About exporting
About exporting
Whether your business is big or small, you can find new customers beyond our borders.
Big or small, you can find new customers beyond our borders.
Where are you in the journey?
Whether you’re exporting products, services or experiences, discover the next step for your business. Click the timeline below to locate where you are now, and see what you might want to do next.
Am I ready to export?
You may be exporting already. Join Canadian businesses of all sizes that are finding success by growing their customer base and finding new opportunities internationally.
Quick tips
- Between 2009 and 2011, one out of every 10 exporters grew at an annual rate of more than 20%.
- You don't have to be a huge corporation—size isn’t related to success abroad.
- Understand that you’ll require thorough preparation and logistical planning.
TradeInsights
Want the latest? The TradeInsights tab on the EDC website will bring you leading-edge articles, commentary, webinars, and other tools designed to keep you up to date. Here’s a sample of what you’ll find there to help Canadian exporters navigate the global market.
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I was an exporter and I didn’t know it
If you’re a small online service provider, you may not even think of yourself as an exporter. Here’s why you should, and how you can further expand your business internationally.
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Confidence, courage and calculated risk: Key ingredients to going global
Dragon’s Den’s Arlene Dickinson says entrepreneurs need to take risks to be successful.
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Survey says: Exporters are confident but cautious
Find out what 1,000 Canadian exporters experienced in the last half of 2018, plus what their plans are for the future.
Learn more
Find answers to your intercultural questions from a Canadian and a local point of view.
bdc*: Step 2—Prepare a winning business plan
Discover our articles, tips and free resources designed to help you put together a solid business plan.
EDC Export Help Hub
Insights to guide smart export decisions.
FITT: Situational analysis
Learn how to accurately assess your company’s current ability to grow internationally and conduct the right research, efficiently and cost effectively. This workshop will help you determine whether you’re ready to expand, and which markets will work best for you.
Build an export plan
Your export plan is an extension of your business plan. Discover how to map a strategy to find new customers and partners internationally, be competitive and access the skilled talent you need to grow your business.
Quick tips
- Ensure your domestic business plan is already effective.
- Cover elements such as financing arrangements, major competitors and market risks.
- Consider staffing plans, competitive advantages and disadvantages and how you might need to adapt your product.
TradeInsights
Want the latest? The TradeInsights tab on the EDC website will bring you leading-edge articles, commentary, webinars, and other tools designed to keep you up to date. Here’s a sample of what you’ll find there to help Canadian exporters navigate the global market.
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6 skills you need to grow your business internationally, and how to get them
Find out what exporting skills and trade knowledge you need to succeed internationally.
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Expanding or acquiring a company internationally? 3 conditions for success
Is your business ready to expand internationally? Read our 3 conditions for success.
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What your peers think: Trade confidence
Nearly 1,000 exporters told us what they’re expecting for 2019 in our Trade Confidence survey. Benefit from their insight and see if you agree – register for our webinar today.
Learn more
Find answers to your intercultural questions from a Canadian and a local point of view.
FITT: Products & Services for a Global Market
Give yourself an edge over your competition by adapting your products and services to local regulatory, cultural, pricing and packaging requirements for sale in international markets.
FITT: Planning for International Market Entry
The organizations that succeed in new international trade ventures are usually those that carefully plan their market entry strategies. By choosing the right market entry strategy for your industry and needs, analyzing market entry opportunities, and creating a new international business plan, you will be able to play to your strengths better than ever and establish the best possible strategy for your short-term and long-term future.
Canada Border Services Agency: Free and Secure Trade
The Free and Secure Trade (FAST) program is a commercial clearance program designed to ensure safety and security while expediting legitimate trade across the Canada–U.S. border.
Identify target markets
Conduct market research to pinpoint the best country for your business by identifying opportunities, highlighting trade barriers and understanding where your product or service is in demand.
Quick tips
- Do you offer something niche to a specific market?
- Identify which countries have a Free Trade Agreement with Canada and focus on them first.
- Figure out how you will get your product to that market and what it will cost you.
TradeInsights
Want the latest? The TradeInsights tab on the EDC website will bring you leading-edge articles, commentary, webinars, and other tools designed to keep you up to date. Here’s a sample of what you’ll find there to help Canadian exporters navigate the global market.
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Exporting to the U.S.: The whole isn’t always greater than the sum of its parts
Exporters should look at the U.S. as a series of regional markets with different opportunities and different strategies required for getting started in each one.
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Know your Iinternational market: Building your competitive advantage abroad
Find out how research into new markets will give you an edge over the competition.
