Are you interested in growing your business by entering and excelling in international markets? Ninety-five percent of the world’s customers are located outside the United States, but too often, small businesses miss out because they don’t know where to start.
The U.S. Small Business Administration State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) can make it easier for your business to succeed. STEP helps aspiring and current exporters enter international markets with grants that offset costs associated with international business development and marketing.
STEP is designed to encourage and boost international trade for small businesses and help provide their companies with the resources, connections and knowledge needed to begin exporting. The grant funds assist companies with international market research, export trade show exhibit costs, training workshops, travel expenses, translation services and product compliance testing. They can also help small businesses lower costs to encourage participation in international trade missions, sales trips and subscription services provided by the Department of Commerce.
Services under STEP are funded in part by the SBA, but are provided to eligible small businesses by STEP grant recipients that are located in most states and territories. It makes matching-fund grants for states to assist small businesses so they can enter and succeed in the international marketplace.
Would you like to go on a group foreign trade mission, take part in a trade show, translate your website into a foreign language, design new marketing materials, or engage in other export development activities? If so, this program is ideal for taking your business to the next level.
To find out how you can take advantage STEP, visit https://www.sba.gov/step and give your designated state economic development agency a call. They’re there to help you take the next step.
About the author
