| Managing a business successfully can be quite difficult. | | | | sufficient insurance on your overseas packages. |
| A great deal of the stress lies in the ever present | | | | Depending on the country your customers reside in, |
| need to secure sales. If you operate an online business, | | | | value added or general service taxes may also apply. |
| then the entire world is your potential customer and | | | | Foreign customers may not understand that these |
| can possibly increase your customer base significantly. | | | | fees may apply to their purchases. Clearly stating this |
| This can present unlimited opportunities but should also | | | | on your site can prevent frustration or even cancelled |
| be approached with several things in mind. The | | | | orders. Considering the differences between the |
| challenges include shipping, taxes, and payment | | | | Postal Service versus other carriers is important. Few |
| considerations. | | | | if any items entering the United States are ever levied |
| If you sell physical products, then the biggest challenge | | | | import taxes, so this can be unexpected for many |
| for overseas customers is shipping. Downloadable | | | | businesses. |
| products of course eliminate the need for shipping | | | | Another issue to consider is the payment methods you |
| costs, but for the rest of your product line, shipping | | | | use. While payment methods such as Pay Pal are |
| overseas can be quite expensive and typically involves | | | | quite common in many countries, many foreign |
| customs forms. Depending on the size or the weight | | | | customers are still unfamiliar with them and may select |
| of the items you sell, there may be shipping restrictions | | | | them without fully understanding what is involved in the |
| to consider. Some items such as certain martial arts | | | | actual payment process. The other major issue to |
| weapons for example, are also technically illegal in | | | | consider is how you formulate your refund policies. |
| certain countries. Being aware of these issues can | | | | Since retrieving items overseas can be quite |
| reduce unneeded frustrations for your customers as | | | | cumbersome and costly, well defined policies should be |
| well as any warnings you may receive from your | | | | stated to minimize the cost to either party. |
| international carrier. Its also important to include | | | | |