Import strategy
You know what the factory charges you. The number that matters is what it takes to get that container to your warehouse, with the freight, duties, tariffs and fees added on top. That full number is your real landed cost, and many owners we meet don’t know it.
What goes into it
Add up everything you pay to get one order from the factory to your door:
- The factory price on your invoice
- Freight, whether it's a shared container (LCL) or a full container
- Duties and tariffs
- Fees along the way, from your customs broker, freight forwarder and the port
- And the hidden costs nobody mentions until you've already paid them
That last one is different for every importer. That’s often where money leaks, and it’s exactly what we look for on your free call.
Why the invoice isn't enough
Freight keeps going up, tariffs keep changing and the import paperwork never gets simpler, so a lot of owners end up taking the factory’s word on shipping and tariffs. That works until a container gets held up in customs, or arrives late or damaged while your own customers are waiting. By the time the extra cost shows up, it’s already spent.
Warning signs to watch for
- You know the factory price, but not what each container costs once it lands.
- You buy through someone who never lets you speak with the factory.
- Your freight and duty costs keep going up, and nobody can tell you why.
Where money usually leaks
When we look at an owner’s landed cost, we look at four places: the factory price, a middleman, freight and duties. You see the numbers, the costs and the reasons behind every recommendation, so every decision is yours.
Read more about lowering your tariff, duty and freight costs and working direct with the factory.
Questions owners ask
For every container, yes. It’s the only way to know what you really earn on each product.
No. Every importer is different, so we don’t promise a number. On your free call, we’ll play with the numbers with you to see where a different strategy could work in your favor.
Talk with Karen and Neil
Request a free 30-minute discovery call. Tell us a bit about how you import today, and we’ll reply within 2 business days.
