Import-Export License 1-2-3
According to TradePort.org, the US federal government does not require a company to have a license or
permit to engage in the import/export business. That said, you want to contact your state or local government
office about state and local requirements and permits that apply.
However, certain products require licensing in order to be exported or imported. These
items include animals, firearms, plants and alcoholic beverages. Licenses are issued by federal agencies, and
different agencies deal with different types of products. Therefore, the agency you contact will depend on the
products that you are importing or exporting.
Do the products that you are exporting require licensing? You can figure this out by using the Commerce Control List online. This site contains a list of Export Control Classification
Numbers. Find the number on the list that pertains to your particular items. Having said that, not all
commercial goods are on the Commerce Control List. These items are designated as EAR99, which usually
include consumer goods. A majority of the time, these products do not require licensing, but this also
depends on where the items are being shipped to.
If an export license is required, an export license application can be submitted quickly online using the
Simplified Network Application Process Redesign (SNAP-R). Alternatively license
application forms can be requested by mail, but the process to obtain the license is much slower.
The US Customs and Border Protection oversees and enforces export regulations. Exports may
require a Shipper's Export Declaration (SED). If the products that you are exporting do not
require a license, the SED form is where you would indicate this information.
How to Start an
Import-Export Business
| 
