Business expansion is a stage where a growing company is ready to generate more profit in several ways. These ways include introducing new products and services, increasing the number of employees, merging, partnering, forming an alliance with other companies, adding franchises, and entering newmarket opportunities.
One of the most challenging ways to expand your business is by exploring newmarket opportunities. It can be done in two ways: local business expansion and overseas business expansion.
Finding new local market opportunities may involve franchising your business. It may include expanding your service to nearby cities and towns.
On the other hand, overseas expansion may involve establishing a legal presence abroad through a subsidiary company. This article will discuss overseas expansionandinternational expansion strategy.
When Is The Right Time For Overseas Business Expansion?
Many business owners are in a dilemma of whether or not to pursue an overseas business expansion. After all, it is a high risk, high return decision. So if you plan onstarting a business in Germany, here are the signs that you need to watch out for:
1. Stagnation In Profits
Some people think that growing profits is an indication of business expansion. It is not always the case. If your business has stagnant profit for several consecutive years, it means that you need to try new market opportunities to grow your revenue further.
2. Saturated Local Market
If your business is selling ketchup and you have ten or fifteen companies selling the same product in the local market, it only means that your current market is saturated.
The key is to find a fresh market where you have fewer competitors. In aninternational expansion strategy, relying on two markets–foreign and local–is beneficial, particularly if one of them underperforms. You can depend on your spare market.
3. Overseas Demands
Overseas demands are a great opportunity to take advantage. Many companies look for foreign markets with a high demand for their products. Your company secures the overseas market by filling in the niche.
Market research is crucial in searching for the right market for overseas expansion.
4. Strong Foundation
There are other crucial factors to consider whenstarting a business in Germany. The factors include sustainable financial status and strong business models.
If the foundation is strong, it is ready to take a leap.
Now that you know if it is the right time for overseas expansion, the next thing to weigh is crucial considerations.
4 Things To Consider When Planning An Overseas Business Expansion
Overseas business expansion can be daunting, even for veterans in this experience. The entire process needs comprehensive planning,intensive international expansion strategydesigning, and several contingency plans.
Otherwise, issues may arise along the way that could lead to failures. It is crucial to consider some factors before deciding on overseas business expansion.
Business Plan And Marketing Techniques
All overseas expansion starts with a concret0e international expansion strategy. Overseas expansion is bound to fail without a concrete business plan and strategy.
The business plan may consist of partnerships with local businesses abroad, mergers and acquisitions of other companies, and licensing arrangements.
Market research is crucial in designing a business plan. Business people need to consider the personality of the target market, market forecasts and trends, and financial and economic feasibilities.
Having first-hand knowledge of these things help business owners navigate the uncharted foreign market, making most of the newmarket opportunities.
Hiring experts in the industry can help design a foolproof business plan and marketing techniques for overseas expansion.
Affordability
Overseas business expansionis much more expensive compared to local expansion. Several things make up the costs.
Firstly, frequent overseas travel during the inspection, business registration process, sorting out the logistics and searching for real estate for local offices can cost millions and billions.
Secondly, government compliance, such as tax liability, must be fulfilled.
And lastly, in some countries, corruption is a great contributor to the expenses. For example, some officials may ask for bribes and grease money to win favours.
Nevertheless, the business owner must be financially stable and secure before entering the global market through overseas business expansion.
Economic And Political Factors
Politics and economy are attached at the hip. The political climate and decisions drastically affect the economy of the country. After all, the government lays down mandates on taxes, tariffs, infrastructures, and labour.
Countries with political instability are bound to have frequent economic changes. Moreover, business people have low confidence and are less likely to invest in corrupt governments. War and chaos can also affect the stability of the market.
Business owners must also consider the relationship of the chosen country with other nations and global organisations. Any riffs in the relationship may result in economic sanctions between the countries.
Before starting a business in Germany, companies must consider the country’s economic and political stability.
Government Compliance
If the company has finally fortified their chosen country foroverseas expansion, it is time to deal with the government compliance.
The three primary legal compliances that must be fulfilled are; tax regulations, business registration, and labour policies.
Each country implements different tax regulations, from the date of filing tax returns, financial statements, and more. It is better to hire tax accountants who are experts in the country’s tax regulations.
Business registration may include a licence to operate and infrastructure permits for office buildings and warehouses. Food and beverage companies may need health permits.
Labour policies include minimum wages, health benefits, insurance, compensation, and taxes.
It is advisable to hire experts in these areas to avoid legal troubles during the overseas business expansion.
Conclusion
These are the most crucial factors to consider during overseas business expansion. There are other considerations as well, including talents and employment. Would the parent company hire local talents? Would they partner with outsourcing companies? Would they send their current employees abroad to manage the subsidiary?
On top of that, the company also needs to consider the culture and possible language barrier. But all of these can be resolved through a comprehensive international expansion strategy.
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