Start your own import/export business : your step-by-step guide to success / Entrepreneur Press and Jennifer Dorsey.

Includes index.

1. International trade : passport to success -- The international adventurer -- Champagne and caviar -- Import/export, the prequel -- Ice chests to Siberia -- Back to the future -- Counting your coconuts -- Crank-up costs -- The Rock of Gibraltar -- The right stuff -- Move over, trader Sam -- The trade bug -- Overnight from nothing -- Here you are -- Future forecast -- 2. Import/export 101 -- The players -- The big boys -- I've grown accustomed -- Lend me your EAR -- Say cheese -- That's APHIS, not aphids -- Swimming the trade channel -- The rules -- Those tetchy trade barriers -- Can we quota you? -- The buddy system -- 3. The world stage : politics plays a role -- GATTing to know you -- Club WTO -- NAFTA -- The European Union -- War, what is it good for? -- Sanctions -- The trade hit parade -- Canada -- Mexico -- Japan -- China -- Germany -- United Kingdom -- France -- Republic of Korea -- Taiwan -- Singapore -- Venezuela -- Netherlands -- 4. Trade routes : daily operations -- Trading particulars -- The exporter at work -- The pro's pro forma -- Documentation -- Take a letter -- Let's talk shipping -- The merchandise love boat -- The import/export referee -- The L/C revue -- Oops! -- Is that all there is? -- Cash is king -- A date with a draft.

5. Rituals and red tape -- The importer at work -- Entry -- Customs limbo -- Released from custody -- Out on bail -- Hold on to your hats -- Examination and valuation -- Classification -- Payment and liquidation -- 6. Charting your trade route : market research -- Tripping manufacturers -- Where in the world? -- What's my niche? -- "Secondhand Rose" -- My mission : trade -- Unlocking mysteries -- Intelligence agency -- Custom tailored -- Up close and personal -- Up closer and more personal -- Star treatment -- Compass points -- 7. The armchair trader : working online -- All the comforts of home -- A trip to the hardware store -- House rules : what can you do online? -- BTW, IMHO you should CYA on the B2B or your biz will be DOA -- Say what? : language barriers -- Maintaining a presence -- WYSIWYG -- DIY, or better yet, DIFM -- Marketing to the world with one click -- Count me in -- Hello, neighbor : advertising on import/export friendly sites -- Howdy, pardner : co-op/partner marketing and advertising -- 8. The trader's trunk : start-up basics -- Name that business -- Howdy, partner -- Sea to shining sea -- The fictitious business name -- Your skeletal structure -- Home zoned home -- Attorney with ELAN -- The details.

9. Trade dollars : figuring your finances -- Start-up costs -- Computing computer costs -- Fax facts -- Nosing around the Net -- The skinny on software -- Lead me on -- Phone fun -- The mechanical receptionist -- My calling card -- Stamps around the world -- Traveling trader -- All that jazz -- Pricing yourself -- The commish -- Biting the retainer -- The great sock caper -- Competitive pricing -- The distributor cap -- Leave the light on -- That's illuminating -- Baseline expenses -- Send me a letter -- Paper tiger -- Trip tip -- Olâe for online service -- Paying the piper -- Putting it together -- A little bit of luck -- Romancing the bank -- Ex-Im Bank -- In your pocket -- 10. Employees, insurance, and other facts of life -- Fun with filing -- The all-star -- Standing on the corner -- The backup brain -- Testing 1, 2, 3 -- Insuring your gems -- Thanks, Ex-Im -- Miami Vice -- The blanket policy -- Stormy weather -- 11. Inside the cargo hold : your business equipment -- Computer glitterati -- Purring printers -- Just the fax -- Soft on software -- Hello, central -- Phone on the go -- Automated answering service -- Vociferous voice mail -- Laugh at lightning -- Lightning strikes again -- Cool and calculating -- Paper cloning -- Step into my office -- The stationary suitcase -- The home office -- The tax man speaketh -- Growing pains -- Alternative officing -- Organized and efficient -- Likewise.

12. The trader's trumpet : advertising and marketing -- Chicken or egg? -- Hunting for exports -- Direct-mail dazzle -- (Cold- ) calling all clients -- Desperately seeking imports -- The travel log -- Just call me -- Singles dances -- Toothpicks to tires -- Bounty hunting -- Selling yourself -- International call -- The marketing plan -- We now present -- Take a meeting -- Shake on it -- Getting the product out -- Selling nozzles -- Pursuing the perfect rep -- Interview kit -- Sign on the dotted line -- At 'em advertising -- Banana peels -- Look for the label -- Public relations patter -- Service that customer -- 13. More trade dollars : effectively controlling your finances -- Making a statement -- Sad experience -- Banking buddies -- Play money -- See spot transact -- The tax man cometh -- Driving miss trader -- Let me entertain you -- Planes, trains, and automobiles -- 14. Fair winds or foul seas -- Ring of contacts -- When you believe -- Appendix -- International trade resources -- Associations -- Books -- Credit cards with air miles -- Customs brokers and freight forwarders -- Credit reports -- Forms -- Helpful government agencies, import/export -- Helpful related government agencies -- International trade directories -- Magazine and publications -- Market research -- Miscellaneous international business Web sites -- Seminars and workshops -- Successful international trade businesses -- Glossary.