Export readiness assessment quiz

Export readiness quick check

Section A: Management and commitment

1. Do you have clear, realistic export objectives that your leadership team has agreed on?

Do you have clear, realistic export objectives that your leadership team has agreed on?

Yes

No

2. Is senior management prepared to commit time and resources to exporting over at least the next 2 to 3 years?

Is senior management prepared to commit time and resources to exporting over at least the next 2 to 3 years?

Yes

No

3. Is there a specific person or small team clearly responsible for export development in your business?

Is there a specific person or small team clearly responsible for export development in your business?

Yes

No

4. Is your leadership open to seeking external advice and training on exporting (if needed), rather than trying to improvise everything internally?

Is your leadership open to seeking external advice and training on exporting (if needed), rather than trying to improvise everything internally?

Yes

No

5. Has leadership discussed and defined what level of commercial, financial or geopolitical risk is acceptable when entering new markets?

Has leadership discussed and defined what level of commercial, financial or geopolitical risk is acceptable when entering new markets?

Yes

No

Section B: Business stability and operations

6. Are your domestic operations generally stable, without ongoing crises related to quality, fulfilment or customer complaints?

Are your domestic operations generally stable, without ongoing crises related to quality, fulfilment or customer complaints?

Yes

No

7. Can you increase output or service capacity to handle export orders without seriously affecting the service you provide to domestic customers?

Can you increase output or service capacity to handle export orders without seriously affecting the service you provide to domestic customers?

Yes

No

8. Can you consistently meet agreed quality standards and delivery timelines with your current systems and suppliers?

Can you consistently meet agreed quality standards and delivery timelines with your current systems and suppliers?

Yes

No

9. Do you have reliable internal processes to keep track of orders, contracts and customer communications?

Do you have reliable internal processes to keep track of orders, contracts and customer communications?

Yes

No

Section C: Financial readiness

10. Do you have, or can you access, enough working capital to pay for additional production, travel and marketing before export revenues arrive?

Do you have, or can you access, enough working capital to pay for additional production, travel and marketing before export revenues arrive?

Yes

No

11. Is your cash flow generally stable, without frequent difficulty paying key expenses on time?

Is your cash flow generally stable, without frequent difficulty paying key expenses on time?

Yes

No

12. Do you know how to forecast cash flow on a month-by-month basis (at least 6 months ahead) so you can anticipate potential shortfalls?

Do you know how to forecast cash flow on a month-by-month basis (at least 6 months ahead) so you can anticipate potential shortfalls?

Yes

No

13. Have you set aside at least a modest but realistic budget specifically for export-related activities (for example, travel, market research, product adaptation, digital improvements)?

Have you set aside at least a modest but realistic budget specifically for export-related activities (for example, travel, market research, product adaptation, digital improvements)?

Yes

No

14. Does your company know how to conduct a credit check on customers in foreign markets?

Does your company know how to conduct a credit check on customers in foreign markets?

Yes

No

15. Is your business prepared to manage longer payment cycles from foreign customers than from your domestic customers?

Is your business prepared to manage longer payment cycles from foreign customers than from your domestic customers?

Yes

No

16. Have you explored basic trade finance options (for example, letters of credit, documentary collections or other tools) to help manage payment risk?

Have you explored basic trade finance options (for example, letters of credit, documentary collections or other tools) to help manage payment risk?

Yes

No

17. Have you considered how much payment delay, currency fluctuation or customer concentration your business can tolerate without creating serious strain?

Have you considered how much payment delay, currency fluctuation or customer concentration your business can tolerate without creating serious strain?

Yes

No

18. Are you aware of export credit insurance and how it can help protect against non-payment by foreign buyers?

Are you aware of export credit insurance and how it can help protect against non-payment by foreign buyers?

Yes

No

Section D: Risk and compliance

19. Have you identified any export controls, sanctions or trade restrictions that may apply to your products, services, customers or target markets?

Have you identified any export controls, sanctions or trade restrictions that may apply to your products, services, customers or target markets?

Yes

No

20. Do you understand the key import requirements in your target market(s), such as certifications, labelling, licensing and product standards?

Do you understand the key import requirements in your target market(s), such as certifications, labelling, licensing and product standards?

Yes

No

Section E: Market potential and fit

21. Do you see any signs of interest from outside Canada (for example, inquiries, website visits, informal contacts or partnership leads) that suggest your offer may appeal to international customers?

