International Trade

South Carolina’s small business owners are always looking for ways to grow their business. One approach is to find customers in new markets. International trade assists an owner in growing their business through diversification in customer, geography, seasonality, and product mix. 

 

SC SBDC export business consultants provide international trade assistance to SC small businesses who are:

• New-to-Export clients

• Early-Stage Exporters

• Existing SC SBDC Export clients

• Importers of components used in export
   

SC SBDC export business consultants are experienced professionals specially trained to assist SC small business owners with international trade needs. Our team works with business owners to provide:

• Export Readiness Assessment 

  • Determining whether this is a good strategy for the business – or not.

• Export Business Plan Development

  • Management Commitment

  • Industry/Product Analysis

  • Target Market Analysis

  • Export Operations

  • Trade Finance

• Loan Preparation 

  • SBA and EXIM Bank export loan documentation

  • Commercial bank loan preparation and documentation

• Connection to SCITC Partner programs/services, as needed 

  • SC Commerce, US Commercial Service, etc.

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According to the SBA, small businesses have generated the majority of net new jobs in the U.S. over the past decade. Exporting is good for a company’s bottom line. Helping companies grow by selling internationally is important to our economy and a key objective of the SC SBDC.

 

Make an appointment with a SC SBDC export specialist today! There are three experienced Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP) consultants in the SC SBDC and two business consultants. Please contact them at:

• Beth Smith, CGBP – Columbia: smithem6@mailbox.sc.edu

• Jim Johnson – Midlands: jimmymj@mailbox.sc.edu

• Ben Calhoun – Upstate: bncalho@clemson.edu

• Tom Lauria, CGBP – Charleston: tomlauria@sc.edu

• Ben Smith, CGBP – Clemson: bennys@clemson.edu
   

Useful export resources:

International Trade Administration (trade.gov)

SBA Export Loan Programs (sba.gov)

SC International Trade Coalition (scexports.org/)

SC Department of Commerce: Export Services

(sccommerce.com/international/export-services)

US Commercial Service SC (2016.export.gov/southcarolina)

NASBITE International (nasbite.org)