For first-time exporters and importers in India

Your import-export business, mapped out from day one to your first shipment.

A plain-language, step-by-step roadmap that turns DGFT codes, customs paperwork and bank jargon into a 90-day plan — written for someone starting with no trade experience, no contacts, and no idea where to begin.

  • Every registration explained in order — IEC, GST, AD code, ICEGATE, RCMC
  • How to choose a product with real overseas demand, not a guess
  • Incoterms, pricing, payment methods and documentation, in plain English
  • The 11 mistakes that trip up most first-time exporters — and how to avoid them
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A BEGINNER'S ROADMAP

Import-Export Business in India

From your first registration to your first shipment.

DGFT
READY
The starting problem

Trade looks simple from the outside. The paperwork says otherwise.

Most beginners don't get stuck because the business idea is bad — they get stuck on the details nobody explained to them first.

// 01

Too many acronyms, no clear order

IEC, GST, AD code, ICEGATE, RCMC — it's unclear which registration comes first, or whether you're missing one that will stop a shipment cold at customs.

// 02

One mismatched document, one frozen payment

A product description that doesn't match across your invoice, packing list and shipping bill is enough to hold up a shipment for weeks — or freeze a Letter of Credit payment entirely.

// 03

No safe way to judge a first buyer

Without knowing what to check, it's easy to extend credit terms to an unverified overseas buyer and risk an entire shipment's value on a first order.

The solution

One roadmap, in the order you'll actually use it.

This eBook walks through the entire journey the way a real beginner experiences it — not as a reference dump, but as a sequence: understand the business model, get legally registered, choose a product, price it correctly, find a buyer, get paid safely, and clear customs.

  • Written for someone starting from zero — no prior trade background assumed
  • Each chapter ends with one key takeaway, so the core action is never buried in detail
  • Covers both export and import paths, noting exactly where the process differs
  • Closes with a day-by-day 90-day plan to your first shipment
THE 90-DAY ROUTE
Days 1–15
Get legal
16–30
Pick product
31–50
Find buyers
51–70
Negotiate
71–90
Ship & get paid
What's inside

Eleven chapters, one continuous path to your first shipment.

Every chapter closes with a single key takeaway, so you always know the one action to take before moving on.

01

Understanding the Import-Export Business Model

The five different ways to make money in cross-border trade — merchant exporter, manufacturer exporter, importer, re-export trading, and service exports — so you pick the model that fits your capital and skills.

Takeaway: choose your lane before you register anything.
02

Legal Structure & Mandatory Registrations

The exact order of registrations — business structure, PAN, current account, GST, IEC, AD code, ICEGATE, and RCMC — and which one is genuinely non-negotiable.

Takeaway: your IEC is the one registration you can't skip.
03

Choosing Your Product

How to work backward from real export data instead of personal interest, and how to check whether your product is Free, Restricted or Prohibited before you invest in it.

Takeaway: check the HS code classification before you commit.
04

Understanding Incoterms & Pricing Your Product

A plain breakdown of EXW, FOB, CIF, DAP and DDP, why FOB is the safest starting point, and everything that has to be built into an export price beyond the product cost.

Takeaway: quote FOB first, and always name the port.
05

Finding Buyers (or Suppliers)

Where real international buyers actually look — B2B marketplaces, EPCs and FIEO, trade fairs, and direct LinkedIn outreach — and how to verify a buyer before you ship to them.

Takeaway: combine channels; expect 60–90 days for your first inquiry.
06

Payment Methods & Getting Paid Safely

Advance payment, Letters of Credit, D/P, D/A and open account compared by risk, plus what an eBRC and FIRC are and why you'll need them for refunds.

Takeaway: insist on advance payment or an LC for your first deal.
07

Export Documentation, Step by Step

Every document in an export shipment — proforma invoice, commercial invoice, packing list, shipping bill, bill of lading, certificate of origin — and the one habit that prevents most delays.

Takeaway: cross-check every figure across every document before submitting.
08

Import Documentation & Customs Clearance

The Bill of Entry, the duty stack (BCD, IGST, cess), and how the Green/Yellow/Red channel clearance process actually works — plus the most common (and costly) import mistakes.

Takeaway: get your HS code verified before the shipment arrives.
09

Logistics — Freight Forwarders, CHAs & Shipping

What a Customs House Agent and a freight forwarder actually do for you, how to choose a port, and the difference between an FCL and an LCL shipment.

