Check your export readiness in just 11 questions. The checker gives you instant feedback based on the answers given. Take the assessment again in the future to track your progress.
Before starting the quiz, please fill the following information.
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Have you already done any research on potential markets suitable for your products?
Well done! Before starting any export activity, it is important to do proper research on target countries to validate whether your product/(s) can actually enter or it is difficult to enter those markets taking into consideration many factors including trade agreements that Lebanese Products can benefit from to facilitate market entry.
Market research is one of the most important steps in your export journey. There are already a lot of existing market research on various products and markets available for free on many websites including Lebtrade. If you want to do your own research, you can check our market research section in our trade guide to provide you with tips on how to do your search. If you need professional support, you can check the support organizations available in Lebanon that can assist you in market research. You may also consider enrolling in a course on market research at the export online academy.
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Do you have a clearly defined and well-structured export plan?
Well done. An export plan provides a clear, concise roadmap of the markets you are targeting, your entry strategy, the resources you need to get there, and a reasonable timeline for achieving your goals.
The first step in exportation is assessing the potential benefits and risks to your business when selling internationally, defining your target markets, your specific sales goals and the overall approach you will take to achieve those goals. Check our export plan template in our trade guide to help you get started. In case you need further professional support in developing the plan, check our list of support organizations that can assist you in your export plan. You may also consider enrolling in a course on export planning at the export online academy.
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Do you have a compelling online presence such a professional website, Corporate Company profile, or social media accounts?
Well done! Your website or social media accounts are your shop window. It is the first impression that introduce your company and portfolio of products to the potential buyer. If you have a professionally developed website or well-maintained social media accounts that clearly showcase the unique value proposition of your products, then more buyers would be interested to contact your business.
You may want to consider establishing online presence for your brand before considering exporting. If you need professional help to develop your digital marketing strategy, you can check the list of support organizations that can assist you in that.
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Do you have the human capacity and financial resources to scale up operations and potentially modify your product characteristics to meet the demand from overseas markets?
Well done! To meet increased international demand, you’ll need these extra resources to scale up your operations.
Remember, you risk losing the export deal if you can’t meet your order quantity! Before taking any order from outside, consider how you are going to increase your operational capacity, whether you need to recruit extra staff or you need to invest in new more efficient machinery or change/optimize your production process. Check our trade guide for the various export financing available to you in Lebanon.
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Do you know how to price for export markets?
That’s great! Pricing the right way helps keep your business running and sustainable.
You first need to understand all the costs related to exporting to be able to price in a way that covers all your expected and unexpected costs. You also need to understand the various pricing strategies that can be adopted in each target market. Check out our trade guide for more tips on how to price the right way. You can also enroll in one of the courses of the export online academy to understand more how to do export pricing the right way.
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Do you have a dedicated team or person responsible of developing your export business?
That’s great! It’s important to have someone dedicated to develop and scale-up your export business.
You may want to consider appointing someone to handle everything related to exporting including market research, develop and implement the export plan, research on potential markets and their regulations, mitigate possible risks in exporting and manages export logistics.
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Did you identify a logistics partner that can support you in moving your product/(s) overseas?
Well done. Having a reliable logistics partner can help you in so many different ways and advice you on most optimal option to reach your clients the fastest way.
it is very important that you find a trustworthy and reliable logistics partner that can support you in your export journey. Check our export guide to get tips on how to select your logistics partner.
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Do you know what are INCOTERMS and what they are needed for?
That’s’ great. INCOTERMS or International Commercial Terms is a very important document that specifies which parties (buyers and sellers) are responsible for the various costs. Being familiar with the various clauses of this contract protects you from any unforeseen additional costs.
It is very important that you understand what are INCOTERMS or International Commercial Terms. This is a very important document that specifies which parties (buyers and sellers) are responsible for the various costs. Being familiar with the various clauses of this contract protects you from any unforeseen additional costs. To learn more about Incoterms, check our trade guide. You can also sign up to one of the courses offered at the export online academy to be aware of the latest updates on INCOTERMS and how to draft one that is suitable for the type of your business.
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Do you know the various documents you need to prepare in order to get custom clearance from Lebanon?
That’s great! It is very important to be aware of all the paperwork you need to prepare before shipping your products overseas.
A lot of paperwork is required prior to exporting from Lebanon depending on type of product you are exporting and destination country. Familiarizing yourself with all the documents needed is a must to avoid delays and financial losses. You can check our trade guide to understand the various steps needs to achieve a smooth custom clearance.
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Are you aware of all the certificates you need to export your product to your target market/(s)?
That’s great! Depending on the type of product you are exporting, there are certain certifications required that are issued by the relevant authorities. By working in advance on acquiring those certificates, you avoid potential delays and financial losses associated when your product/(s) are stuck in the customs of the destination country.
You cannot export if you do not have the required certificates. Depending on the type of product you are exporting, there are certain certifications required that are issued by the relevant authorities. By working in advance on acquiring those certificates, you avoid potential delays and financial losses associated when your product/(s) are stuck in the customs of the destination country. Check our trade guide to know where to look for the market access regulations by country and product.
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Do you know what to do in case of a dispute with your buyer?
Well done! It is very important to be aware of the legal instruments you can use in case of a dispute with your overseas client.
Export business entails risks. Understanding the various mitigation measures in case of dispute with your overseas client is very important to ensure the sustainability of your export business. You can check our trade guide to understand more about available legal instruments you can use in case of dispute.