do you need a import export license to ship from china i need help going there soon to try en start a busines

Question

i want to import from china will be going there for around 10k worth of personal goods and try to make a business of it any help would be gratfully accepted/contacts will be gutting out my house everthing from kitchen to sofas/bathroom/electrical..etc everthing...many thanks

Answer 1

Start by learning more about the business. One paper I strongly recommend that you read are the following US Bureau of Custom's papers

"Importing into the United States: A Practical Guide for Commercial Importers" http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/toolbox/publications/trade/iius.ctt/iius.doc
How Cargo Flows Securely into the US http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/cargo_summary/cargo_flow_map.ctt/cargo_flow_map.pdf
US Import Requirements http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/toolbox/publications/trade/usimportrequirements.ctt/usimportrequirements.doc

Here are some steps to help you get started on an import and export business:

1. Select your product - the more you know about your products, the better you can run your import/export operations. Start with what you know, but be open to opportunities you see as you go along.

2. Research, research and research. If you are based in the US and wants to start an import/export business here, then you need to learn all customs laws, trading restrictions and quotas, international trade data, and more. Find out where you can find good information about the products you plan to trade.

3. Identify potential contacts. From your list of products, identify the countries that supply those products. Then find the producers of your target products in those countries.

I recommend reading the following:

Starting a Home-Based Exporting Business
http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol8/exporting.htm
Laying the Foundations of Your Home Based International Trading Business
http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol21/trading.htm
How to Start an Import/Export Business http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/0,4621,290657,00.html
CMTAC Trade Information Database http://latrade.cmtac.org/trade_info/index.cfm
Don'ts of Importing
http://www.gattiassociates.com/CM/Articles/Articles1277.asp
Flowchart of the export process http://www.export.gov/exportbasics/index.asp
Going Global http://www.going-global.com/articles/

These trade association websites also have loads of information on how to start an export import business:

Federation of International Trade Association http://fita.org/index.html
Professional Association of Exporters and Importers http://www.paei.org/

You may also want to check out the following books:

- Import/Export: How to Get Started in International Trade
- Exporting, Importing, and Beyond : How to 'Go Global' With Your Small Business
- Selling to the World: Your Fast and Easy Guide to Exporting and Importing
- Start and Run a Profitable Exporting Business
- Start Your Own Import/Export Business

Answer 2

Unless you are bringing back sensitive goods you wont need a license, ie; arms, nuclear equipment, certain tech goods prohibited from export by the Chinese government--which are not very many.

It sounds like you are going to China for 10k worth of junk shopping. Which you will need to ship back, you'll need a freight forwarder or shipper, and invoices for the goods to present to US Customs, Bill of Lading, and you might have to pay tariffs on the goods depending on what you buy and how much to US Customs. You should probably talk to a Licensed US Customs broker before you go who has experience bringing in goods from Asia. Long Beach or San Francisco would be the place to look for the broker since it will most likely arrive at one of those ports...

Answer 3

you will need to be licensed in both china as well as your country. There's a lot of things you must do, to include tax payments