International E-commerce: Selling Globally from Michigan

The internet has no borders, but e-commerce logistics do. Selling internationally from Michigan opens a global market but requires attention to shipping, currencies, taxes, and localization.

Getting Started with International Sales

Step 1: Identify Your Target Markets

Check your analytics for international traffic. If visitors from Canada, UK, or Australia already visit your store, start there. English-speaking markets have the lowest localization barrier.

Step 2: Set Up Multi-Currency

Display prices in local currencies. Shopify Markets and BigCommerce support this natively. WooCommerce needs a multi-currency plugin. Stripe and PayPal handle currency conversion at checkout.

Step 3: Configure Shipping

Set up international shipping zones with realistic rates and delivery estimates. Options by market:

• Canada: USPS First Class International ($15-$25, 6-10 days) or Priority ($30-$50, 6-10 days)
• UK/EU: USPS Priority International ($40-$60, 6-10 days) or DHL Express ($60-$100, 3-5 days)
• Australia: USPS Priority International ($45-$70, 6-10 days)

Step 4: Handle Taxes and Duties

For physical products, most countries charge import duty at the border. Include a disclaimer: "International orders may be subject to local customs duties and taxes." For digital products sold to EU customers, you must collect and remit VAT.

Localization Beyond Language

• Date format (MM/DD/YYYY vs DD/MM/YYYY)
• Address format (postal codes, provinces vs states)
• Phone number format for customer service
• Return shipping logistics (local return address or prepaid labels)

Ready to sell internationally? Contact us for e-commerce expansion help.