Takeaway: let a CHA or forwarder handle your first several shipments.
10

Government Schemes & Export Incentives

RoDTEP, Duty Drawback, Advance Authorization, EPCG and the Interest Equalization Scheme — what each one refunds, and what you need in place to claim it.

Takeaway: accurate FOB declarations are what these incentives are calculated on.
11

Common Mistakes Beginners Make

Eight specific, avoidable mistakes — from skipping market research to going quiet after the first buyer inquiry — pulled directly from where first-timers actually lose money and time.

Takeaway: slowing down on documentation, pricing and buyer checks saves money.

Plus the full 90-Day Roadmap broken into five action phases, and a glossary covering every acronym used in the book.

What you gain

What changes once you've read it.

1

A clear registration order

Know exactly which of PAN, GST, IEC, AD code and ICEGATE to apply for first, instead of guessing or discovering a missing one at customs.

2

A defensible product choice

Pick a product backed by real export data and a confirmed HS code classification, instead of one chosen on a hunch.

3

Pricing that actually protects your margin

Understand Incoterms well enough to quote FOB correctly and build freight, documentation and currency risk into your price.

4

A safer way to get paid

Know which payment method fits a first-time, unverified buyer, and what an FIRC and eBRC are before you need one.

5

Documentation that doesn't stall

Understand every document in an export or import shipment and the cross-checking habit that prevents the delays that trip up most beginners.

6

A realistic 90-day plan

A day-by-day roadmap from your first registration to your first cleared shipment, so you always know the next concrete step.

Is this for you

Built for the person starting from zero.

This eBook is a good fit if

  • You're a first-time entrepreneur, side-hustler or small business owner in India considering import or export
  • You have no prior trade experience or insider contacts and want the process explained from the beginning
  • You want a clear, ordered checklist rather than scattered government-website pages
  • You're willing to work alongside a CHA or freight forwarder for your first shipments

This may not be for you if

  • You're already an experienced exporter or importer with an active IEC and running shipments
  • You're looking for a legal or tax opinion rather than a plain-language starting guide
  • You want done-for-you registration or documentation filing rather than a self-guided roadmap
Inside a look

A preview of how each chapter is laid out.

Replace these placeholders with real screenshots of your interior pages once they're ready — see the note in /assets/images/.

FRONT COVER

Import-Export Business in India

A Beginner's Roadmap — full cover artwork goes here.

CHAPTER 4 PREVIEW

Incoterms table

A side-by-side breakdown of EXW, FOB, CIF, DAP and DDP with what each means in practice.

ROADMAP PREVIEW

90-Day Roadmap page

The full five-phase, day-by-day plan to your first shipment.

What you get

Everything in one download.

  • The complete "Import-Export Business in India: A Beginner's Roadmap" eBook
  • Instant digital access after payment
  • Downloadable PDF you can read on any device
  • The 90-Day Roadmap and full glossary of trade terms
₹[Price]

One-time payment. Instant access.

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Why now

The paperwork doesn't get shorter by waiting.

01

Registrations take time either way

Your IEC and GST registration take a few working days once submitted — reading the roadmap now means you can start that process today instead of after more research.

02

Buyer outreach is already slow

Finding a first genuine buyer typically takes 60–90 days of consistent effort — every week spent undecided is a week not spent on outreach.

03

Mistakes here are the expensive kind

A mismatched document or a misclassified HS code can cost far more than the price of this guide in delays, penalties, or a frozen payment.

From readers

What readers are saying.

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Questions

Before you buy.

What format is the eBook in?+

It's a downloadable PDF, so it opens the same way on a phone, tablet or computer without needing a special app.

How do I receive the eBook after paying?+

After a successful payment you're taken straight to a download page with a direct download button — no waiting on email required.

When will I get access?+

Immediately. Access is instant once your payment is confirmed.

Can I read it on my phone?+

Yes — it's a standard PDF, readable on any phone, tablet, laptop or desktop.

Is this suitable for a complete beginner?+

Yes. It's written specifically for someone with no prior trade experience, no insider contacts, and no idea where to start.

Is the payment secure?+

Payment is handled by our payment gateway's own secure checkout — your card or payment details are never entered on this page.

What happens after I pay?+

You're redirected to a thank-you page where a "Download Your eBook" button gives you instant access to the PDF.

Who is this eBook for?+

First-time entrepreneurs, side-hustlers and small business owners in India who want a clear, ordered path into import or export.

Ready to start your first shipment?

Get instant access to Import-Export Business in India: A Beginner's Roadmap and start your 90-day plan today.

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