Guides – General

Step-by-step guide to exporting

Global Affairs Canada

The Step-by-Step Guide to Exporting will help you get your business export-ready and well positioned for commercial success abroad.

Guides – Sector-Specific

Following the road signals of export-readiness: learn more about agri-food and seafood exporting

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Uses the system of traffic lights to show three stages of export readiness: Red – identifying your first, most basic priorities; Amber – the secondary, more detailed preparatory measures; Green – which involves evaluating your export preparedness before moving forward in your venture. Chapters include: Your company; Your product; Export preparation; Market entry and distribution; Pricing; Promotion.

The art of exporting marketing-cultural products and services

Cultural Human Resources Council

Provides information to help artists and cultural workers understand the skills needed to export their work to international markets, and guides them with a list of tools and websites for essential exporting information. Link to Export Marketing Competency Profile. (fee required)

Craft exporting readiness

Marketing guide for fine contemporary craft in the United States

Global Affairs Canada

This source, for craftspersons interested in entering USA markets or expanding their USA exposure, features 30 pages of advice on dealing with American markets, plus profiles of some 140 American craft galleries that are interested in carrying Canadian work.

U.S. government procurement

Global Affairs Canada

This guide will help companies through the process of selling to U.S. government agencies. Sections include: Buy America(n) Essentials (how to apply to specific sectors); Procurement Basics (including a useful chart of U.S. content requirements); How the U.S. Buys (different methods for handling acquisitions, solicitations and contracts); Identifying Opportunities and Marketing; and State and Local Government Opportunities.

Country commercial guides

U.S. Commercial Service

Country-specific guides written for U.S. exporters. Each guide includes information on market challenges and opportunities, political and investment environment, trade regulations, customs and standards, financing and much more.

Business opportunities: development and humanitarian markets

Global Affairs Canada

This website describes how projects are developed and carried out, how development and humanitarian procurement works, where to find detailed information about procurement and how to identify business opportunities. Links to development banks and aid agencies, and provides market information and reports. Includes a Partnering Guide for successful partnerships with international financial institutions.

In-Person Workshops and Guidance

Small Business Enterprise Centres

Small Business Enterprise Centres (SBECs) provide entrepreneurs with all the tools they need to start and grow their businesses. Each centre is staffed with dedicated business professionals who help you determine what you need to do before, during and after launching your business.

Business Advisory Services

Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade

The Ministry has several Business Advisory Services offices across the province to assist Ontario businesses. By assessing your firm’s current situation and outlining options for achieving future growth, Ministry staff can connect you to people, information and business resources to make the difference to your company’s competitiveness and profitability.

Learn how to sell outside of Ontario

The Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade helps Ontario companies expand their business within Canada and globally. We offer a wide range of export programs and services from exporter preparation and export education webinars and seminars to help business learn about exporting and opportunities in target markets, to export business missions in conjunction with some of the world’s major trade shows and curated B2B meetings.

New Exporters to Border-States (NEBS) Program

Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade

The New Exporters to Border States (NEBS) program introduces exporters to the fundamentals of exporting to the United States. Offered as either a two-day, hands-on workshop or as a half-day seminar, NEBS provides expert briefings on the practical aspects of doing business in the U.S. Topics covered include: U.S. customs procedures and documentation requirements; the identification and management of agents and distributors; warehouse distribution fulfillment options; banking, corporate and other legal considerations; federal and state tax as well as business immigration requirements.

PROFIT - New to exporting seminar

Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA)

The two-day PROFIT seminar, featuring speakers who are experts in their field, is a hands-on orientation covering the basic requirements for food and beverage exporters. Topics discussed include export financing, product labelling, U.S. tax laws, food brokerage, food distribution, food and drug regulations, customs and customs brokerage. The export development services provided by Ontario Food Exports are also explained. (registration fee)

Agriculture going global workshops

Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council and Forum for International Trade Training (FITT)

Four workshops: Opportunity identification, international marketing, market entry, and trade finance. Each 3-hour workshop is designed to be delivered in a classroom setting and includes a participant manual. The workshops can be delivered by export service providers, educational institutions, industry associations, and private companies. (registration fee)

Basics of exporting workshop

Canadian Food Exporters Association

This workshop assists potential exporters in developing an export strategy and selecting potential markets.