Basics of exporting

The delay between the shipping of goods and your receiving payment for them will affect your cashflow.

It's worth discussing your cash position with your accountant and bank manager before committing to exporting.

Export insurance

It's also important to insure your business against not being paid in case one of your overseas customers goes out of business. UK Export Finance, run by the government, may be able to offer insurance and advice, depending on the type of export. Read more about the financial support for exporting.

Other commercial providers can also give information on credit insurance and offer cover. You can find a listing through British Insurance Brokers Association (BIBA).

Financial considerations

There are also currency issues you need to consider. Some of your customers could face problems obtaining foreign currency to pay for your exports. In this case, it's worth insisting on a (confirmed) irrevocable letter of credit that secures payments according to the terms of the credit and often at an agreed rate.

Businesses that sell on credit to foreign customers can use factoring or invoice discounting to free up cashflow. Export factors specialise in the collection of money from overseas. The factoring company pays you a percentage of the invoice value up-front and the balance (less their percentage) once they have collected payment.

Read more about getting paid when selling overseas.

Trading abroad

When arranging your sales contract you should ensure that delivery responsibilities are clearly defined using the Incoterms 2020 terminology and contracts.

Find out about the Invest NI support for selling outside Northern Ireland.