Overview

Are you starting to explore what it means to attract new customers outside the U.S.? The international marketplace offers a world of business opportunities. The SBDC can help your business become a successful competitor in foreign markets by helping you plan and implement your exporting strategy.

Services

When you work with the Pennsylvania SBDC, a certified international trade consultant will help you hone your businesses' export strategy.

Leveraging Our Resource Partners
The SBDC maintains MOUs with the U.S. Commercial Service, and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, and maintains a close working relationship with the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s Office of International Business Development and Regional Export Network. Through these alliances, the SBDC has access to a large pool of knowledge, expertise and technical data to help your company succeed in global markets.

Assisting With Product & Service Promotion
Working with Pennsylvania’s Regional Export Network, the SBDCs can connect you to the state’s overseas trade offices in more than 70 countries. Services available include a review of your preliminary market assessment by in-country experts available to review your strategy and provide comments to help you fine-tune your approach. SBDC certified international trade consultants also can help you determine if your company may qualify for grants to cover the costs of participating in overseas trade missions, business trips, and trade shows.
 

Export Consulting

Certified international trade consultants are available for confidential, no-fee, individualized consulting to help you plan your export strategy. Services include:

Getting started

• Assessing your company’s export readiness, conducting international market research, identifying appropriate referrals to other service providers, and compiling international competitors

Taking the next steps

• Assistance with developing an export marketing plan,  importing goods, understanding tariffs and duties, learning about cultural differences, and planning market entry strategies

Refining your global strategy

• Sourcing materials, interpreting Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), reviewing export compliance and regulations, and generating international sales

Succeeding in international business

• Preparing for trade shows and trade missions, identifying sources of export financing, mitigating payment risks, and understanding distributor agreements

Is Your Company Ready to Export?

• Has your company profitably sold their product in the U.S. for the last three years?
• Does your company own the rights to manufacture or sell your product or service?
• Has your company developed marketing materials, i.e., brochures, business cards and website?
• Is your company leadership committed to international business and willing to commit resources to capture international business such as but not exclusively expenses for travel, trade shows, trade missions, services such as the U.S. Commercial Service’s Gold Key Matching Service, translation, interpreters, sending samples, etc.?
• Is your business ready and able to offer international payment terms, create commercial contracts, maintain export compliance, and ship internationally?
• Does your company have a product/quality advantage or specialized capability?  (i.e. machinery manufacturing or high technology industry)
• Does your company have a technology or quality advantage, an innovative product, unique capabilities, niche focus, fewer competitors and easily identifiable customers?

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