The Ultimate Checklist To Prepare For your International Expansion

As the global market becomes increasingly connected, expanding your business internationally may seem like an exciting opportunity. However, before taking that leap, it is crucial to thoroughly assess your business's readiness for international expansion. That's why we've put together the 5 following questions to help you prepare for taking your business to the next level.

Take your business to new places with Wise. Our international business account enables you to pay, get paid and manage multiple currencies with easy, fast and low-fee transactions.

International Business Account

1. Is your business on a firm footing?

💸 Assess your financial stability: Ensure your business is stable on a day-to-day basis before pursuing overseas markets. This should include assessing your company's financial health to ensure it has the resources to support international expansion. Alternatively, you can look into crowdfunding or finding the right investor for your international expansion.

In your Wise Business account, you can download your annual statement,making it easier to keep track of costs, including our transparent, low fees on international transactions. Alternatively, choose your preferred time frame to assess your finances for a defined period.

📈 Make operations efficient: Next, you should look into the operational efficiency. Streamline internal processes and ensure day-to-day operations are working smoothly before venturing into overseas markets. It's essential having the right people and roles on your team to improve your chances of success, including increased capacity to handle additional tasks.

Integrating your accounting software such as QuickBooks, FreeAgent or Xero can streamline your financial operations, helping you to focus on growing your business rather than manual accounting tasks.

📍Position in the market: Evaluate your position in the domestic market to determine if it provides a solid foundation for expansion. Assessing your market share, customer base, brand reputation, and competitive advantage will help you determine if you have a solid foundation for expansion. Understanding your strengths and weaknesses domestically will guide your decision-making process and provide insights into how to leverage your existing success when entering new markets.

✅	Assess financial stability + finding new financial resources
✅	Ensure efficient operations + enhance productivity
✅	Evaluate domestic market position + identify international competitive advantage

2. Have you assessed the local competition?

🔍 Competitive Landscape: Researching and analysing competitors in the target market is essential to gain insights into their strategies, strengths, weaknesses, and overall market positioning. By identifying market gaps or untapped opportunities, you can tailor your approach and offerings to differentiate yourself from competitors and carve out a unique space in the international market.

📈 Market Trends: It is crucial to stay updated with current market trends and consumer preferences in the target market. By understanding these trends, you can align your approach and offerings to meet the evolving needs and desires of your prospective international customers.

💲Pricing Strategies: Examining the pricing strategies of local competitors is essential for positioning your products or services competitively in the international market. By analysing their pricing structures and understanding the perceived value of similar offerings, you can set a pricing strategy that appeals to your target customers while considering factors such as costs, market demand, and profitability.

🚧 Market Entry Barriers: Identifying and understanding unique barriers to entry in the target market is crucial for assessing your competitive positioning. These barriers can include legal requirements, licensing or certification processes, or specific industry regulations. By identifying and addressing these barriers early on, you can develop strategies to navigate them effectively, ensuring compliance and minimising any potential disadvantages compared to local competitors. This proactive approach will help position your business for successful entry and sustainable growth in the international market.

✅	Research and analyse competitors
✅	Identify market gaps
✅	Tailor your approach
✅	Understand your market trends
✅	Examining pricing strategies of your competitors
✅	Address entry barriers + solutions

3. Do you need an international partner?

Cultural Sensitivity: When seeking potential international partners, it is crucial to ensure they not only have the necessary business acumen but also understand and respect the cultural nuances of the target market. This cultural sensitivity will enable effective communication and build trust with local stakeholders.

Legal Framework: Navigate legal complexities by collaborating with partners familiar with local laws and regulations. Or consider choosing an appropriate business structure for your international expansion, without the need to set up a business in the market.

✅	Choose the right structure for international expansion
✅	Consider partnering locally
✅	Research local requirements for partnerships

4. Are you aware of the currency fluctuation risk?

When taking your business to new places, chances are, your chosen market operates in a different currency. Use your Wise Business account to manage multiple currencies and consider using auto conversion to set up your desired exchange rate - we'll convert your money automatically once it reaches the desired price.

Discover Wise Business

✅ Auto Conversions in the Wise account allow you to pick your desired exchange rate and a specified amount to convert between two eligible currencies. We'll watch the rate, and convert your money automatically when your desired rate - or an even better rate - is met in the market. Learn more here.

5. Will you send a team from the head office or hire abroad?

Cultural Training: Provide cultural training for expatriate teams to facilitate smooth integration into the new market. This training should encompass understanding local customs, etiquette, and communication styles, ensuring your team can effectively navigate cultural differences and build strong relationships with local partners and employees.

Local Talent Pool: Assess the availability of skilled local talent and explore the option of hiring to capitalise on regional expertise. By tapping into the knowledge and insights of local professionals, you can benefit from their understanding of the market dynamics, local connections, and language proficiency, which can contribute to better business decision-making and successful market penetration.

Cross-Cultural Communication: Develop communication strategies that bridge cultural gaps within the international team. Encouraging open dialogue, promoting active listening, and fostering an inclusive environment are essential to ensure effective collaboration, mutual understanding, and synergy between team members with diverse cultural backgrounds, leading to improved teamwork and overall business performance.

✅	Train staff for the new market
✅	Consider hiring locally or remotely
✅	Develop new communication strategies

At Wise, we understand expanding internationally is no small task. That's why our international business account enables you to manage multiple currencies in one account. Explore all the benefits including expense debit cards, accounting integration or batch payments and take your business to new places with no monthly fees!

Features of Wise Business account