Wednesday, 22 Jan 2025

International Hurdles for Businesses

In today’s international and interconnected world, more and more businesses are working with foreign companies and contractors, as well as finding new clientele overseas. It’s easier than ever to coordinate operations and reach clients abroad, but that doesn’t mean that there are no hurdles at all. Here are just a few of the challenges you may have to overcome.

Language

English has become the lingua franca of the modern age, but that doesn’t mean that it is wholly universal. Whether you are conducting a meeting with foreign business associates or putting together a proposal for an ad campaign abroad, it’s a good idea to have a professional translator Toronto ON or your area. Simply being able to speak English does not guarantee clarity of communication, so having an expert on your team is invaluable.

Laws

It is also essential that your company abides by all necessary laws and regulations. This is particularly important for manufacturing and food. If you are having items manufactured in one country for sale in another, regulations and standards may not be universal. With regards to food and other consumables, certain additives that are common, for example, in the United States may be banned across the entire European Union.

Time

Last but not least, there is the essential yet easy to overlook issue of time. Coordinating across time zones is already complex from Eastern Standard Time to Pacific Time, just imagine how much more complex it is to coordinate between New York and Beijing, which are a full twelve hours apart.

Overcoming issues related to language, laws and time is certainly challenging but it is far from impossible. If you are looking to expand your business overseas, whether you are looking for new clients, new contracts or new customers, you can and absolutely should find success. Provided, of course, that you are properly prepared for the challenge.