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:
Canada Customs and Revenue Agency has published
the Departmental
Consolidation of the Customs Tariff 2006, which describes
in detail the duties and customs that are imposed on specific
products. The downloadable files are available in PDF
format.
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 Customs and Revenue
Agency (CCRA) uses this number to identify a business
and to process customs accounting documents. See the Export
Info-Guide 1: Preparing for World Markets mentioned
above for more information.
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.
