5 tips for doing business abroad

Pushing your boundaries abroad can yield a lot for your company. After all, your market suddenly becomes many times larger. There are, however, a number of hooks and eyes. Anyone who wants to do international business must be well prepared. We give you 5 tips for doing business abroad.

1. How do you get international customers?

An important factor in attracting international customers is your website. Of course it is always good to have your website in English. Do you want to target customers from a country where no English or Dutch is spoken? Then it is absolutely a plus to also offer your website in that language. And that goes further than simply translating your texts, the correct ones must be used tone of voice for your target group in that country. It is therefore wise to engage a professional translator.

2. How much VAT do you charge?

Something a lot entrepreneurs To run up against is charging VAT to customers abroad. If you work with a customer from a country that does not belong to the European Union, the VAT rate is generally 0 percent. Within the European Union you usually charge 21 percent for private customers, for business customers you shift the VAT. If in doubt, always contact the Tax Authorities, as the situation can be complicated.

3. Consider the cultural differences

Keep in mind that another country is always certain cultural differences entails. You may think mainly of countries outside Europe, but also in European countries business customs can be (somewhat) different than in the Netherlands. So always first familiarize yourself with the business culture of the country of the customer with whom you do business.

4.  Take into account any foreign currency

Do you work with clients who are not in the eurozone? Then there are a number of extra things that you should take into account. First of all, always send your invoice in the customer's currency. This way you make it a lot easier for your customer. With the right billing software, this doesn't have to be that difficult. If you often work with customers who pay in a different currency, it may be advisable to get a foreign currency account to open. You are less dependent on fluctuations that influence the value of the currency.

5. Offer the correct payment methods

IDeal is a very popular payment method in the Netherlands, but this does not apply to abroad. It is therefore necessary to offer other payment methods. In general, an option for PayPal and credit card will go a long way. However, it never hurts to see if a different payment method is often used in the country you are focusing on.