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Sample Export Plan

Sample Export Plan

Sample Export Plan 

Completing an international business plan helps you to anticipate future goals, assemble facts, identify constraints and create an action statement. It should set forth specific objectives and implement a timetable and milestones. A strategy for entering or expanding into targeted markets is critical to your success in the global marketplace.   

Conduct an “audit” of your company to determine how exporting will impact your operations. Consider the management issues for exporting, approaches to exporting, distribution channels and other important considerations that will impact your business. 

Understand the key components of an effective, actionable export plan. Just as no two companies are alike, there is no one-size-fits-all export plan. Your export plan should be an extension of your overall business plan, if not infused completely into your business plan. Many of the same questions for your international sales strategies will apply to your domestic sales plan. 

Have a clear idea of the information you need to collect and sources where you might find that information.  

Creating an international export plan is important for defining your company’s present status and internal goals and commitment. It is also required if you plan to seek export financing assistance. Prepare a plan prior to requesting bank loans. This can save both time and money.  

Sample Outline of an Export Plan 

Part I: Export Policy Commitment Statement    

Part II: Situation or Background Analysis 

  • Product/Service for Export 

  • Export License (if needed) 

  • Personal Export Organization 

  • Products/Services to be Exported 

  • Products that Qualify Under FTAs 

  • Resources Outside the Company 

  • Industry Structure, Competition, Demand Operations 

  • Export Control Compliance 

  • Product Classifications 

  • Resources Inside the Company 

​​ 
Part III: Marketing Component 

  • ​Identifying, Evaluating, and Selecting Markets 

  • Product Selection and Pricing 

  • Distribution Methods                                             

  • Internal Organization and Procedures 

  • Sales Goals (Profit and Loss Forecasts)                

  • Terms and Conditions 

  • Pricing with Consideration of Duties, Taxes   

  • Freight Costs, and Logistics Included  

 
Part IV: Tactics—Action Steps 

  • Primary Target Countries 

  • Indirect Marketing Efforts 

  • Quarterly Accomplishments 

  • Secondary Target Countries  

​ 
Part V: Export Budget 

  • Pro-forma Financial Statements     

  • Marketing Materials 

  • Travel       

  • Website Enhancements 

  • Trade Show Visits 

  • Other Costs 

​ 
Part VI: Implementation Schedule 

  • Follow-up 

  • Periodic Operational and Management Review (Measuring Results against the Plan) 

 
Addenda: Background Data on Target 

  • Basic Market Statistics (Historical and Projected) 

  • Background Facts 

  • Competitive Environment 

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Global Business Navigator Chatbot Beta

Welcome to the Global Business Navigator, an artificial intelligence (AI) Chatbot from the International Trade Administration (ITA). This tool, currently in beta version testing, is designed to provide general information on the exporting process and the resources available to assist new and experienced U.S. exporters. The Chatbot, developed using Microsoft’s Azure AI services, is trained on ITA’s export-related content and aims to quickly get users the information they need. The Chatbot is intended to make the benefits of exporting more accessible by understanding non-expert language, idiomatic expressions, and foreign languages.

Limitations

As a beta product, the Chatbot is currently being tested and its responses may occasionally produce inaccurate or incomplete information. The Chatbot is trained to decline out of scope or inappropriate requests. The Chatbot’s knowledge is limited to the public information on the Export Solutions web pages of Trade.gov, which covers a wide range of topics on exporting. While it cannot provide responses specific to a company’s product or a specific foreign market, its reference pages will guide you to other relevant government resources and market research. Always double-check the Chatbot’s responses using the provided references or by visiting the Export Solutions web pages on Trade.gov. Do not use its responses as legal or professional advice. Inaccurate advice from the Chatbot would not be a defense to violating any export rules or regulations.

Privacy

The Chatbot does not collect information about users and does not use the contents of users’ chat history to learn new information. All feedback is anonymous. Please do not enter personally identifiable information (PII), sensitive, or proprietary information into the Chatbot. Your conversations will not be connected to other interactions or accounts with ITA. Conversations with the Chatbot may be reviewed to help ITA improve the tool and address harmful, illegal, or otherwise inappropriate questions.

Translation

The Chatbot supports a wide range of languages. Because the Chatbot is trained in English and responses are translated, you should verify the translation. For example, the Chatbot may have difficulty with acronyms, abbreviations, and nuances in a language other than English.

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