How to turn a startup into an international company

Turning a startup into an international company is a strategic challenge that generates many benefits: increased sales and revenues, job creation, better suppliers, and a higher probability of success in a global market.

Startups are companies that are characterized by being in their initial stage and have very high scalability through the use of digital technologies. 

And it is thanks to these technologies that borders disappear. In this way, both small businesses and giant companies can participate in the advantages of foreign trade.

However, the first steps in the internationalization process can often be complicated. For exports and imports have a world of strict rules.

And although each startup must create an internationalization strategy with the help of its consultants, it is important to analyze the steps you can take to find the entrepreneurial treasure on the foreign trade map.

Why should a startup take the step to internationalization?

We all benefit from foreign trade: companies gain more and national economies are strengthened.

Nowadays, turning your startup into an international company is totally achievable, thanks to the digital economy and customs logistics.

Now you can sell your products in Arabic countries, from your office in America. Your startup can be present in different continents without the need to invest in branches.

The business world is evolving. You no longer only face local competition, consumers are looking for the best prices and from their cell phones, they buy from the highest bidder.

Keys to develop international trade in startups.

To become an international company, it is necessary to have clarity in your operations, activities and even investments that you will have to make once you start importing or exporting.

This will be possible if you take into account the following keys:

To have committed personnel.

Foreign trade is very demanding. Your staff must be committed to the logistics process you develop and, above all, to immediately attend to any setbacks.

Pro tip: From the person who serves the customer to the person who packs the order for loading, they must be coordinated. Otherwise, your internal problems can turn into economic losses.

To define an international business plan.

If you are going into the battle of international trade, do not forget to prepare a good business plan. 

Remember that in this document you formally establish the objectives, projection, evaluation and expected results.

Pro tip: Without measurement, there will be no profit. And your business plan can be the parameter to identify your status and where you should go.

To plan for the medium and long term.

The internationalization process of a startup does not have immediate effects. It is usually a goal that is achieved over the course of a year.

For this reason, you should start as soon as possible, since the process requires time and patience. 

Pro tip: Do not make the mistake of creating short-term expectations. The best thing to do is to establish a route that can be evaluated on a monthly basis, in order to achieve annual results. 

To conduct market research.

Market research is the tool that will help you identify in which countries the product you are going to export will have the greatest impact.

The best people to guide you in this task are customs agents or agencies, who will be able to tell you with certainty where your product is usually exported and under what conditions.

Obviously, it is important that your startup’s staff is trained. And that you identify the changes that will be necessary in the organizational structure to facilitate operations. 

Pro tip: While doing your market research, it would be in your best interest to focus on countries with less competition and more purchasing power, such as Middle Eastern countries. You can drive traffic to your business through search engines in Middle Eastern countries easily by hiring a local Arabic SEO Agency. In this way, you can easily increase the revenue of your business by allocating lower budgets for link-building services, one of the advanced tactics of SEO.

To decide on the product to internationalize.

This point may seem simple since by logic you will seek to export your company’s main product.

However, take into account that in the first exports, you can explore the foreign market with a product that does not represent so many expenses or risks for your startup.

Pro tip: You should check which of your company’s products meet the regulatory and quality requirements to be sold in other countries.

To adapt your product for sale abroad.

The products you export will be your letter of introduction in other countries where you are not yet known.

Pro tip: You will have to adapt your product from the packaging to the content, to comply with customs regulations and, above all, to facilitate logistics.