Questions
Questions small exporters ask
Plain answers for Indian businesses starting to export: registrations, documents, payment, shipping and refunds. Not answered here? Ask us on the free first call.
What documents and licences do I need to start exporting from India as a small firm?
A business PAN, a current bank account, GST registration and an IEC (Importer-Exporter Code) from DGFT. Most exporters also need an RCMC from the export council for their product (APEDA for food and farm products, the Spices Board for spices, FIEO or another council for other goods) and a GST LUT so they can export without paying IGST.
Some products need more, such as an FSSAI licence for food. Your plan lists only the ones your product needs.
Related: Export registrations
How do I get an IEC and an RCMC?
The IEC is applied for online on the DGFT website with the business PAN, address proof and bank details, and a government fee of ₹500. It must be updated online once a year, between April and June, even if nothing has changed, or it is deactivated.
The RCMC is applied for online to the export council for your product, with its membership fee, and is generally valid for five years. We prepare and file both with you.
Related: Export registrations
Will you find buyers for me?
No. We do not find or introduce buyers. Once you have a buyer, we guide you on handling them: checking the buyer is genuine, answering the enquiry, samples, price and Incoterms, payment terms and the contract. The buyers and the relationships stay yours.
Related: Export mentoring & consulting
How do I protect myself from payment defaults or fraud by foreign buyers?
Check the buyer first (company registration, references, how long they have traded). For the first orders ask for an advance, or payment by a letter of credit from a sound bank. Send documents through your bank rather than directly to the buyer, so the goods are released only against payment or acceptance.
Export credit insurance from ECGC covers the risk of the buyer not paying. Confirm any change in bank details by phone: email fraud often starts with a "new account" message.
Related: Export mentoring & consulting
What is a letter of credit (LC), and how does export payment through the bank work?
An LC is the buyer’s bank’s promise to pay you when you present documents that match the LC’s terms exactly. Your bank checks the documents and sends them on. Small mistakes in the documents (a date, a spelling, a weight) can delay payment, so the documents matter as much as the goods.
The other bank routes are advance payment by bank transfer, and documents against payment or acceptance (DP or DA) through the banks.
Related: Export documentation & customs clearance, Export mentoring & consulting
How do customs clearance and shipping work for a courier parcel, a part container (LCL) and a full container (FCL)?
A courier parcel suits samples and small, light consignments: the courier files the export papers and clears customs. Some goods cannot go by courier, so check before you send.
A part load goes by LCL: your cargo shares a container with other cargo, booked through a consolidator. A full container (FCL) is yours alone. For LCL and FCL a customs broker (CHA) files the shipping bill and clears the cargo at the port before it is loaded.
Related: Freight & cold-chain logistics, Export documentation & customs clearance
How do I claim RoDTEP and GST refunds on exports?
GST: either export under an LUT without paying IGST and claim back the unused input tax credit, or pay IGST on the export and get it refunded once the shipping bill and your GST returns match.
RoDTEP: declare it on the shipping bill; the amount is credited to your ICEGATE account as an e-scrip, which you can use to pay import duty or sell. Rates depend on the product, and the government extends and revises the scheme from time to time, so we check the current rate for your product.
Related: Export registrations, Export documentation & customs clearance
You also export. Will you approach my buyers?
No. Your buyer and supplier details stay confidential, we do not approach a client’s buyers, and we sign an NDA on request.
How much do your services cost?
The first call is free. After it you get a plan for your product and market, and one quote for the services in that plan only. There are no fixed packages.