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Hot spot: How to break into the Latin American market
Latin America offers a wealth of opportunity for Canadian exporters.
Learn more
Find answers to your intercultural questions from a Canadian and a local point of view.
FITT: Feasibility of International Trade
Decide whether new international trade opportunities are viable, assess your company’s readiness to take advantage of them and determine whether the potential benefits outweigh the risks and costs.
Goverment of Canada: Business and industry
Information for businesses on tax and tariff requirements, permits and regulations, intellectual property and copyright, and how to fund or incorporate a business, hire employees or sell to government.
Google: Export Business Map
Make the web work for Canadian exporters.
Finding customers
Consult with government agencies, trade associations, subject matter experts, brokers and other exporters to help you determine what your international customers need.
Quick tips
- Partner with like-minded businesses to expand your network.
- Open a foreign affiliate to sell goods and services.
- Attend trade shows and conferences specific to your industry.
TradeInsights
Want the latest? The TradeInsights tab on the EDC website will bring you leading-edge articles, commentary, webinars, and other tools designed to keep you up to date. Here’s a sample of what you’ll find there to help Canadian exporters navigate the global market.
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Connections: Why an international network is essential
The most successful companies in global trade have strong networks and know how to leverage them.
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Servicing the world with confidence: What you need to know
In 2017, for the first time, the proportion of service exporters was greater than goods exporters. Here are just some of the key takeaways from the webinar, Selling Your Services to the World.
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Making the Connection with New Customers
Learn how to get in touch with the business connections you need to stay competitive and succeed in a global marketplace.
Learn more
Find answers to your intercultural questions from a Canadian and a local point of view.
Goverment of Canada: Business and industry
Information for businesses on tax and tariff requirements, permits and regulations, intellectual property and copyright, and how to fund or incorporate a business, hire employees or sell to government.
Global Affairs Canada: Foreign representatives in Canada
The Office of Protocol helps you find the most accurate information on foreign missions and international organizations accredited to Canada, and on their staff members.
FITT: Selling to international markets
When you communicate clearly with your customers, negotiate or conduct your transactions clearly and provide the service they want, they’ll keep coming back again and again. Set up the right sales channels to give your customers access to your products or services, discover whether using agents, wholesalers or retailers should be part of your strategy, and find how acting upon customer information you’ve gathered can lead to increases in satisfaction rates.
Entering target markets
Finding your place in a new market is about selecting the best timing and the right partners. Determine the best market-entry options for your business. Should you sell directly, use a distribution network or set up an international office?
Quick tips
- If thinking about exporting directly to foreign consumers, consider how you might have to adapt your product.
- Intermediaries can help with cultural differences and language barriers.
- Partnering with a local company can help you with on-the-ground knowledge.
TradeInsights
Want the latest? The TradeInsights tab on the EDC website will bring you leading-edge articles, commentary, webinars, and other tools designed to keep you up to date. Here’s a sample of what you’ll find there to help Canadian exporters navigate the global market.
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Growing south: How small businesses can sell to the U.S.
For small businesses, the complications of exporting over our southern border can feel overwhelming.
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Profiting from Canada’s free trade agreements
In this guide, we look at each of Canada’s free trade agreements and explain when and how you can use them to do business globally.
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Sera4: Unlocking doors in Latin America
In only four years, Sera4 has grown from a small two-person operation to a multimillion-dollar enterprise—all due to export sales.
Learn more
Find answers to your intercultural questions from a Canadian and a local point of view.
FITT: Selling to international markets
When you communicate clearly with your customers, negotiate or conduct your transactions clearly and provide the service they want, they’ll keep coming back again and again. Set up the right sales channels to give your customers access to your products or services, discover whether using agents, wholesalers or retailers should be part of your strategy, and find how acting upon customer information you’ve gathered can lead to increases in satisfaction rates.
Global Affairs Canada: Country Insights
Find answers to your intercultural questions from a Canadian and a local point of view.
Country Info
EDC’s Country Info page is a country-by-country portal outlining our trade relationships, potential buyers, economic and political trends, as well as sector and commodity information.
Identify finance requirements
Financial products fuel your international growth. Discover how to find government loans and grants, get financial information on partners, negotiate competitive payment terms with new customers, and why leveraging your accounts receivable and insuring your sales can put you in a more competitive position.
Quick tips
- The Government of Canada offers tax incentives, like the SR&ED program.
- Accounts receivable insurance can be used to leverage more working capital from your bank.
- Having enough cash flow allows you to take on international contracts as they come your way.
