The first thing you need to do when considering taking your small home business international is research. You need to know if your product or idea is even viable and if your business will be successful going international. Is there a need for your business to go global, or will the competition be too fierce? Research questions like these and many others will put you ahead in the long run and save you some valuable time and money. The U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration has a network of about 2500 trade experts in 70 different countries, and also about 70 in the United States. They can help you understand how to go international and where to go to get everything you need to do it. After all, wouldn't you hate to do all the work of taking your business international and then find out that there are multiple other companies with the same exact product or idea? Doing research can help you narrow your choices and identify the market that is right for you and your business. Consider also for a moment as you are researching the international market, why you are taking the business international. If you are moving in the direction of a foreign market it should be because there is some sort of need for your business, because your website is getting more international hits than American customers, or maybe even because you think your product will sell better in a foreign market. Don't just go international because you it's something you've always wanted to do. Taking your business international is not just a hobby. It will take a lot of hard work.

Prepare yourself for setbacks and pitfalls. If this is the first time you are trying to take your business international then set realistic goals for yourself and be prepared for some setbacks along the way. Make sure that you understand the etiquette of the country you will be dealing with? Are the targeted countries English speaking? Is the currency stable? Different countries have different cultures and customs so make sure you are familiar with them if you want to do business with them. For example, one difference between the U.S. business trend and those overseas is that building business relationships matters much more to foreign businesses than it does in the United States.

Knowing the rules of international business is extremely important and something you will need to be familiar with. There are many laws that regulate the export of American goods and products to overseas countries. You may or may not need an export license (depending on who you are selling to), and remember that there are certain products that cannot be sold overseas. Understanding the rules will give you an opportunity to provide greater service to the buyer and operate your business within the boundaries of the law.
It is always a good idea to have some sort of written contract with whomever you are doing business with internationally. Never conduct business affairs under verbal orders. Signatures and seals are a necessity and often required to seal a deal. As you are embarking on international ties make sure you look for companies that have well known experience, especially when it comes to shipping and such. Usually if a company is well known and has experience with international businesses they will keep things in order and help in solving problems that come up.

And lastly, something which may be difficult for some to do is you should always require payment in advance in the U.S. currency, or through a letter of credit.

Taking your small home business international can be a lengthy and sometimes expensive process. Hopefully these tips on going global will help ease you into the world of international business a little easier.