Solutions / Global Commerce
From your first U.S. company to your first U.S. customer
We set up your U.S. company and importer arrangements, keep your books in order, move your goods and help you find buyers. A licensed CPA firm and licensed customs brokers handle the regulated work.
Your path into the U.S. market
Four steps to your first sale, then the yearly work that keeps your company in good standing.
Set up
Your U.S. company and business address
- Entity choice, C corporation or LLC, decided with our partner CPA firm
- State of formation: Delaware or the state where you operate
- Formation filing, registered agent and U.S. business address
- Federal tax ID (EIN), including for owners outside the U.S.
- Help preparing for a U.S. business bank account
- Registration in other states where you do business
Import
An importer arrangement U.S. Customs accepts
- Importer number filed on CBP Form 5106 by a licensed customs broker
- Continuous customs bond
- Power of attorney and ACE account
- HTS classification and duty check before your first order
Trade
Contracts and documents that match
- Sales and purchase contracts
- Commercial invoice, packing list and certificates of origin
- Coordination between your supplier and your U.S. buyer on specs, timing and payment terms
- Freight, customs and warehousing by our own team
Sell
Your brand in front of U.S. buyers
- Brand promotion for the U.S. market
- Online: marketplace and own-store setup
- Offline: introductions to distributors, wholesalers and retailers
- Co-selling alongside our team
Every year
Stay compliant
- Professional bookkeeping
- Annual reports and state franchise taxes
- Federal and state tax returns
- Sales tax and payroll filings where they apply
- Corporate records kept current: minutes and bylaws
- Annual audits when needed, and tax consulting
Who does what
You deal with one team. The regulated work is done by licensed professionals we work with.
Your single point of contact
BTL SCM
- Plans the whole setup and keeps it on schedule
- Trade coordination, freight, customs coordination and warehousing
- Brand promotion and sales support
Company, books and taxes
Licensed CPA firm
- Entity formation
- Bookkeeping and annual filings
- Tax returns, audits and consulting
Importer setup and entries
Licensed customs brokers
- Importer number (CBP Form 5106)
- Customs bonds
- Customs entry filing
Accounting, tax and customs brokerage services are performed by the licensed firms we work with.
What to have ready
- Business license of your home-country company
- Product list with photos and specifications
- Expected volumes and U.S. destinations
- Where you plan to sell: online, wholesale or retail
Questions we often hear
Should we form an LLC or a corporation?
Foreign parent companies often choose a C corporation, because its taxes are simpler for owners outside the U.S. An LLC is more flexible but can complicate foreign owners' taxes. Our partner CPA firm recommends one based on your ownership and plans.
Delaware, or the state where we operate?
Delaware is popular for its corporate law, but you must also register in every state where you have staff, a warehouse or sales. Forming where you operate can mean one set of state fees instead of two.
How long does setup take?
Filing the company is usually quick. The EIN can take several weeks when no owner is in the U.S., and many banks ask for an in-person visit to open an account. We plan your first shipment around both.
Do we need a U.S. company to import?
No. A foreign company can be the importer of record with a customs bond. A U.S. company makes it easier to sell to U.S. buyers, bank in the U.S. and collect sales tax, so most of our clients set one up.
What keeps the company in good standing?
Annual reports and franchise taxes, tax returns, and records that keep the company separate from its parent. Our partner CPA firm tracks the deadlines with you.
Other solutions
- International Freight ForwardingOcean and air freight, FCL and LCL, as a licensed NVOCC
- U.S. Customs & Import ServicesClearance and ISF filing through licensed customs brokers
- Warehousing & DistributionOver 1 million sq ft across the West, Central and East
- Digital SolutionsOnline quotes, tracking and messages with our team
Ready to get started?
Tell us what you are shipping and our team will reply by email.