Having an online presence is essential for the success of any business in the modern economy, but that often means that your customers can come from anywhere, including overseas. If your small business is just getting started with international shipping, the process can seem daunting. This guide includes some basic tips for international shipping for small businesses that will help to make the process easier.
1. Know the Regulations in the Destination Country
It is important to know if and how your product is regulated in the country you will be shipping to. Products that are common in the United States may be restricted, heavily regulated, or even illegal in other areas of the world. This can include everyday items like food, or hazardous items like batteries or chemicals. Know the laws of the destination country so that there are no surprises at customs.
2. Determine Your Shipping Method
The way you ship your item may have a huge impact on not only shipping costs, but also transit time, the potential for damage, and the documents required. For small items or packages that need to arrive quickly, air freight is the best option, though it will be costly. When you have larger, heavier items or greater quantities of freight, less-than-truckload (LTL) or full truckload (FTL) shipping may be possible to nearby countries like Canada or Mexico. With LTL shipping, your freight is mixed with freight from other companies, increasing transit time and the potential for damage. If you are shipping overseas, full or partial container loads via sea freight will be the most economical option, though it will take longer.
3. Provide Accurate Documentation
Research the customs requirements for each country you will be shipping to. Make sure that you provide all the required documentation for your freight, and that it is filled out accurately to avoid any problems or delays moving through the customs process. You will need to include bills of lading, packing lists, commercial invoices, customs declarations, and other documents depending on the destination.
4. Calculate Duties & Fees
Make sure that you have calculated all the duties and fees applicable to your freight accurately prior to shipping the order, as well as the total shipping costs. Research the fee schedules of the destination country so that there are no surprises at customs. This ensures that you can charge your customers properly for shipping, and that they will not have any unexpected fees due when they receive their orders. Ideally, you should ship delivery duty paid (DDP) to make it as simple as possible for the customer.
5. Protect Your Freight Appropriately
International shipping can be hard on packages due to the long transit times and the extra handling they receive during the customs process. Make sure you use strong boxes or crates for shipping with the appropriate packaging materials to keep your products safe. Keep shipping documentation visible and easily accessible, and ensure you have full insurance on your order to protect against damage or loss in transit.
International Shipping for Small Businesses in Las Vegas
Would you like to take the stress and complication out of international shipping? Talk to our team at AMR Group. We make international shipping for small businesses as easy and convenient as possible. Our company has extensive international shipping, freight forwarding, and logistics experince, as well as a global network to make the process as smooth as possible for our clients. We can handle everything from selecting the carrier and making sure you have the correct documentation to working with customs to ensure timely delivery. We offer LTL and FTL shipping, air freight, sea freight, and more.
To request your custom international shipping rate, visit us online or call (702) 800-6385 today. We serve businesses throughout the Las Vegas area and beyond.
