Global Fulfillment Services: An ECommerce Guide

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ECommerce can erase borders for sellers. But your online store is only open to the whole world if you have access to global fulfillment services. Because shipping to other countries can involve complex paperwork, it’s a good idea to work with a 3PL rather than handling your own international eCommerce fulfillment

global fulfillment services

The importance of international fulfillment in eCommerce

Worldwide, 22% of eCommerce sales are predicted to travel across national borders in 2022, up from 15% in 2016. China is the world’s biggest eCommerce market, with its sales growing even more quickly than those in North America and Europe. Tapping into global markets can be as simple as adding international shipping options to your eCommerce site. Making it easier for people in other countries to order your products with global fulfillment services is a terrific way to increase your revenue. And, after some serious slowdowns in the early months of the pandemic, international shipments are once again moving swiftly enough to satisfy impatient eCommerce shoppers.

But selling across international borders comes with complexities. Cross-border shipping can require customs paperwork plus tariffs and duties. High costs or long transit times can discourage buyers in other countries. To solve these problems, turn to a 3PL that offers global fulfillment services.

What global fulfillment services do fulfillment centers provide?

A fulfillment center that offers global fulfillment services can provide expert assistance with customs paperwork and help you keep international fulfillment affordable.

Some 3PLs have international warehouse locations. If you do a lot of business in another country, a local fulfillment center can save you money on shipping. Plus, your overseas 3PL may be able to offer local knowledge and better shipping options for that country.

container ship

However, many eCommerce companies ship to lots of countries around the world. You might not want or need to stock warehouses in each nation. Instead, your 3PL can ship your orders across borders.

Some of the global fulfillment services that you can get from a fulfillment center in your home country include:

  • International shipping, using DHL or one of the three major U.S. carriers. FedEx, UPS, and USPS all offer international shipping options. 
  • Customs brokering, either through an in-house service or by contracting with a third-party customs expeditor. Customs brokers are experts at navigating the complexities of international shipping. Working with a customs expert will ensure that your packages get through and don’t get held up at the border.
  • Package consolidation can simplify your global fulfillment and reduce international shipping charges. Combining multiple products into a single box may also reduce the cost of customs paperwork.
  • Omnichannel fulfillment will give all your customers, both domestic and international, a unified brand experience.

The bottom line is that the world is your marketplace and your 3PL can provide the global fulfillment services you need to take advantage of it.

Using a North American fulfillment center for global fulfillment services

Global fulfillment services are an asset to businesses based in other countries that want to break into the lucrative North American eCommerce market. For instance, many companies use a U.S.-based fulfillment center to ship orders to customers in the U.S.

nationwide third-party logistics map

Sending inventory via international freight and shipping orders from a U.S. fulfillment center has several advantages:

  • You’ll still encounter customs paperwork and import duties on entry to the U.S., but the paperwork can be completed by the container load rather than for each individual order. 
  • A U.S. 3PL will have warehouse locations to reach your North American customers more quickly, so you can offer faster delivery times.
  • Being close to your customers will also reduce your shipping costs per order.

International companies who want to sell in the U.S. often find it helpful to use a North American fulfillment center. But there are a few things you might need to know before shipping orders from a U.S. location for a business based in another country.

global order fulfillment

What global eCommerce companies need to know before working with a U.S. 3PL

In addition to customs and duties, there are financial and legal considerations when using global fulfillment services to ship orders from a warehouse in a second country. 

Each country will have unique laws and regulations to take into consideration. Here are some of the basics for international companies that need U.S. order fulfillment services.

Payment options

No matter what country you’re selling to or from, offering payment options that customers expect and trust is crucial. Fortunately, there are several payment gateways that online shoppers trust around the world:

  • PayPal
  • Google Pay
  • Apple Pay
  • Amazon Pay
  • Square

These gateways store credit card and bank information for speedy checkout. You should also offer the option for people to enter their credit card information directly at checkout. 

Business licenses and permits

In addition to forming a business entity, you’ll need to obtain business permits and licenses. Here are some of the permits your business may need in order to access global fulfillment services in the U.S.

  • Fictitious Business Name or DBA. If you want to use a trade name in the U.S., you’ll need to file paperwork to claim and protect your name. This is often called a fictitious business name or DBA (doing business as). In this process, it’s also a good idea to research your chosen business name to make sure it hasn’t already been taken. 
  • Sales tax permits. If you sell products that are subject to sales tax, you will need a permit to collect sales tax. Each state has different sales tax requirements. You may need sales tax permits in more than one state.
  • Business license. Many cities require businesses to obtain a business license each year. You’ll probably need a business license for each location where you have a physical presence such as an international fulfillment center. The cost of a business license varies.
  • Import license. You might need an import license to bring your products in from another country. 
  • Other licenses and permits. Your business could be subject to other licensing and permitting requirements. For example, if you sell food products, you will probably need permits and inspections from the health department. 

