Exporting can be a good way to expand your business and profits.
Before venturing offshore, however, you need to do your homework.
Invest plenty of time and resources to ensure you have globally competitive goods or services and that exporting will benefit your business.
To be a sustainable exporter - one who is in a market for the long term - you will need:
- global competitiveness
- commitment
- patience
- financial capacity.
Checklist to get started
1. Research
Do plenty of research - identify your competitors, view websites for insights into the competition, visit key trade shows in your target markets. Get to know how overseas markets operate and how your business, and its products or services, can adapt to international environments.
2. Educate yourself
Take a course in export basics - Austrade provides online training modules as well as other information for new exporters. Austrades's export advisers, through the TradeStart program, are another source of help.
The South Australian Government's Department for Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade, Resources and Energy (DMITRE) can also assist new and existing exporters through a range of services.
3. Develop contacts
Develop a list of other export and trade organisations that can provide information or support. This should include overseas contacts.
4. Explore the issues
List the positives and negatives and discuss them with an export adviser.
Talk to your banker and accountant to ensure funds are available for market development.
Identify what regulations apply for your goods and services in target markets.
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More information
On this site
Online help with exportingOverseas market informationTrade shows and trade missionsInternational trade agreementsSupport programsOther websites
Getting ready for export - Austrade
About exporting - Austrade
DownloadsSupport services (PDF 463KB) - Austrade
Australian Government export agencies (PDF 655KB) - Austrade
Contact
Department for Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade, Resources and Energy
The Conservatory
131 Grenfell Street
Adelaide SA 5000
GPO Box 1264
Adelaide SA 5001
Phone: +61 8 8303 2400
Fax: +61 8 8303 2410
dted@sa.gov.au[top of page]