News & Events
Six Steps to Begin Exporting
Six Steps to Begin Exporting, www.export.gov/begin, is a new online tool that was developed by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Small Business Administration, in order to help small businesses interested in exporting to tap into the global marketplace and grow their business.
These six steps are:
- 1. Self-assessment
- 2. Training and counseling programs
- 3. Resources to create an export business plan
- 4. Information on conducting market research
- 5. Assistance for finding foreign buyers
- 6. Investigating financing for your small business exports, foreign investments or projects.
Upon completing the self-assessment, businesses receive a score indicating their level of readiness. Based on the score, additional resources are identified fitting their specific needs, including SBA and its nationwide resource partners SCORE and Small Business Development Centers, as well as Commerce’s U.S. Export Assistance Centers.
This joint Commerce-SBA effort is part of an array of activities by federal agencies to support President Obama’s National Export Initiative, which calls for doubling U.S. exports and supporting 2 million jobs over the next five years. So far this year, U.S. exports have increased nearly 18 percent compared to the same period in 2009.
President Obama has outlined five steps the Administration is taking to help U.S. firms expand sales of their goods and services abroad:
- 1. Creating a new Cabinet-level focus on U.S. exports
- 2. Expanding export financing
- 3. Prioritizing government advocacy on behalf of U.S. exporters
- 4. Providing new resources to U.S. businesses seeking to export
- 5. Ensuring a level playing field for U.S. exporters in global markets
Export Express
SBA Export Express helps small businesses develop or expand their export markets. The program provides exporters and lenders a streamlined method to obtain SBA-backed financing for loans and lines of credit up to $250,000.
Eligibility
SBA Export Express loans are available to businesses that meet the normal requirements for an SBA 7(a) business loan guaranty. Financing is available for manufacturers, wholesalers, export trading companies and service exporters. Loan applicants must demonstrate that the loan proceeds will enable them to enter a new export market or expand an existing export market. Applicants must have been in business, though not necessarily in exporting, for at least 12 months.
For more information contact us: http://www.sba.gov/
Basics of Exporting and Importing
This seminar is the first step for companies interested in importing and exporting. It introduces participants to key international trade issues and provides an overview of the essential elements necessary to successfully enter global markets.
For more information contact us: International Trade Office
