Get the export license in three days through agency? Don't be fooled!

Mr. Zhang recently received an overseas order, and the other party required customs declaration and shipment to be completed within two weeks. Just as he was frantically preparing materials, a business center called and said, "Professional export qualification agency, guaranteed to pass in 3 days!" Have you ever been tempted by such an advertisement? Today, we are going to reveal the true value and potential risks of export agency services.

Why do enterprises need export agency?

According to customs data, among the newly - registered export enterprises in 2023, 38% completed the qualification handling through third - party service agencies. This type of service mainly solves three types of pain points:

• High time cost: It takes an average of 27 working days to handle it by oneself.
• Complex process: It involves 11 links such as customs filing, electronic port, and foreign exchange registration.
• High professional threshold: There are nearly 10,000 detailed rules just for HS code classification.

Ms. Li's case is quite representative: "When we exported medical devices for the first time, the agency company completed the qualification approval that originally took a month in 5 days and also helped us avoid the risk of misjudgment of 2 million yuan in tariffs."

Three golden rules for choosing agency services

Foreign trade experts from Zhongshitong suggest that when screening agency institutions, the following aspects should be focused on:

• Service transparency: Whether to provide full - process progress visual tracking
• Risk - bearing ability: Whether the contract includes error compensation clauses
• Subsequent support: Whether to provide extended services such as export tax rebates and letter of credit document review

Pay special attention to those institutions that claim "100% guaranteed to pass". The success rate of regular agencies usually ranges from 85% - 92%. Excessive promises often hide tricks.

Agency ≠ hands - off management: 4 links that enterprises must experience in person

Even if an agency is entrusted, these core affairs still need to be personally controlled by the enterprise:

• Legal person's in - person signature for customs filing
• Confirmation of foreign exchange revenue and expenditure accounts
• Final document verification
• Confirmation of tax registration information

An exporter of children's bicycles once fully entrusted an agency, resulting in the wrong commodity code and the goods being detained by the customs, with losses exceeding 500,000 yuan. This reminds us that professional matters should be entrusted to professionals, but the responsibility cannot be completely outsourced.

New choices brought about by digital transformation

With the popularization of digital platforms such as the "single window", some basic services can be handled online self - help. It is recommended that small and medium - sized enterprises adopt a hybrid model:

• Entrust the agency for standardized processes such as qualification declaration
• Independently operate core businesses such as customs declaration form preparation
• Monitor the progress in real - time through SAAS tools

Have you ever considered export agency services? Welcome to share your experiences in the comment section. If you think this article is helpful, you may as well forward it to your partners who are worried about export qualifications. Next time, we will explain in detail "How small and micro enterprises can start export business at zero cost", so stay tuned.