If you plan to sell products you source from abroad, sooner or later you will encounter importing. For many it sounds complicated and full of bureaucracy. The truth is that the procedure is standard and predictable once you understand how it works. Here are the basics.
Note: this is a general introduction for beginners. Customs regulations change and every case is different, so for a specific shipment always consult a customs agent or the Customs Administration.
First requirement: a registered business
To import as a business, you need a registered company (e.g. a DOOEL) with an appropriate activity. A private individual can import the occasional shipment for personal use, but for regularly sourcing goods for sale you need a company, because importing is tied to your tax number and later to invoicing.
The key document: the customs declaration
Every good entering the country goes through a customs procedure, and the heart of that procedure is the customs declaration. It is the document with which you officially declare what you are importing, from where, in what quantity and value. The duties are calculated based on it.
The declaration is usually prepared by a customs agent — a company specialized in this. For a beginner this is the wisest path: the agent knows the procedure, fills in the documents correctly and saves you from mistakes that cost time and money.
Which documents you need
The standard set for importing most often includes:
- An invoice from the supplier (commercial invoice) — with a description of the goods, quantity and price.
- A transport document — depending on the mode of transport (e.g. a waybill).
- A packing list — a detailed inventory of what the shipment contains.
- Origin of the goods — sometimes a certificate of origin is required, which affects the duties.
The exact set depends on the type of goods and the country they come from. That is why it is important to check in advance — some products have special requirements (e.g. food, cosmetics, electronics).
What you pay when importing
When importing there are usually three types of costs:
- Customs duty — a percentage of the value of the goods, depending on the type of product and its origin. For goods from countries with which North Macedonia has trade agreements, the duty is often reduced or zero.
- VAT — paid on the import, as on domestic trade. If you are VAT-registered, you later deduct this VAT, so it is not a pure cost.
- Agent and transport costs — the customs agent's service and transport.
Calculate all three before ordering, because they determine your real purchase price — and that is the basis for knowing whether the product is even worth selling.
A tip for the start
The first import always brings something new you did not anticipate. So start with a small shipment to understand the procedure first-hand, before ordering a large quantity. Find a good customs agent and consult an accountant — the two will save you far more than they cost.
And then — the sale
Once the goods are with you, the sale follows. If you sell online, you need a site or store where customers will see and buy the goods. This is where we come in — at ArkaHost we help you with hosting, a domain and building an online store, so you can sell the sourced goods easily. If you are just starting, get in touch for advice on the technical side.