Why we started

Import Business Guide began in a small office above a freight forwarder in Newark, New Jersey, after our founders spent a decade watching first-time importers make the same expensive mistakes. One had paid for goods twice because the supplier's bank details were altered in an email. Another lost a container to demurrage because nobody explained the difference between a delivery order and a bill of lading. These weren't careless people; they were smart founders who had never been taught the mechanics of cross-border trade.

We exist to close that gap. Our mission is to give small and mid-sized US importers the practical knowledge that larger companies pay consultants to provide—without the jargon or the sales pitch.

What we do

We publish plain-language guides, checklists, and worked examples on Incoterms, customs clearance, shipping documents, and supplier payments. Every article is written by someone who has handled these tasks in the real world, not by a generalist content team. We test our templates with actual importers and update them when regulations or bank practices change.

We don't sell software, we don't take referral fees from freight forwarders, and we don't accept sponsored content. Our only product is information you can act on.

How we work

Each guide starts with a question from a reader or a recurring problem we've seen in our consulting work. We research the current rules—CBP regulations, Incoterms 2020, UCP 600, and common bank practices—then write a draft that a first-time importer could follow. Before publishing, we ask at least two outside reviewers (a licensed customs broker and a trade finance specialist) to check for accuracy. If we get something wrong, we correct it publicly and note the change at the bottom of the article.

Our team

Our editorial team includes former customs brokers, import managers, and trade finance analysts. We've cleared goods through every major US port, negotiated supplier terms in Mandarin and Spanish, and resolved payment disputes that could have ended a business. We're not journalists covering trade as a beat; we're practitioners who got tired of seeing good companies fail on avoidable technicalities.

What we believe

• Clarity over completeness. You don't need to know every Incoterm to import safely; you need to know the five that apply to your shipment and how to document them.
• No hidden agendas. We don't profit from your confusion. If a freight forwarder or bank offers a better way, we'll say so.
• Real numbers, real examples. We use actual costs, timelines, and document samples—not hypotheticals.
• Corrections are part of the process. Trade rules change; we update our guides and date every revision.

Who we're for

We write for the founder who just received their first purchase order from a US retailer, the operations manager who inherited an import program, and the small business owner who wants to source components overseas without losing money to fees or fines. If you're importing goods and feel like everyone else knows the rules except you, we're here to change that.

How to reach us

If you have a question about a guide, a correction, or a topic you'd like us to cover, email us at [email protected]. We read every message, though we can't give individual legal or customs advice.