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However, opening your store to the world can feel like it's easier said than done. We know it sounds expensive, and understand how intimidating it can feel. That's why we've created this guide to walk you through preparing, implementing, and succeeding in shipping internationally with your business.
Start by visiting the official customs website for the countries you'd like to ship to and take a look at the prohibited and restricted items. Products such as plants, seeds, alcoholic beverages, food products, and more could potentially be quarantined in customs for a long period of time, or be outright prohibited.
Some countries are easier to ship to than others. For example, India requires more personal documentation from the receiver than most countries. In Brazil, there are multiple taxes and duties that are imposed on imports. Economic instability makes delivery even more complicated.
Being aware of these potential issues will allow you manage expectations and build trust with your overseas customers. Check country specific restrictions, or read our in-depth country guides for more information:
In the shipping world, dangerous goods can be anything that, if not handled with care, could harm those handling them in transit.
Batteries and liquids are a good example: they are not dangerous by themselves, but they can contain a dangerous component (such as being flammable.) Couriers must be aware if your shipment contains these materials so they can handle them carefully.
This can also mean that your shipment may have additional restrictions. Some couriers may not allow dangerous goods shipments to fly, or can charge extra fees to handle these shipments.
Learn more about dangerous goods
Sales Taxes are required financial obligations levied by a government on income, goods, and activities.
Duties are a tax payable to the government, charged on goods and financial transactions.
Taxes and duties make the price of imported goods more expensive for consumers. Governments tax imports because they want to:
1. Protect domestic companies from foreign competitors
2. Control the flow of certain products
3. Raise revenue through taxes
Every country has a tax threshold, which is the amount where a person begins paying taxes. Tax and duty may not apply to every international shipment, so it's best to research the tax thresholds for each country you want to ship to so you can communicate this to your customers effectively.
Learn more about import taxes and duties
Most worldwide express couriers insure domestic and international shipments with a value up to $100USD by default; purchasing additional insurance may not be needed. However, if you use a postal courier (such as the USPS) they may not offer automatic insurance unless you are using one of their premium services.
Learn more about shipping insurance
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Automation is taking over every industry, shipping and logistics included. Everyone has access to apps and tools that will streamline logistics, which means you can ship like a boss in no time.
Find shipping tools that can:
Psst! Want to know a secret?
The best way to avoid overspending on shipping is to work with multiple couriers.
Some shipping solutions are better for certain countries. To find the best couriers for your business, it's important to compare prices, delivery times, and tracking quality.
Compare couriers, pricing, delivery times, and tracking quality all in one place.
Optimizing your online store's checkout is key to reducing cart abandonment. In fact, 25% of customers abandon their cart due to unexpected shipping costs at checkout.
Avoid showing static shipping rates, as they are unclear and don't provide information on taxes, duties, and the courier.
Instead, offer dynamic rates at checkout. Provide optimal shipping options for shoppers based on their location and show costs such as taxes, duties, and handling fees upfront to lower cart abandonment.
When the value of a shipment is above the tax threshold for a country, duties will apply. There are two ways to pay for duties:
Deliver Duty Unpaid (DDU): Duty is not included in the shipping cost and must be paid for when the item arrives at the destination port.
Delivery Duty Paid (DDP): Duty is included in the shipping cost at checkout, and has already been paid for before the item arrives at the destination port.
We recommend using DDP at your store checkout to avoid additional delays at customs. Learn more.
It's true: there's more paperwork required when you ship products internationally.
But don't let this scare you. The good news is there are many apps that can automatically generate this paperwork for you, so you can do away with the pen and paper.
You can generate all the shipping documents you need with Easyship.
The shipping industry can be known for not being transparent with costs. Here are some common fees express couriers charge that you should be aware of:
No one wants to overpay on shipping. We've done some research, and the short answer is that using a postal courier is most likely the cheapest way to ship internationally.
However, if you're looking for a shipping solution that's faster than a postal courier but not as expensive as an express courier, consider using regional couriers, as they focus their delivery on certain regions or areas around the world.
Learn more tips on how to save on shipping.
Find out who's better: UPS vs FedEx.
While it's tempting to cut corners when it comes to shipping, we don't recommend choosing a service that provides limited tracking. To build trust with overseas customers, choosing a shipping solution that provides end-to-end tracking for your package allows them to closely monitor their parcel while reducing the risk of loss.
If the customer still has questions about their shipment, it's best to avoid over-promising and manage expectations accordingly.
There are many reasons why a shipment might be stuck at customs. The reasons can differ in severity from high (your goods are prohibited) to low (having the incorrect paperwork).
Here's what you can do to get your parcel out of customs limbo:
All the shipping terminology you need to know to ship like a boss!
Air waybill: Shipping labels that couriers use
Commercial invoice: a customs document that declares the true value of an item, used to assess tax and duty (if any.)
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