There have been a lot of changes in the trading system for past a few decades now. In this age of new innovations, technology has successfully introduced new ways to communicate, and transport goods across globe.
Generally, large companies with the logistical wherewithal, manufacturing capacity, or established name, are benefited most from these improvements, and their exports and imports make up the majority of trade in goods and services between nations.
Includes:
- What are small businesses?
- What is trading worldwide?
- Steps for small business to trade
- Problems faced
- Conclusion
What are small businesses?
Small businesses are privately owned firms which consist of fifteen to fifty employees. While small businesses can also be classified according to other methods, such as annual revenues, shipments, sales, assets, or by annual gross or net revenue or net profits, the number of employees is one of the most widely used measures. Small businesses in many countries may include service or retail operations such as convenience stores, small grocery stores, bakeries, salons/parlors or carpenters and electricians, restaurants, guest houses, photographers, very small-scale manufacturing like hand looms or weaving and Internet-related businesses such as web design and computer programming. Some professionals run as small businesses, such as lawyers, accountants, dentists, and medical doctors; they can also work under lager firms and even individually. Several small businesses only require a license, mostly the one done independently or are home based. While others like day cares, retirement homes, and restaurants serving liquor or liquor shops are more heavily regulated and may require inspection and certification from various government authorities. Small business may be a sole proprietorship like web designing, lawyer, doctor or partnership like restaurants or a small firm managed by a group of people particularly its employee like retirement homes.
What is trading worldwide?
Businesses now have not been just limited to any physical boundary. It’s expanding now and reaching beyond the borders. With the technology and access to internet growing so rapidly, companies are doing business internationally. One of the major components of this trade includes import-export. An import is a good or service brought into one country from another country whereas export; which is the process of taking product from one country to another country. The backbone of international trade is specially formed around the term import and export; because the act of international exchange of goods is a significant part of international trading. It is very necessary to balance the value of trading between importation and the amount of product leaving the country so that the host country will have a positive trade balance; else there will be negative balance of trade; which is a critical factor of economy growth and development. Larger Companies import goods and services to supply to the domestic market at a cheaper price and better quality than competing goods manufactured in the domestic market. Companies import products that are not available in the local market to enable domestic surplus and encourage good economy growth.
Now let us see how small business trade worldwide.
Steps for small business to trade worldwide
However this isn’t limited to large firms now, small businesses too are now accomplishing them in the international trade.
- Right information
Foreign market is way too big. Ambitious companies must expand their knowledge about operating in foreign market. Since two parties are involved in the trade country-to-country arrangements and rules between them must need clarification. Doing business requires certain knowledge about other country-their market and trends.
- Market and contacts
Once a business knows the all about trade and country selected, their international approach must work on establishing a foothold in targeted market. But for small businesses focused on foreign trade, the cost of visiting new areas might be a bit inadequate. That’s why it’s necessary now to establish a few contacts in the trade.
- Raise capital
Setting up businesses across borders requires financial support too. Partnership or joint venture accelerates the growth but also access to funding without losing one’s business is important. Look for institutions that can offer advice about complexities revolving around financial investments and help to raise the capital to scale business abroad
Problems Faced
Internet might have made easy for small business to trade internationally. However, there is a major issue these businesses need to resolve. There’s a foreign exchange of products which involves exchange of foreign currency. Currency changes from country to country and their rates keep fluctuating regularly. This is something which can’t be overlooked. The rate at which the currencies go up and down against each other affects the business. For example, the company sells a product in pounds and while exchanging the currency with rupees if the rate of pound goes down, the seller is at loss.
Although it’s nearly impossible to eliminate all the risks involved while trading internationally but it could be reduced a little if small businesses consider a foreign currency expert. They will guide the best time to buy or sell product internationally.
Conclusion
Small businesses now are occupying international market as well. And they are doing very well. Gaining all the information about import-export, knowing the targeted market and setting the footsteps with required product is the key how small businesses trade worldwide. Foreign currency could be risky, may be daunting initially but as the grip tightens in the trade it will no more be a problem. Considering all the points and with the technology in the favor small business has entered the worldwide trade.