TradeInsights
Want the latest? The TradeInsights tab on the EDC website will bring you leading-edge articles, commentary, webinars, and other tools designed to keep you up to date. Here’s a sample of what you’ll find there to help Canadian exporters navigate the global market.
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Credit insurance: Grow your exports, cut your risks
Do you insure your property? Your employees? How about liabilities and data breaches? The answer is likely yes, yet many companies don’t insure what’s probably the biggest asset on their balance sheet–the money owed by their customers. Learn how credit insurance can protect your business and create opportunities.
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Bank won’t give any lending value to your foreign assets? Try this
Canadian banks won’t typically count overseas assets as collateral, but with EDC’s Export Guarantee Program, you can leverage assets outside of Canada and get more access to financing.
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Need business financing to expand globally? Tips you can bank on
Banks have changed. Here’s how to change your strategy and get the financing you need to grow your sales internationally.
Learn more
Find answers to your intercultural questions from a Canadian and a local point of view.
Export Guarantee Program
The Export Guarantee Program shares the financial risk with your bank so you can get the financing you need to break into new markets.
FITT: International Trade Finance
In the International Trade Finance course, you’ll learn everything an importer or exporter needs to know about payment, risk mitigation and financing, the financial flow and the flow of goods and services in global trade.
Goverment of Canada: Canada Small Business Financing Program
Most start-ups and existing for-profit small businesses in Canada with gross revenues of $10 million or less are eligible to apply for loans under this program. Such businesses can be corporations, sole proprietors, partnerships or co-operatives.
Managing risk
Get insights into political, financial, economic and business risk so you can take steps to protect yourself from non-payment and create a robust risk management strategy.
Quick tips
- Protect your intellectual property by registering your IP in Canada and in the international market.
- Ask each new customer to complete a credit application.
- Protect against non-payment with credit insurance.
TradeInsights
Want the latest? The TradeInsights tab on the EDC website will bring you leading-edge articles, commentary, webinars, and other tools designed to keep you up to date. Here’s a sample of what you’ll find there to help Canadian exporters navigate the global market.
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Managing political risk as part of business growth strategy
Managing political risks is critical to your company can survive and thrive in new markets.
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Protecting your business’ most valuable asset - intellectual property
Learn how to develop a global intellectual property strategy, as part of your business strategy before you start exporting.
Learn more
Find answers to your intercultural questions from a Canadian and a local point of view.
FITT: Risk analysis and management
What tolerance does your business have for risks, and are you prepared for them? By using standard tools and strategies, you can estimate the likelihood of different types of risk and prepare contingency plans for dealing with them. With these in hand, even if risk becomes reality, you’ll be able to reduce its impact on your business and maintain a trajectory towards long-term stability and success.
Foreign Exchange Facility Guarantee
Foreign exchange risk management is easier with our FOREX Guarantee. Purchase foreign exchange contracts without the need for collateral.
EDC Credit Insurance
EDC Credit Insurance is a type of commercial export insurance that protects your accounts receivable against losses when a customer cannot pay.
Sustaining growth
Understand how you can build on your exporting success to grow your business through direct investment, establish an in-market presence and develop a solid international network.
Quick tips
- Expand your reach online through e-commerce and social media.
- Make your business environment more innovative.
- Partner with like-minded companies in international markets.
TradeInsights
Want the latest? The TradeInsights tab on the EDC website will bring you leading-edge articles, commentary, webinars, and other tools designed to keep you up to date. Here’s a sample of what you’ll find there to help Canadian exporters navigate the global market.
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How changing the business environment can make your company more innovative
Innovation is a competitive advantage all businesses need these days, but it’s especially important when you’re selling outside of Canada
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Play it smart: 3 reasons to protect and grow your export revenue
Accounts receivable insurance can be an important tool for helping your business succeed and grow when you begin exporting.
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How to keep up with the logistics evolution
Logistics are rapidly evolving, and companies that don’t adapt will be left behind.
Learn more
Find answers to your intercultural questions from a Canadian and a local point of view.
FITT: Global value chain
Manage your company’s supply chain and logistics to mitigate risks, reduce costs and improve efficiency throughout every stage of your global value chain.
Government of Canada: Business and industry
Information for businesses on tax and tariff requirements, permits and regulations, intellectual property and copyright, and how to fund or incorporate a business, hire employees or sell to government.
Global Export Forecast
Get expert insight from a top economist on the current trends influencing global trade and Canadian exporting, in a user-friendly, twice-annual report.
Interested in growing your business in this market?
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