Free Online Export Business Plan Tool

Businesses continue to look overseas to find new customers, but how do you know if you're ready to develop foreign markets?  The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering a new, free online tool that will gauge a business' readiness to export, and help them develop an export business plan.

 The Export Business Planner offers a ready-made, customizable and easily accessible document that can be updated and referenced continuously as the business grows.

 The Planner, located at www.sba.gov/exportbusinessplanner, allows users to:

Determine their export readiness;

Learn about training and counseling opportunities;

Complete worksheets for global market research;

Obtain financing information; and

 Customize export marketing plans.

The Planner is a PDF file that can be downloaded, accessed, customized and updated. It features export research and information, including quick links to websites, video profiles, training podcasts, trade statistics and a list of current SBA lenders.

The tool is organized into chapters that are cross-linked and indexed for efficiency and easy access to related topics. Chapters include Training and Counseling; Creating an Export Business Plan; Developing your Marketing Plan; Financing your Export Venture; Accounting Worksheets: Costing, Financial Forecasting and Product Pricing; and Utilizing Technology for Successful Exporting.

 For more information, call 800-827-5722 or visit www.sba.gov.