No local entity
Customs and channels expect a local business to import under and sell from.
Use case
Blocked from importing? Bring the goods in without building the local company.
A launch often stalls at the border: no local entity to import under, no registrations, or a channel that needs stock inside the market. ExpandNow provides the local presence, so the goods and the sale both have a local owner.
Why brands get blocked
Four common reasons.
Each of these stops goods moving before any marketing spend matters.
No import or tax registrations
Importing needs customs and tax registrations in the market, which take time to obtain.
The channel needs stock in the market
Fulfilled by TikTok and many marketplaces require goods to sit in a local warehouse.
Duties and taxes at the border
Someone local has to account for import duties and taxes when the goods arrive.
The shortest path
From blocked to selling locally.
- 1
Map the market and channel
Confirm what the market and channel require for your products.
- 2
ExpandNow becomes importer and seller
Importer of Record where needed, and Merchant of Record for the sale.
- 3
Stock lands and sells
Goods clear into your partner’s warehouse and sell under ExpandNow’s local registrations.
Related
The pieces behind it.
Importer of Record
What the importer is responsible for, and who does what.
Tax & Compliance
Sales tax, VAT and commerce compliance in the operating layer.
Markets
The UK, EU and US, market by market.
FAQ
Questions buyers ask.
How long does it take?
Around two weeks to go live on ExpandNow’s infrastructure, against 6 to 12 months building your own. Import timing then depends on your freight.
Do I need a VAT number in the market?
Sales run under ExpandNow’s registrations. For Fulfilled by TikTok in Germany and Spain, ExpandNow already holds the VAT registrations, so in most cases you don’t need your own. Other models are confirmed during scoping.
Start with the market
Tell us where you want to sell.
Tell us the market and channels. We’ll map the seller setup, and which layers you’ll take from us or bring yourself.