As an SME leader, your top priority is to grow your company. You understand that building a pipeline of work, securing recurring revenue and scaling your business depends upon identifying opportunities and being prepared to capitalise on them.
What you may not have realised is the “next big thing” for your company — that once in a lifetime opportunity — is probably waiting for you somewhere offshore.
In fact, there has never been a better time for Australian SMEs to look abroad, particularly in the services sector. International travel is less expensive than ever before. Technology has made it possible to meet clients, employees and partners in the comfort of your own office, and to sell goods and services overseas without ever leaving your own city.
Record low interest rates are supporting economic activity and the low Australian dollar is making it easier than ever to export Australian goods and services.
Australia’s trade agreements with the United States, Singapore, New Zealand, Thailand, China, Japan and South Korea are also reducing barriers to exporting goods and services.
Nonetheless, less than 10% of Australian SMEs are exporting or operating offshore. What’s going on? Lack of awareness is one key problem and lack of expertise is another. Many companies are unaware of the size of the opportunities on offer and many others know that opportunities exist, but don’t know what they look like or how to capitalise on them.
However, in a number of the key international markets, governments, industry players and consumers need what Australian companies (even micro-businesses) have to offer. If you’re looking for an overseas opportunity to seize, here are some markets hungry for your product, and some examples of how other Australian companies have successfully built their business through international expansion.
Attention SMEs: Your “Next Big Thing” Is Overseas
By: Cynthia Dearin
As an SME leader, your top priority is to grow your company. You understand that building a pipeline of work, securing recurring revenue and scaling your business depends upon identifying opportunities and being prepared to capitalise on them.
What you may not have realised is the “next big thing” for your company — that once in a lifetime opportunity — is probably waiting for you somewhere offshore.
In fact, there has never been a better time for Australian SMEs to look abroad, particularly in the services sector. International travel is less expensive than ever before. Technology has made it possible to meet clients, employees and partners in the comfort of your own office, and to sell goods and services overseas without ever leaving your own city.
Record low interest rates are supporting economic activity and the low Australian dollar is making it easier than ever to export Australian goods and services.
Australia’s trade agreements with the United States, Singapore, New Zealand, Thailand, China, Japan and South Korea are also reducing barriers to exporting goods and services.
Nonetheless, less than 10% of Australian SMEs are exporting or operating offshore. What’s going on? Lack of awareness is one key problem and lack of expertise is another. Many companies are unaware of the size of the opportunities on offer and many others know that opportunities exist, but don’t know what they look like or how to capitalise on them.
However, in a number of the key international markets, governments, industry players and consumers need what Australian companies (even micro-businesses) have to offer. If you’re looking for an overseas opportunity to seize, here are some markets hungry for your product, and some examples of how other Australian companies have successfully built their business through international expansion.
As an SME leader, your top priority is to grow your company. You understand that building a pipeline of work, securing recurring revenue and scaling your business depends upon identifying opportunities and being prepared to capitalise on them.
What you may not have realised is the “next big thing” for your company — that once in a lifetime opportunity — is probably waiting for you somewhere offshore.
In fact, there has never been a better time for Australian SMEs to look abroad, particularly in the services sector. International travel is less expensive than ever before. Technology has made it possible to meet clients, employees and partners in the comfort of your own office, and to sell goods and services overseas without ever leaving your own city.
Record low interest rates are supporting economic activity and the low Australian dollar is making it easier than ever to export Australian goods and services.
Australia’s trade agreements with the United States, Singapore, New Zealand, Thailand, China, Japan and South Korea are also reducing barriers to exporting goods and services.
Nonetheless, less than 10% of Australian SMEs are exporting or operating offshore. What’s going on? Lack of awareness is one key problem and lack of expertise is another. Many companies are unaware of the size of the opportunities on offer and many others know that opportunities exist, but don’t know what they look like or how to capitalise on them.
However, in a number of the key international markets, governments, industry players and consumers need what Australian companies (even micro-businesses) have to offer. If you’re looking for an overseas opportunity to seize, here are some markets hungry for your product, and some examples of how other Australian companies have successfully built their business through international expansion.