| by Rick Martin, Georgia SBDC You've just returned home from a trip abroad. Wrapped in a sweater carefully placed in the middle of your suitcase is a fragile, handcrafted ceramic work of art. Items similar to this beautiful ceramic object are selling at local department stores for three times the price. You have just stumbled across a great business opportunity! Or have you? Well, maybe. But before you place your first order, you had better do some homework. Begin by listening to that little skeptic in your head whispering "How can you be the first one to recognize this opportunity? What stopped others from importing this product?" By following a series of steps in basic research, you can answer these questions.  Step 1:
Look for any government obstacles to import the item into the United States. Find the harmonized tariff number for the product you wish to import. This is a ten-digit number used by customs agencies around the world to identify products. To find this number, go to the U.S. International Trade Commission's 2000 Tariff Database website and follow the directions. This site will also give you the tariff for your product.
Now call the U.S. Customs Office and ask to speak to the "team" in charge of the type of product. To find the nearest office, go to the U.S. Customs Office Locations websiteCasino bonussen and click on ports of entry. Give a detailed description of the product and its country of origin to the customs agent. Ask the agent what tariffs and other fees will be assessed on the product. Also, find out if there are any special inspections or permits required in order to import the product. For most imports, there are no special requirements. Detailed information on import requirements is available at U.S. Customs Importing & Exporting (click on Publications, Forms, & Videos and then on Importing into the United States). Step 2:
Find out how much it will cost to transport and insure the product from the foreign supplier's facilities to a warehouse in the U.S. First, ask the foreign supplier to give a quote for an average order, which includes shipping, handling, and insurance expenses delivered to a United States warehouse. To find a list of foreign suppliers (if yours cannot answer these questions), contact the official trade organization for the country manufacturing the product. Many countries have websites with suppliers listed by product categories. You can find a trade organization by calling that country's consular office in the U.S. To find a list of foreign consular offices in the U.S., go to the Foreign Consular Offices website. Once you have completed Steps 1 and 2, the handcrafted ceramic work of art delivered to your U.S. warehouse is now only one half the price of the similar item found at the local department store. On the other hand, the price may still be very competitive. Step 3:
Determine the costs of marketing, selling, and distributing the product in the U. S. market. Add these to the cost of the delivered product. Now you can estimate the minimum price to sell the product at a profit.
Step 4:
Estimate the retail price of the product. To whom are you going to sell it? Do you sell directly to the consumer or do you sell to a retailer? Do you ask an independent sales agent to call on retailers for you? How much will the sales agent and/or the retailer mark up your product? hoteles economicos SkopjeAt this point you should have the information to estimate the price the consumer will pay for the product. You can now answer most of the questions of that little skeptic in your head. If you still see a great business opportunity that you wish to pursue, then take your next critical step towards success: write a business plan. The SBA lists sources of business plansEskilstuna accommodation. The local Small Business Development Center can also offer guidance on developing a business plan. Finally, with a good business plan in hand, you can begin your quest to become the ceramic import king or queen of the United States! > See also: International Trade | 
