Go global, cross-border

Where to sell abroad first, and how to ship and get paid across borders.

5 steps, 31 questions, laid out in the order you'll hit them

Each step is a topic with the real questions D2C founders ask; open whichever one you're stuck on for the answer and the resources on it.

1. 1
   Selling internationally: start here

   Where to sell abroad first, and why.

   I want to sell my brand internationally, where do I even begin? 4 → Should I start with a marketplace like Amazon Global, my own Shopify store, or both? 4 → Which country should I target first, US, UK, or the UAE / Middle East? 4 → What paperwork and licenses do I actually need to export from India? 4 → Do I need to register a company or entity in the destination country to sell there? 4 → All 7 questions in Selling internationally: start here →
2. 2
   Amazon Global & marketplaces

   Reach US/UK/UAE buyers via marketplaces.

   How do I actually start selling on Amazon in the US, UK or UAE from India? 4 → Amazon FBA vs self-ship (MFN) for global selling, which should I pick first? 3 → What does Amazon's Propel accelerator actually give me, and is it worth applying? 3 → Which Amazon marketplace should I list on first, US, UK, UAE or somewhere else? 4 → How do reviews, pricing and returns even work when I have no local address or team abroad? 3 → All 6 questions in Amazon Global & marketplaces →
3. 3
   Export docs, IEC & compliance

   IEC, HS codes, and staying legal to export.

   What's the very first paperwork I need before I ship one export order out of India? 4 → What is an HS code and how do I find the right one for my product? 4 → What's the difference between RoDTEP and duty drawback, and do I need to apply for both? 3 → What do DDP and DDU/DAP mean, and which should I choose at checkout? 3 → Do I need an LUT to avoid paying IGST upfront on export orders? 3 → All 6 questions in Export docs, IEC & compliance →
4. 4
   International shipping & fulfillment

   Get products across borders profitably.

   Should I self-ship each order internationally, use a courier aggregator like Shiprocket X, or hold stock abroad via FBA? 3 → What's a freight forwarder and when do I actually need one instead of a courier? 3 → DDP or DDU, who should pay the customs duty, my brand or my customer? 3 → How do I estimate the real landed cost before I promise a delivery date and price? 3 → What's the actual shipping cost and timeline gap between India Post and modern cross-border couriers? 3 → All 6 questions in International shipping & fulfillment →
5. 5
   Cross-border payments & pricing

   Get paid abroad and price for each market.

   What's the cheapest, fastest way for an Indian exporter to actually receive USD/GBP payments? 2 → Payoneer vs Wise vs Razorpay/Skydo, which should I use to get paid by international customers? 2 → Do I need an FIRC/FIRA for every international payment, and why does it matter? 3 → How do I price the same product differently for the US, UK and UAE without looking inconsistent? 3 → What RBI/FEMA rules do I actually need to know as a D2C exporter accepting foreign payments? 3 → All 6 questions in Cross-border payments & pricing →