Step-by-step guide to exporting

Further preparation

Additional training

Before selecting training, conduct a quick skills gap assessment. List the key functions involved in your export operations (for example, finance, logistics, sales, compliance, digital marketing) and note where your team's confidence or capability is lowest. Use that assessment to prioritize which training resources will deliver the most value for your launch and early-stage operations.

The following learning options deepen the practical skills needed to adapt your offer, manage risk, handle documentation and logistics, and work effectively with partners before launch.

Free learning resources

Learning resources ideal for businesses considering exporting:

Selecting a Market Entry Strategy: Helps you choose entry options and channel structures to operationalize through the financing, logistics, e‑commerce, and documentation work in this chapter.
Analyzing and Mitigating Commercial Risk: Strengthens your ability to identify and manage risks related to customers, partners, payment methods, and delivery performance – before and during launch.

The resources are available through the EDC | FITT FITTskills Lite Learning Series. 

Short courses

Access on‑demand courses that build directly on this chapter:

Creating an export plan: Helps you set objectives, prioritize markets, develop strategies and draft a practical export plan.
Preparing for in‑market international sales: Helps you understand customer needs, refine your value proposition and prepare for early in‑market activities.

These courses are available through the EDC | FITT International Trade Learning Centre.

In‑depth training

Access structured, end-to-end training:

FITTskills – Products & Services for a Global Market: Helps you design, adapt and deliver products and services for international customers, including production, distribution, legal requirements local tailoring.
FITTskills – International market entry strategies: Explores how to design and implement entry strategies, partner arrangements and channel mixes that underpin the actions in this chapter.
FITTskills – International sales & marketing: Builds practical skills to plan and implement marketing strategies, sell effectively in international markets, and use e‑commerce channels to attract, convert and retain export customers.
FITTskills – International trade finance: Develops advanced skills in financing, payment methods and risk‑mitigation tools to secure working capital, manage payment risk and integrate financing into your pricing and logistics decisions.

These courses are available through the EDC | FITT International Trade Learning Centre.

Browse the TCS Exporter Training Hub, where we bring together additional courses, webinars and learning resources from federal partners such as EDC, Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), and the Forum for International Trade Training (FITT), organized by topic and stage of your export journey.

Tools and resources

Essential tools

Government of Canada Business Benefits Finder

The Business Benefits Finder is a Government of Canada tool that helps businesses quickly identify relevant funding, tax credits, expert advice, and other support programs across federal, provincial and territorial governments. It:

covers grants, loans, wage subsidies, tax incentives, advisory services, accelerator and incubator programs, and export‑oriented supports
uses a short questionnaire (location, size, sector, goals) to generate a tailored list of programs rather than a generic directory
includes support for activities such as R&D, commercialization, exporting, hiring, and training, digital adoption, and green initiatives
provides high‑level eligibility criteria and links you directly to each program page to confirm details and apply

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