If you're a small business owner, you've probably always dreamed about expanding your
company to the United States. It's the land of opportunity, after all—and if you can make your
mark here, chances are good that it will be easier to do so in other parts of the world as well.

But while expanding into America may seem simple enough on paper (or at least in theory),
there's no guarantee that your venture will be successful right off the bat.

In fact, odds are good that it won't be unless you're prepared for some challenges and know how
to navigate them successfully. Here are some strategies for making sure your American
expansion goes smoothly:

Do A Detailed Competitor Analysis

You’ve heard the phrase “knowledge is power,” right? Well it is especially true when it comes to
your small business. In order to succeed in the USA, you need a clear understanding of who your
competitors are and what they are doing that works or doesn’t work for them.

You need to know how they position themselves in their marketplace and how they interact with
their customers so that you can position your product or service accordingly.

A detailed competitor analysis will give you valuable insights into how best to compete in
today’s highly competitive marketplaces. It will also help you identify opportunities that might
otherwise be missed by other companies which do not have access to this information through
their own research efforts.

Create & Implement A Solid Business Plan

small business

A business plan is a vital part of any small business, but many people don't know how to create one or where to begin. The first step to developing your own effective plan is understanding what should be included in it.

There are several types of plans that can be created for various levels of scope and detail, but each must include at least the following:

  • Mission statement: A “why” statement that helps you set goals and priorities by answering questions like "Why do we exist?" and "What makes us special?"
  • Company overview: This section includes facts about your company such as its history, structure (parent organization and subsidiaries), operations, location information (address, phone number), products/services offered (including pricing), partnerships with other businesses or organizations. It also includes financials if applicable (income statements).

Understand The Marketing & Distribution Channels

Understanding the marketing and distribution channels your product will be competing in is important for every small business. But it's particularly crucial for international companies, who may not have a large footprint in the United States yet.

No matter what kind of product you're selling, understanding how to market it to American consumers is crucial if you want to succeed in the US market.

Each country has its own unique channels of communication with consumers—the newspapers they read; the television shows they watch; forums where they discuss their preferences and concerns; social media networks where their friends share information about new products; etc.—and these different ways of reaching customers can make all the difference between success or failure when trying to reach out internationally.

Develop Your Branding

Developing your branding is all about creating a unique identity for your business, building a relationship with customers, communicating the value of your product or service and making a statement about who you are.

Analyze The Financials

Is your company profitable or not-so-profitable at this point? How much debt does it have on its books (liabilities). What kinds of assets does the company own (property); how much equity has been invested into those assets by shareholders; how to take tax benefits; etc.?

Answer these question and ponder over your financial goal and limits.

If you're not making any money, you may need to consider a new business plan or closing up shop. And if the numbers are promising, go ahead with your original plan!

Hire & Train Employees Appropriately

If you’re a small business owner and you want to succeed, you need to hire the right people and train them well. Hiring the right people means finding employees who have the skills necessary for the job—but it also means hiring employees who understand your company’s values and culture.

You can help your team feel connected by providing tools with information about policies, procedures, and other resources so they can easily find what they need when they need it.

Once you have hired good people, provide them with a positive work environment that lets them do their best work by making sure that everyone has what they need in order to do their job: computers or tablets loaded with applications needed for their role; comfortable chairs; desks that are ergonomically designed; appropriate lighting (too bright is bad for eye strain); ergonomic keyboards/mice; things like printers/scanners that don't require having an IT specialist on call 24/7).

Provide incentives such as performance bonuses (if appropriate) or other rewards so that employees know how well they're doing at their job!

The Bottom Line

We hope you’ve found this article useful in your journey to establishing a small business in the USA. As always, if you have any questions or concerns about any of these steps, don’t hesitate to contact us at Voolt!