TFO Canada and other organizations offer a wealth of information, advice and education to help you prepare for success as an exporter, and for the competitive Canadian marketplace. Your first step in accessing TFO Canada’s trade information services is to register your company with us if you haven’t already.

Selling goods and services to another country is about more than just knowing who the buyers are. Successful exporting requires time, resources and knowledge to prepare your products and your staff for a foreign marketplace, to identify specific opportunities, and to maximize the potential of a successful venture.

We have created this brief questionnaire tool to help put some context to your level of export readiness. Taking a couple of minutes to complete it will allow us to immediately guide you to the information and publications that may help you on your way to export success.

Begin questionnaire

To retrieve your results here later, provide your email address. When you return, simply enter your email address to review your recommended sources of information.

If you are already registered with TFO Canada, enter your user name. If you are unsure, leave this blank.

Have you already completed this tool?

Enter your email address to retrieve your results.

Submit

Product/service availability

Do you have a fully developed product or service available in your domestic market?

No - we want to see what opportunities exist first It's in development Yes, we are selling in our domestic market

Foreign market adaptation

Is your management committed to the cost and work of adapting a domestic product or service to a foreign market (adjusting for market trends, specific packaging requirements, specific health and safety standards, etc.)?

No - we want to see what export opportunities exist first We would need support to commit to product or service adaptation Yes, we are capable and committed to adapting our product or service

Competitive advantage

Does your organization have a competitive selling proposition (unique, innovative, high-quality, low price, etc.) for your product or service in your domestic market and/or other export markets?

No proposition or clear knowledge of our competition Some idea, but more research is needed Clear, successful proposition that can be adapted for new markets

Production capacity

Does your company have sufficient production capacity that can be committed for export, in addition to fulfilling your domestic and/or other markets?

We have little to no additional production capacity We have moderate available production capacity We have sufficient production capacity

People and experience

Does your company have the management knowledge, experience and commitment required to develop export markets?

Little or no experience in foreign markets Some experience, mainly in nearby markets Experienced in a variety of foreign market types, and committed to new market development

Market development financing

Is your company able to commit the money and the time it will take to develop your target market, with no guarantee of future sales?

Not at this time / not sure We have limited resources set aside for market development Financing is not a challenge for our company

Market selection

Do you have a solid idea of the opportunities in the Canadian market, and the cost of doing business in Canada? Topics would include: potential customers, customer needs, size of market (volume and revenue), costs of servicing the market, typical sales channels, etc.

We are just beginning our market review We have some information and are looking for more We have conducted a detailed review and confirmed Canada as a potential market

Canadian market experience

Does your company or its employees have any experience in the Canadian marketplace?

Not at all - or - we have some experience in North America but not Canada We have made visit(s) to Canada but have not completed any sales there We have completed some export sales in Canada

In-depth market research

Have you conducted any primary research (your own first-hand investigations) and secondary research (analyzing the research of others) for the selected target market? Sample topics to consider are: Does the product need to be adapted, and how? How is your pricing affected by the market, and what pricing strategy would be most effective? Where are the main buyers, and what are the delivery/distribution logistics? How and in what channels is your product or service typically promoted?

We have not conducted research for the target market yet We have conducted mostly secondary research We have or are soon to complete primary and secondary research, including at least one market visit

Market contacts

Have you made contact with any buyers, sales representatives, consular contacts or other exporters in your target market?

No, not yet Yes, but we need more in-market contacts Yes, and we are looking for buyer contacts and/or market development partners

Canadian import regulations and standards

Does your company have knowledge of Canadian import regulations and standards (e.g. quality, health/phytosanitary, etc.) applied to your industry, or for your specific product or service?

No, we need information on this We have some knowledge, but need more industry-specific information Yes, but we're interested in sources of up-to-date information

Canadian import tariffs

Are you aware of the tariffs (rate of duty), if any, that affect your product or service entering the target market?

We haven't looked into this yet We have, but our information might be out of date We have current tariff information

Promotion

Do you have promotional material, online and in hard copy, prepared for the target market in the official language(s)? (In the case of Canada, prepared in English and French)

We haven't looked into this yet We have, but in our language only, and it needs an update We have promotional material in the official language(s) of the target market

Packaging and labeling

Is your company aware of packaging and labeling requirements (types of packaging, languages displayed, nutritional information, etc.) for products sold in Canada? These requirements can vary by province or territory.

We haven't looked into this yet We have a general level of information Yes, but we need more regional information

Export planning

Does your company have a detailed export plan that incorporates your market research, and that is closely related to your overall business plan?

We don't have a plan yet We have an idea of our export plan and we are working on it We have a detailed plan with full management support and approval

Export financing

Does your company have the budget available to ensure production and/or service delivery to the target export market prior to receiving payment from the customer?

Not at this time / not sure Depending on the size of the order/project and the payment terms, we may need to seek financial assistance Financing is not an issue for us

Shipping and distribution

Is your company aware of the various shipping and distribution channels available for your exports to Canada?

No, we need information Somewhat, but we need more information on in-market distribution Yes, but we need related contacts

Logistics and managing risk

Does your company understand the Incoterms (Free On Board, Cost-Insurance-Freight, etc.) applied to your export transaction, and are you protected against risks such as non-delivery, payment default, etc. at every stage of the logistics cycle?

We need more information on this We understand Incoterms, but need more information on export insurance Yes, but are interested in other export insurance options

Intellectual property protection

Does your company have adequate knowledge on how to protect its intellectual property internationally, or how Canada treats intellectual property rights?

We need information on this We have some information, but not specific to Canada Yes, but need up-to-date information on patents and legal protection

Please indicate your home country and primary industry

Finish

Export Readiness Quiz