and contact importers, distributors and retail buyers abroad, build export-ready materials and report the activity in your portal. We do not take title to your goods or ship them. You or your freight forwarder handle the shipment, and the sale is between you and the buyer.
An importer brings goods into a country and clears them through customs. A distributor buys goods and resells them to retailers, and many companies do both. Ask each prospect which role it plays, who it sells to and whether it handles customs, storage and local marketing.
A distributor gives you local reach, warehousing and customs knowledge, at the cost of a margin and some control. Selling direct to foreign retailers keeps the margin but adds shipping, duties, language and payment work. Many brands start with one distributor in a market and add direct accounts later.
The importer of record is the party legally responsible for a shipment entering a country, including duties, taxes and compliance paperwork. Under DDP terms you take that role, and under most other terms the buyer does. Confirm in writing who it is before the goods ship.
Your Incoterm decides it. Under terms such as FOB, CIF or EXW the buyer pays import duties and taxes. Under DDP the seller pays them, which means you must know the destination rates in advance. Most brands quote EXW, FOB or FCA to avoid taking on duty risk in a country they do not know.
Classify the product with an HS code, then look that code up in the destination country's customs tariff. Many governments publish searchable tariff databases. Your freight forwarder or a customs broker can confirm the rate, and trade agreements may lower it if your goods qualify.
Yes, they can, if your product meets the agreement's rules of origin and you keep the paperwork that proves it. Canada and Mexico buyers ask about this often. Check the current text and your product's qualification with a customs broker, since rules differ by product.
Our portal supports approved accounts with their own prices, minimums and terms, and you can set different tiers for different accounts. Currency, tax and shipping settings for foreign accounts are worth confirming with us during the audit before you rely on them.
International sales cycles are usually longer than domestic ones, since buyers check regulatory fit, pricing after duties and the supplier itself. We do not promise a timeline or an outcome. Plan for a few months of conversations before a first purchase order, and for a smaller opening order.
Compliance answers are general information, not legal advice, and rules vary by product and state.
Send us your site and current wholesale setup. We will review pricing, portal and outreach gaps on a free call, and the notes are yours either way.
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