The agony of the first few days of doing foreign trade

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  • Jan 23, 2026 at 09:19
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I just did it.For the first few days, I was waiting for clients' responses, worried about order issues, and afraid of logistics problems. I was so anxious that I couldn't sleep at night. What should I do?

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Jason Wu
Jason WuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0

International Logistics & Supply Chain ManagerStart a Chat

I completely understand the agony you’re going through，but the root of your anxiety often stems from unclear regulatory compliance standards. First，immediately self-check three key points。

1. Has your company completed the Foreign Trade Operator Registration and Customs Consignor/Consignee Registration? Without these two registrations，your goods won’t be able to exit the country。

2. Do your products require regulatory certificates (e.g。3C certification，export licenses)? Don’t wait until the goods are ready to be seized by customs。

3. Your payment account must be a company’s foreign exchange account. Receiving foreign exchange into personal accounts is illegal，and banks will immediately refund the funds。

In the first few days，your priority shouldn’t be urging clients to pay，but preparing the "four key documents for customs declaration" (declaration form，invoice，packing list，and contract) and confirming the HS code and tax rebate rates. Many newcomers fail on their first few orders due to "pay-and-declare" practices，which are high-risk and may be classified as tax fraud. I recommend hiring a professional customs broker for your first shipment—it’s worth saving a few hundred yuan on customs fees to avoid classification errors and inaccurate declarations. Remember: Compliance isn’t a cost—it’s a protective shield for your business.

Lucas Liu
Lucas LiuYears of service：8Customer Rating：5.0

Senior Operations ConsultantStart a Chat

The first few days of anxiety stemmed 90% from having no concept of logistics timelines. What you need to do now isn’t just wait aimlessly, but proactively build a timeline: immediately request quotes from three freight forwarders, clearly stating "I’m a novice with my first shipment" and asking them to provide detailed transit times from door-to-port and port-to-port. For small batches (under 100 kg), opt for air freight or international express (DHL/FedEx) instead of sea freight. While sea freight is cheaper, it takes 7-15 days to receive the goods, which delays verifying client sincerity. If the client insists on FOB terms, you must book shipping space 3 days in advance and confirm local fees (THC, document fees, etc.) to avoid the shipping company withholding documents upon arrival. Key actions: draft the commercial invoice and packing list today, in both Chinese and English, ensuring all information aligns with subsequent customs declarations. Additionally, purchase transport insurance for your first few shipments—the premium is just a few percentage points, but it prevents disputes over damaged or lost goods. Logistics’ biggest challenge is information mismatch. Suggest sending clients a brief progress email daily (e.g., "Goods have been stored. Customs declaration expected tomorrow") to greatly alleviate mutual anxiety.

Eric Zhou
Eric ZhouYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0

Senior Manager of Foreign Exchange & Tax RebatesStart a Chat

The current struggle you’re facing essentially stems from a lack of "trust capital." When clients don’t respond, it’s not because they’re uninterested—it’s because they’re evaluating your reliability. Immediately adjust your communication strategy: Instead of asking "Have you received my quotation?," send a follow-up email: "Regarding the quotation sent on [date], I noticed you might be comparing options. To facilitate your evaluation, I’ve attached recent shipment photos and client feedback for similar products." Include 3-5 high-resolution product images, a logo-branded photo of your company’s front desk (even if you’re working remotely, create one), and a 2-page PDF of your "Quality Control Process." These elements instantly establish professionalism. For payment terms, don’t insist on 100% TT upfront for initial orders—offer "30% deposit, 70% against copy of B/L" to lower the decision threshold. If clients request payment terms, respond: "As a growing partner, we’re open to 30-day OA, but we’d need credit references or a smaller trial order first." This demonstrates flexibility without compromising your bottom line. Remember: Your priority in the early days isn’t closing deals but convincing clients you’re a reliable long-term partner, not a one-time transactional trader. Before bed each day, send 3 potential clients a valuable resource (industry reports, raw material price trends). Consistency over 7 days will boost response rates significantly.

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