International Shipping for E-commerce and Marketplaces

How to organise international shipping for e-commerce

One of the main questions when opening an online shop or business is this: should I go international? We know that offering international shipping for your e-commerce site can feel daunting, but with the right courier partner and the best international shipping for marketplaces, going global could be the key to expanding your business and improving your bottom line. Find out how to offer international shipping for your online shop or e-commerce site and how to cut down your international shipping costs with Eurosender.

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Worldwide shipping for e-commerce

Advantages & Disadvantages

How to get global shipping

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Follow our steps to set up logistics for e-commerce and start shipping right away. Teaming up with an online logistics platform is one of the best and easiest ways for arranging shipping for online shops.

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E-COMMERCE GLOBAL DELIVERIES

E-commerce international shipping options with Eurosender

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GETTING READY

Global e-commerce shipping: what to consider first

Offering worldwide shipping for your e-commerce site can be the key to put you ahead of the competition. Adding international shipping is worth it for e-commerce and marketplaces that plan to expand their operation and reach a wider pool of clients, worldwide.
Before you set up international shipping on your e-commerce site, you should think about:

Type of goods: depending on the type of goods you are selling you will have to comply with different regulations. Some products are subjected to VAT and import taxes and may even be forbidden in some countries. Other products may need special transport conditions and may not be suitable for certain shipping services.
Country of delivery: you can decide to offer global e-commerce shipping or reduce the scope of your deliveries to a specific set of countries. If you are shipping within the EU, sending your products to clients abroad is much easier than shipping outside the EU. Take into account the restrictions of both the pickup and delivery countries before accepting the sale.
VAT, customs and duties: when shipping internationally there might be VAT charges, customs duties, tariffs and export or import taxes that have to be paid. You may need to get a special VAT number or permit to export.
Shipping volume: By calculating the average monthly shipping volume, you can plan in advance and cut down international shipping costs. A good practice before your set up global shipping is to calculate how many domestic shipments you make.
Packing: sellers have to provide adequate packing and prepare their products safely before shipping. You can take a look at our pack and ship guides for more information.

E-commerce international shipping: advantages and disadvantages

ADVANTAGES

Relevant market: by offering international shipping on your e-commerce site, you will reach customers everywhere in the world. When selling online, your target users can access your page from any location.
Expand customer base: reaching further than your local market will help you target a huge pool of potential customers who are looking for a product like yours.
Improve your brand image: expanding globally will help you become a stronger brand.

DISADVANTAGES

Customs, import duties and VAT: e-commerce sellers have to consider customs procedures, import and export duties and international VAT when setting up international shipping. Not only these can make your deliveries more expensive, but also slow down the shipping process.
International restrictions: some products and articles cannot be sold to certain markets, and sometimes sellers need special permits to be able to sell in a specific location.
Higher costs: shipping abroad is more expensive. However, with our reliable international shipping for e-commerce you can get the best quote available and register to get even more benefits.

GOING GLOBAL

How to offer international shipping for your online shop

The first thing to do is making sure you have all the necessary documents and authorisations for shipping internationally. For this, you will need to register as an international seller with the relevant authorities to be able to import or export products from your country and offer global deliveries for your ecommerce. Depending on the country you are based, that means getting a VAT number, EORI number or other applicable certificate.
Second, you need to set up your logistics operations. The two most popular alternatives are managing all processes in-house or outsourcing with a reliable logistics partner.

In house logistics
You can choose to manage all logistics processes inhouse, but setting up international shipping for a small e-commerce business can be complicated without a partner. You will need to allocate manpower and budget to logistics management and may need to set up every step of the process (warehousing, distribution etc.) on your own.
Teaming up with a partner
Instead of comparing hundreds of couriers one by one, one of the easiest ways of offering worldwide shipping on your small online shop or e-commerce platform is to team up with a logistics partner.
Joining a marketplace
To make things easier, many small businesses decide to join Amazon, eBay or AliExpress to be able to offer international shipping. However, you can remain independent and unique by getting your own logistics department online with us.

