Six Steps to Begin Exporting

Start at www.export.gov/begin

Small businesses looking to increase sales and profit, reduce dependence on the domestic market 

and stabilize seasonal fluctuations should consider exporting. 

•	 Nearly 96 percent of consumers live outside the U.S.

•	 Two-thirds of the world’s purchasing power is in foreign countries. 

Go where the customers are. There is significant opportunity for small businesses to profit 

through exporting.

Step 1 Take the Free Export Readiness Self-Assessment

Do you have what it takes to become a successful 

exporter? Exporting offers great opportunities but 

requires preparation and planning. Complete the 

online questionnaire and receive feedback to help 

you assess your export readiness, and advice on 

how to strengthen your export potential.

Step 2 Training and Counseling

You may think exporting is complicated but the 

key to export success is to start training and get 

counseling. Training and counseling is a multiphase step. Depending on your assessment score, 

you will be directed to online and local counselors 

who can help you design a training program 

that will effectively match your specific needs to 

available training opportunities. Before contacting 

those counselors, you may find it helpful to take an 

introductory online training course or watch a few 

pre-recorded webinars to get your feet wet.

Step 3 Create an Export Business Plan

Creating an export business plan is important for 

defining your company’s present status, internal 

goals and commitment. You learn how to develop 

an export plan by assembling facts, identifying 

constraints and setting specific goals and objectives 

as milestones to success.
Step 4 Conduct Market Research

Use market research to learn your product’s 

potential in a given market, where the best 

prospects exist for success, and common business 

practices. The Market Research Library is the U.S. 

government’s repository of the latest information 

prepared by commercial and economic experts in 

U.S. embassies worldwide. Trade Stats Express is a 

powerful tool for identifying target markets.

Step 5 Find Buyers

Federal, state and local governments are continually 

organizing highly focused export events directly 

putting U.S. sellers and potential foreign buyers in 

direct contact.

Opportunities range from meeting foreign buyer 

delegations at select U.S. trade shows to signing up 

for a foreign trade mission or trade show overseas.

Step 6 Investigate Financing Your Small Business Exports,

Foreign Investment or Projects

Become familiar with the financing, insurance and 

grant programs to help your company finance its 

transactions and assist in carrying your export 

operations. These resources help small businesses 

ensure foreign payment and manage or remove 

risk from the equation for both the business and its 

bank.

Exporting is an increasingly attractive way to grow your company’s customers, profits and success.

•	 Foreign demand is strong, with forecasts of the 

world economy growing more than four percent 

and world trade growing more than six percent 

annually in coming years.

•	 Advancements in e-Commerce and logistics have 

lowered the costs of doing business overseas.

•	 Free trade agreements have opened up markets 

in Australia, Chile, Singapore, Jordan, Israel, 

Canada, Mexico, and Central America, creating 

more opportunities for U.S. businesses.

And U.S. companies that export enjoy greater business success overall. Exporters are:

•	 Better prepared to respond to foreign competition 

and global market trends.

•	 Able to weather downturns in the domestic 

economy.

•	 More competitive and less likely to go out of 

business.

•	 Able to extend the sales potential of existing 

products and maintain productive capacity by 

stabilizing seasonal markets.

Six Steps to Begin Exporting was created by the U.S. Small Business Administration and the U.S. Department of Commerce.

All SBA programs and services are provided to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. MCS-0050