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Start your business as an intermediary or import agent – Tips

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Start the business of import broker or agent

In an effort to offer more products to their customers, increasingly more companies, businesses and traders looking for and are interested in importing products in different niches of the market, however, are few who have no idea how do and in many cases this knowledge can be null.

That is why this becomes an excellent alternative for specialists in the area of ​​trade, as it represents a profitable business idea that can offer them a service as an intermediary import can offer small, medium business or growth required.

Big business without investment here

How do you start ?, what are your duties? To do this we invite you to continue reading this section that tell you how you can do it step by step.

How to start offering service broker?

Among the activities that will realize as import agent or also known as an intermediary, we found: know and research the business that will advise, conduct a market survey to determine the level of competition, profitability and viability of the same to start to import, and thus detect risks and let them know to the owner of the business.

It is also important to know the financial situation and the capacity of initial import, analysis of possible companies to import, contacting companies to understand its functioning and import methods.

 

How to start offering service broker 

Business activity

The import broker or agent is in charge of advising, training or provide intermediary service for businesses that want to start importing, knowing and / or performing all formalities to be carried out to start the process.

Realizing this, you know that, according to your interests or expertise, choose the type of markets that you want to run, for example, products of a given sector, traders only city, established companies or traders growing , etc.

General tasks: These are some of the tasks to be performed by the intermediary: Know the business that will advise, conduct a market survey to determine the level of competition, profitability and viability of the same to start importing, identify risks and let them know to the owner of the business, know the financial situation and the capacity of initial import, analysis of possible companies to import, contacting companies to understand its functioning and import methods.

Get permits and licenses

In many areas of the world, it is necessary to have a permit or license that identifies you as an intermediary import not only to operate according to law, but also to give confidence and credibility to business owners that you head later, so make sure you have the permissions you need.

 

Research the market and current import conditions

Before you head to the arena, you should begin to strengthen the knowledge you have, or, upgrade and investigate the processes, procedures and general conditions governing at the time the import process on the sector of the market of your interest, as well as the region and the country in which you operate, in addition to analyzing the degree of profitability that comply, tax bracket, rules, restrictions, etc.

The second part consists of analyzing the conditions of traders and businesses in your area of ​​interest, whether restaurants, clothing stores, shoe stores, etc. This will help better define the sector in which you will focus on.

 

 

Build a list of suppliers

If you have already defined the type of businesses they’ll initially go, then it’s time for a list of suppliers that can be import sources for this type of business, ie, a list of suppliers or exporters.

For this list is maintained day and have everything you need, consider the following information that you must apply and meet: customer references and prestige in the market, business licenses and permits operating according to commercial laws, problems possible, legal process manufacturing, staffing. relationship with the manufacturer (if not), delivery times, requirements, costs, location, compliance, product quality and customer service.

Remember that in many cases, according to the conditions and requirements of each business, this information may vary, as exporters supply agreements and propose different according to the amount of the order, type of business, etc.

Search for your first customers

Determine the sector approach lets you know what you’re going to lead customers. We recommend a physical relationship so that your customers can feel more confident you. For promotion we recommend to have a website as well as provide business cards to potential customers, offer your services voice voice or other means of contact.

Inconveniences that may appear

It is extremely key that you make sure that suppliers or exporters with whom you contact are true and actually exist. At present it is very easy to find fake suppliers who take advantage of the search for import business, you may even find you with information providers who are no longer in operation or have changed their method of operation. Provide or operate misinformation jeopardizes your credibility as an intermediary import.

What is a service as an intermediary or agent import?

The broker or agent import is in charge of advising, training or provide the service broker for entrepreneurs, traders or entrepreneurs who want to start importing, knowing and / or performing all formalities to be carried out to start the process.

Realizing this, you know that, according to your interests or expertise, choose the type of markets that you want to run, for example, products of a given sector, traders only city, established companies or traders growing , etc.

How much can I win? This may vary according to the service time required by your client as well as the type of paperwork and the point where you start counseling. To this you must add the dimensions of import and other variables.

What do I need to be an agent of import?

The most important thing is to know the role you will develop and in this sense, knowledge and skills you should have. And also you must have a permit or license that identifies you as an intermediary import not only to operate according to law, but also to give confidence and credibility to business owners that you head, so be sure to purchase permissions you need.

If you have already defined the type of businesses they’ll initially go, then it’s time for a list of suppliers that can be import sources for this type of business, ie, a list of suppliers or exporters.

Remember apply: customer references and prestige in the market, business licenses and permits operating according to commercial laws, potential legal problems, manufacturing processes, staffing, relationship with the manufacturer, delivery times, requirements, costs, location, compliance, product quality and customer service. Some of this data may vary according to the type of business customer.

Tips for intermediary service

Before you head to the ring, we recommend that you begin to strengthen your knowledge, or, upgrade and investigate the processes, procedures and generally all conditions governing at the time the import process on the sector of the market of your interest, as well as the region and the country in which you operate, in addition to analyzing the degree of profitability that comply, tax bracket, rules, restrictions, etc.

Determine the sector approach lets you know what you’re going to lead customers. We recommend a physical relationship so that your customers can feel more confident you. For promotion we recommend to have a website as well as provide business cards to potential customers, offer your services voice voice or other means of contact.

On the other hand, it is also necessary to analyze the conditions of traders and businesses in your area of ​​interest, whether restaurants, clothing stores, shoe stores, etc. This will help better define the sector in which you will focus on. This should apply to all clients that you attend.

Remember that the key is customer loyalty, because although many want to import, few would leave it in the hands of an expert forgetting the importance that this has, so that’s what we have to emphasize so much encouragement and enthusiasm to start this business.

Weak points:It is important to ensure the veracity and legality of suppliers. At present it is very easy to find fake suppliers who take advantage of the search for import business, you may even find you with information providers who are no longer in operation or have changed their method of operation. Provide or operate misinformation jeopardizes your credibility as an intermediary import.

Points in favor:It is a highly flexible business idea, where you choose your own work schedules and meeting times with your customers. This brings me to the next point, and you do not need to have a local operation, as will often be your customers who will receive you in their offices. A thorough research will provide better results.

What is a service as an intermediary or agent import

Successful business cases as an intermediary or agent import

Many companies that start with a service business solution as intermediaries or agents import and given the increased demand, will soon begin to incorporate advice and consultancy broader or specialized that allow them to consolidate their business enterprise solutions.

That is why this time we present a list of franchise companies that have been consolidated in the market offering services like this and more. You’ll be able to give you an idea of ​​how it works, know their strategies and formulate your techniques to get started.

This is definitely a service that manages to attract the attention of traders who aim to take their business to another level, certainly a dream of entrepreneurship. So if you have those, do not hesitate knowledge necessary to start today.

Final recommendation

In addition to keeping in touch with suppliers and make sure you are who claim to be, we recommend a visit to exporters in order to ensure the operation, quality and other aspectos.Y finally, do not forget to keep all documentation to the day, saves documents collected in the process to ensure clarity of your service and to verify any data at any time with your customers.

Costs you deal may vary according to the time service requiring the company as well as the type of procedures that perform and the point where you start the consulting and the dimensions of the import, among others. Remember that the key is customer loyalty, because although many want to import, few would leave it in the hands of an expert forgetting the importance that this has, so that’s what we have to emphasize so much encouragement and enthusiasm to start this business.