Business Advisory · 03

The cost of getting it wrong at the border is far higher than the cost of advice.

A wrong HSN code can flag your shipment for inspection for years. A wrong Incoterm can leave you arguing with a foreign court over a container that nobody can release. A wrong payment instrument can turn a sale into a 90-day-old receivable that becomes a 180-day-old write-off. International trade is forgiving of nothing.

Discuss your first shipment What I help with
SMEFor first-time importers/exporters and growing trade desks
AnyIndustry-agnostic — textiles, electronics, FMCG, commodities, engineering goods
EN·हिंWork happens in English or Hindi, whichever helps you and your team
For the owner with a foreign opportunity on the table

The exporter you're competing with started exactly where you are.

There is a buyer in Dubai who wants what you make. There is a supplier in Shenzhen who is one-third the price of what you currently pay. Somewhere on your phone is a WhatsApp chat that could change the size of your business — and somewhere in your head is the worry that you don't quite know how to take the next step without getting hurt.

Most Indian SMEs do not cross borders for one reason: nobody around them has done it, and the paperwork looks intimidating from the outside. From the inside, it is more boring than scary. Twenty documents, three or four government portals, the right freight forwarder, the right banker. That's most of the job.

I'll walk you through it once. After that you'll run it yourself.

For the team that needs the checklist

What I cover, in practice.

  • Pre-trade readiness: IEC code, AD code, RCMC, GSTIN endorsements, LUT filing for zero-rated exports.
  • Buyer/supplier vetting: KYC patterns, payment history checks, sample-order strategy.
  • Incoterms 2020 selection: EXW vs FOB vs CIF vs DDP — and what each actually means for your liability, insurance, and cash cycle.
  • Documentation: Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading/AWB, certificate of origin, FORM A / FORM I, BRC reconciliation.
  • Payments: Advance, LC, DA/DP, open account — risk vs cost trade-off, ECGC cover, factoring.
  • Logistics: CHA selection, freight forwarder negotiation, FCL vs LCL, route options, ICD vs port direct.
  • Compliance & duty optimisation: HS classification, RoDTEP, duty drawback, Advance Authorisation, EPCG — the ones you actually qualify for.
  • Dispute management: Demurrage, detention, quality claims, banking disputes — and how to set up contracts so most of them never happen.

Fees: per-engagement pricing depending on scope. A typical "first export shipment" advisory runs ₹40,000–₹90,000 and covers everything from documentation to dispatch.

Engagement formats

Three ways we can work.

First-shipment advisory
₹40K–90Kfixed scope

For SMEs sending out (or bringing in) their first international shipment. End-to-end handholding from documentation to dispatch.

Enquire
Trade desk setup
₹1.5–3Lper engagement

For businesses ready to make export/import a regular function. We set up SOPs, train your team, choose your partners, and run the first 3 shipments alongside you.

Most chosen
Ongoing retainer
₹25K+per month

For businesses that want a senior advisor on call without hiring full-time. Weekly check-in, escalation support, contract reviews.

Discuss

Bring me the deal that's on your table.
Or the supplier you're considering.

In 30 minutes I can usually tell you the three things you're missing, the two ways this commonly goes wrong, and whether you should walk in or walk away.

Book the conversation