Small Business Shared Interest Group

As a small business, have you considered exporting your products? As small business owners, we sometimes consider ourselves to be limited to a small market. There is no reason why small businesses need to operate in small ponds! The world is open to us and there is often demand for our products outside of our near geographic region. Think big for you small business! Think global!

The benefits are real.  If your local market is saturated or limited in size, other markets can offer new opportunities.  Economic downturns often don't occur globally, meaning you are reducing your business risk.  Increased revenue is always a good thing!  Finally, if you sell globally, you can expand your brand with increased exposure. 

There is often help for you in government agencies.  Export is a driver of financial health for countries and often an activity they support with advice and financial resources.  As an example, if you are in the food industry in the U.S., you can lean on the Department of Agriculture for expertise and even financial assistance.  Reach out and see what you can find.   

Exporting isn't just for big companies with significant infrastructure. With the tools and technology available today, even the smallest of businesses can sell internationally. You don't need to fill containers!  Start small and then grow.  You just need to expand your mind to drive expansion of your market.  All it takes is a willingness to learn.

So yes - think big. Your product may be just the solution someone on the other side of the world is searching for.

Are you a small business that exports?  Share your expertise here for others!

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Mary Baird CMA
Chief Executive Officer
Dublin OH
United States
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@Mary Baird This is such a great point! I'll bet many small businesses never considered exporting. What are some resources small business owners or accountants can utilize to learn more about this? A few questions that come to mind are how to reach global markets, and what is involved with shipping, customs, exchange rates and taxes. I think more businesses might explore expanding globally if they had comfort with the level of ease or difficulty with the process. Sounds like a great opportunity to explore for sure!  

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Jennifer Pinder, MBA, CMA
Controller
Watchdog USA, LLC
Philadelphia, PA
United States
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Jennifer,  I think where to reach for assistance has a lot to so with the industry that you work in.  As an example, for the food industry in the United States, the Department of Agriculture as an entire department focused on assisting business' export.  Given the desire global government agencies have to drive exports, I would image that starting with government resources would be the best first resource to check!

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Mary Baird CMA
Chief Executive Officer
Dublin OH
United States
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-27-2025 09:31 PM
From: Jennifer Pinder
Subject: Does your small business export? If not, maybe you should!

@Mary Baird This is such a great point! I'll bet many small businesses never considered exporting. What are some resources small business owners or accountants can utilize to learn more about this? A few questions that come to mind are how to reach global markets, and what is involved with shipping, customs, exchange rates and taxes. I think more businesses might explore expanding globally if they had comfort with the level of ease or difficulty with the process. Sounds like a great opportunity to explore for sure!  

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Jennifer Pinder, MBA, CMA
Controller
Watchdog USA, LLC
Philadelphia, PA
United States
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Thanks, Mohamed!

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Mary Baird CMA
Chief Executive Officer
Dublin OH
United States
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-28-2025 05:18 AM
From: Mohamed Eid
Subject: Does your small business export? If not, maybe you should!

Great post!
I don't run a small business myself, but as a finance professional I find this perspective really inspiring. It's eye-opening to see how small businesses can expand globally and reduce risk while growing their brand. I look forward to learning from the experiences shared here by business owners who are already exporting.

Its an interesting post, likely a more complex topic than our traditional domestic stay and sell at home businesses. But, domestic businesses deal with import, the other side of the coin, more often, yes?

Amazon facilitates a platform where goods would be advertised and whoever is buying them from a domestic US business and the good going abroad would be export. Export of course can apply to raw materials, subcomponents, and others. 

Companies in US domestically for example can import raw material or parts, assemble in US, and then sell via Amazon, some of the product will then end up abroad.

You are right @Mary Baird it doesn't have to be containers, shipping logistics enable smaller quantities and varying delivery/shipping options.

Naturally, it depends on the nature of the product and customs policies and such . . .

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Ilya Ilienko, dual MBA, CPA, CMA
Board Member / Director
East Coast - United States
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Ilya,

I think you have struck on one important aspect of exporting, which is that there are existing channels you can work through to start!  Working with existing global platforms, such as Amazon, Etsy, etc. can likely help small business owners get their feed wet without the need for a large export department!

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Mary Baird CMA
Chief Executive Officer
Dublin OH
United States
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-29-2025 05:41 PM
From: Ilya Ilienko
Subject: Does your small business export? If not, maybe you should!

Its an interesting post, likely a more complex topic than our traditional domestic stay and sell at home businesses. But, domestic businesses deal with import, the other side of the coin, more often, yes?

Amazon facilitates a platform where goods would be advertised and whoever is buying them from a domestic US business and the good going abroad would be export. Export of course can apply to raw materials, subcomponents, and others. 

Companies in US domestically for example can import raw material or parts, assemble in US, and then sell via Amazon, some of the product will then end up abroad.

You are right @Mary Baird it doesn't have to be containers, shipping logistics enable smaller quantities and varying delivery/shipping options.

Naturally, it depends on the nature of the product and customs policies and such . . .

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Ilya Ilienko, dual MBA, CPA, CMA
Board Member / Director
East Coast - United States
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