U.S. labeling requirements 

You may need special packaging for the U.S. market. Federal labeling requirements for the products you sell in the U.S. market depend on the product. Food products are subject to the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA). This lays out requirements for packaging to include information such as net quantity and nutritional information. Imported products need to list the country of origin. You can find most federal labeling regulations in the NIST Handbook 130. In addition, some products may be subject to additional labeling rules imposed by government agencies that regulate that category of product.

You might also need to comply with state labeling laws. For example, California requires a Proposition 65 warning on any product that contains materials the state deems hazardous.

special product labeling

Product certifications are optional on your packaging, but they could increase your sales. For example, Underwriters Laboratories gives manufacturers the right to add the UL logo to products that have passed safety testing. The U.S. government offers Energy Star certification to appliances that meet standards for saving energy. A certification from a trusted entity such as these can help build confidence in your products among U.S. consumers. 

Opening a U.S. bank account

One of the first things you’ll need to do when you take advantage of global fulfillment services in the U.S. is to open a U.S. bank account. You’ll need funds in the U.S. to pay for your U.S. operations. Some suppliers (including Red Stag Fulfillment) require clients to pay from a U.S. bank account. In addition, holding at least some of your U.S. earnings in dollars will save you wire transfer and exchange fees. 

However, opening a business bank account can be a challenge for a foreign national. Adam Barker is the COO of Yumi Nutrition Ltd., a UK-based company that has expanded into the U.S. He advises business owners to set aside at least two days to work with U.S. banks to get an account set up. He suggests bringing printouts of all your paperwork, including SS4, EIN numbers, and proof of the business address. Be prepared to come to the U.S. and take care of this in person. You won’t be able to open a U.S. bank account from abroad.

Barker shared these tips: “The best way to get a proof of address for the U.S. business is to get a fax from the IRS confirming the EIN number. The issues arise when you find out the bank cannot accept foreign nationals who own a business entity, so it’s better to clear that up as soon as possible. The two most helpful banks on this from my experience are Chase and Citibank.”

Paying taxes in the U.S.

There are several different types of taxes in the U.S. Depending on what you sell and how your business is structured, you may need to file sales tax returns as often as once a month, plus federal and state tax returns. If you have U.S. employees, you’ll need to pay payroll taxes.

online sales tax

Adam Barker has a tip for dealing with U.S. taxes: “Get an accountant or CPA. Don’t go for big firms as they will charge a lot to file basic returns. Small firms or one-man bands set up in your incorporation state to navigate your end-of-year filings will be sufficient.”

If you can start doing tax planning at the beginning of the process to form your U.S. corporation, you’ll do yourself a favor. Tax issues may affect your decision about what type of business entity to choose if you set up a U.S. corporate entity. 

Sales taxes

Sales tax laws in the U.S are complex. Five states have no sales tax at all. Some states have a single sales tax rate and some have many different rates. Some products are taxed in one state but not another. For example, most clothing is not subject to sales tax in New Jersey, but it is taxed in California (and many other states).

If your product is taxable, you will need to get a sales tax license for the state where your headquarters is located. In addition, you’ll need to get a license and collect sales tax for sales in states where you have a warehouse or at least one employee.

On top of that, many states require remote sellers to collect sales tax. Nexus (the requirement to collect and remit sales tax) is triggered if you sell a certain amount into that state each year. This can create headaches for eCommerce businesses that ship products to every state. Fortunately, there are many different types of sales tax software to help eCommerce sellers figure out where they should collect sales tax.

global fulfillment services

How Red Stag Fulfillment puts global fulfillment within your reach

At Red Stag Fulfillment, we help our international clients grow and scale their businesses in the U.S. and our U.S. clients expand their markets. In addition to our integrations, kitting services, fulfillment guarantees, and inventory planning assistance, we offer global fulfillment services to all our clients. We can help with freight forwarding and other challenges of managing a global supply chain to serve customers around the world. 

Red Stag Fulfillment goes the extra mile for our clients, wherever your business is based. Our focus on personalized customer service gives us the flexibility to help you solve whatever obstacles you face to provide global fulfillment for your customers. If you have questions about international fulfillment, let us know. We’ll help you find the answers you need.

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