By Survive and Thrive - Tuesday, July 14th, 2009
If you are considering exporting a product or service, it is important to ensure that your domestic business affairs are in order first. After that, you’ll want to amend your business plan to include a detailed description of your export strategy. For instance, you’ll need to consider how your market, your advertising, your distribution and your pricing will change once you’re doing business outside of Canada.
There are many Government of Canada resources available to assist you in planning for this aspect of your business:
At the Canada-Ontario Business Service Centre Web site you’ll find the following three export guides:
Export Info-Guide 1: Preparing for World Markets (This Info-Guide’s “Regulations” section highlights the legal requirements for exporting.)
International Market Research (International Trade Canada’s (ITCan) Market Research Centre (TMR) produces a full range of sectoral market information products to help Canadian exporters identify foreign market opportunities.
Export Info-Guide 3: Entering World Markets (This guide will help navigate through the federal and provincial government resources that would be of interest to businesses involved in exporting.)
The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade has many services that are suitable for new exporters. The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service web site provides free access to hundreds of sectoral market studies and country-specific reports prepared by its Market Research Centre and by its offices abroad. These reports are intended to help you identify foreign business opportunities and learn more about your target market. Once you are prepared to do business abroad, you can use this site to get in touch with the employees of its 135 offices around the world and request one of its personalized core services.
DFAIT’s Export and Import Controls Bureau is responsible for administering the Export and Import Permits Act (EIPA). The EIPA delegates (to the Minister of Foreign Affairs) wide discretionary powers to control the flow of goods contained in specified lists provided for under the Act.
The Government of Canada’s Export Source web site is a gold mine of information for exporters. It provides a single access point to all trade-related government departments and agencies on subjects including:
- Preparing to Export
- Researching Countries and Sectors
- Marketing Your Exports
- Entering the Market
- Financing Your Exports
- Getting the Product or Service to Market
- Preventing and Resolving Problems
- Understanding the Global Marketplace
All Canadian individuals or businesses exporting on a commercial basis must obtain a Business Number in order to account for their goods. Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) uses this number to identify a business and to process customs accounting documents.
The Royal Bank has a valuable web site intended for small business entrepreneurs. On this site, you’ll find a complete guide to exporting entitled Exporting for Small Business.
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