Global e-commerce shipping made simple with Eurosender

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OUR BENEFITS

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With Eurosender, you will get the best courier solution matching the needs of your start-up. Arrange international deliveries for your small business with our one-stop platform.

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How to offer international shipping for online shops and e-commerce FAQ

I have a low shipping volume; should I offer international shipping?

Offering international shipping is not related to the volume of sales. In fact, it may be exactly what your business needs to expand and reach a wider audience. With Eurosender, it does not matter if you have a high or low shipping volume. Our platform is free to use, and you do not need a minimum order amount to use our dashboard for your global e-commerce shipping.

Can small businesses offer cheap international shipping?

Yes, they can, but small businesses may not have the bargaining power bigger businesses have. You can cut down on international shipping costs by taking advantage of the services of a platform like Eurosender, that provide your small business with already negotiated quotes with leading courier companies.

Does flat rate shipping include international deliveries?

Some courier companies offer flat rates for many different services, including international shipping. However, this depends on each courier company, and it may not be useful for your small business. A good intermediate solution is to calculate an average international delivery price based on your order history. For example, you can decide to offer flat rate international shipping for your e-commerce site, but only for a selected number of countries.

How can I arrange international delivery for my business?

With Eurosender, you can get the best international shipping for your business or marketplace in just a few clicks. Simply introduce the details of your shipment on our booking tool, and you will get an immediate quote. You can check the delivery times directly on the booking tool and will later receive a tracking number you can provide your client with.

Do sellers have to pay for customs when shipping internationally?

Generally, the buyers have to cover duties and customs fees that may arise because these are calculated once the package or packages enter the country of destination.

Do I need a VAT number to ship internationally from my e-commerce site?

When shipping internationally, you will need to have the proper documents and permits, and this may include a VAT and/or EORI number if you are based in the EU or UK. Before you decide to go international, you will have to check the rules of your country or the marketplace site you are selling from. If you are a seller from the UK, you can check our e-commerce and Brexit page for more information.

How does international shipping work on eBay, Depop and other marketplaces?

Many marketplaces such as Amazon, Shopify or eBay give sellers the opportunity of shipping internationally. However, these international shipping solutions within marketplaces can be expensive and sometimes have strong restrictions regarding the size or weight of the parcel. If you want to learn more about selling and shipping from marketplaces, check our selling guides for more information.

Can I offer international shipping from a marketplace on my own?

Yes, most marketplaces and selling platforms allow users to arrange shipping on their own. If you have your own shop within a marketplace, you can use our platform to get the best courier services matching your needs. Get started right away and discover how we can make international shipping for e-commerce simple.

Is it complicated to offer global shipping for e-commerce?

It can seem complicated, but offering international shipping is a matter of planning ahead. Before you start, you will have to get familiar with shipping regulations, taxes and import limitations. But the good news is that this is only done once, when you start! When you have figured that out, booking an international delivery for your e-commerce site can be done in less than 5 minutes.

Is it worth it to offer international shipping for a starting business?

Even though some online sellers may think it is hard to ship internationally, most businesses think it is worth it because it has the potential of opening up the sales to a much broader audience. In the end, Shipping internationally is not much more complicated than shipping domestically, and once set up, international shipping is definitely worth it for e-commerce and marketplaces.

Which carrier is best for international shipping?

For shipping internationally for e-commerce, the best carrier is the one that can get your parcel to your customers safely, steadily and on time. The best carrier is also the one that matches your business needs without charging you too much. Depending on the type of product and the urgency of the delivery, the ideal carrier can be one offering urgent deliveries such as DHL or a carrier offering freight services, such as Kuehne + Nagel. If you don’t know which carrier is best for the international shipping of your e-commerce site, we can match you with the best courier partner for your needs.

Does it take long to arrange international deliveries for a small business?

Once you have set up your own logistics operations, you can start considering setting up international shipping. You can decide to offer international shipping from the beginning or to add it along the road. The process of getting the proper paperwork can take up a few weeks. Once you are set up to ship internationally, our shipping engine will get a quote for you in seconds.