If you want to take your business to the next level, it may be time to consider exporting. Rather you produce a single product that appeals to the people in a particular country, make one-of-a-kind crafts that you want to export to different countries or fall into any other category, you have to deal with customs to get your stuff out of Australia and into the rest of the world safely and legally.
You can handle this on your own or hire a consultant who specialises in custom clearance services. Here are four signs you should hire a consultant to help you.
1. You're New to the World of Exporting
If you've never exported products, you may be wondering where to start. As a general rule of thumb, you can take items to Australia Post, fill out a customs form and ship the item. However, it's important to know that there are often different rules if you are shopping something for personal reasons versus for commercial reasons. To help you navigate the system, you may want to work with someone who offers custom clearance services.
2. You're Dealing With a Large Volume of Exports
As indicated above, it's not too terribly difficult to deal with customs clearance if you're just shipping a single item to another country. However, if you plan to sell multiple items, you may want to get extra help. A professional can ensure that you follow the rules and don't accidentally do something that may jeopardise your business.
3. You Want to Avoid Delays
Filling out customs paperwork, especially if you are dealing with a large volume of products can be complicated. To ensure the process goes as fast as possible, you need to avoid making mistakes on the customs forms. When you hire a professional consultant, they take care of the paperwork for you. Because this is their job, they understand how to fill out the paperwork correctly. As a result, you don't have to worry about your merchandise sitting in a customs office waiting for clearance, and that helps to safeguard customer satisfaction.
4. You Need Help With Duties
In some cases, if you export certain items, you may need to pay export taxes or special duties. So that you don't forget to pay, underpay or overpay, you should also work with a consultant. They can help you through the entire process including figuring out how to calculate and remit export taxes or duties.
Contact a customs clearance service for more information and assistance.