Do you see any signs of interest from outside Canada (for example, inquiries, website visits, informal contacts or partnership leads) that suggest your offer may appeal to international customers?

Yes

No

22. Do you have a basic understanding of whether any Canadian free trade agreements (FTAs) apply to your target market(s) and how they might affect tariffs and market access?

Do you have a basic understanding of whether any Canadian free trade agreements (FTAs) apply to your target market(s) and how they might affect tariffs and market access?

Yes

No

23. Have you identified at least one specific target country or region and the type of customer you want to reach there?

Have you identified at least one specific target country or region and the type of customer you want to reach there?

Yes

No

24. Have you compared at least two or three potential markets using simple, defined criteria (for example, demand, ease of doing business, logistics costs and risk) before deciding where to start?

Have you compared at least two or three potential markets using simple, defined criteria (for example, demand, ease of doing business, logistics costs and risk) before deciding where to start?

Yes

No

25. Do you have a basic understanding of who the main competitors are in that market and how your offer compares to theirs?

Do you have a basic understanding of who the main competitors are in that market and how your offer compares to theirs?

Yes

No

26. Are you willing to adapt your product, packaging, service model or pricing to meet local expectations and regulatory or certification requirements in target markets?

Are you willing to adapt your product, packaging, service model or pricing to meet local expectations and regulatory or certification requirements in target markets?

Yes

No

Section F: Digital and data readiness

27. Do you have a website or online presence that is credible for international customers, and at least partly tailored to your target market?

Do you have a website or online presence that is credible for international customers, and at least partly tailored to your target market?

Yes

No

28. Can you create, send and store key business documents electronically in a reliable and organized way (for example, invoices, contracts, shipping documents)?

Can you create, send and store key business documents electronically in a reliable and organized way (for example, invoices, contracts, shipping documents)?

Yes

No

29. Do you have at least basic cybersecurity practices in place, such as up-to-date systems, strong passwords and regular backups?

Do you have at least basic cybersecurity practices in place, such as up-to-date systems, strong passwords and regular backups?

Yes

No

30. Do you have simple practices to protect customer information and respect basic privacy requirements?

Do you have simple practices to protect customer information and respect basic privacy requirements?

Yes

No

Section G: Export knowledge and support

31. Do you have at least a basic understanding of the main elements of an export transaction (for example, Incoterms® for shipping, duties and taxes, logistics options and common payment methods)?

Do you have at least a basic understanding of the main elements of an export transaction (for example, Incoterms® for shipping, duties and taxes, logistics options and common payment methods)?

Yes

No

32. Do you know where to find help on export topics (for example, we at the Trade Commissioner Service (TCS), banks, insurers, freight forwarders and accountants) and are you willing to contact them when needed?

Do you know where to find help on export topics (for example, we at the Trade Commissioner Service (TCS), banks, insurers, freight forwarders and accountants) and are you willing to contact them when needed?

Yes

No

33. Are you prepared to do basic structured market research before committing to a new market (for example, using official statistics, trade reports, discussions with our trade commissioners, product/platform customer validation testing)?

Are you prepared to do basic structured market research before committing to a new market (for example, using official statistics, trade reports, discussions with our trade commissioners, product/platform customer validation testing)?

Yes

No

34. Are you aware that exporting introduces additional risks (such as non-payment, political changes, supply disruptions) and prepared to explore basic tools to manage those risks?

Are you aware that exporting introduces additional risks (such as non-payment, political changes, supply disruptions) and prepared to explore basic tools to manage those risks?

Yes

No

Section H: Responsible Business Conduct (RBC)

35. Do you have clear internal expectations for ethical behaviour (for example, no bribery, honest marketing, fair dealing with partners)?

Do you have clear internal expectations for ethical behaviour (for example, no bribery, honest marketing, fair dealing with partners)?

Yes

No

36. Do your operations meet basic labour and environmental standards, and do you expect the same from your key suppliers?

Do your operations meet basic labour and environmental standards, and do you expect the same from your key suppliers?

Yes

No

37. Before working with a key customer, agent or distributor, are you willing to verify that there are no applicable trade sanctions and conduct a basic background check on who they are and how they operate?

Before working with a key customer, agent or distributor, are you willing to verify that there are no applicable trade sanctions and conduct a basic background check on who they are and how they operate?

Yes

No

Section I: People and skills

38. Is there someone in your organization who has time set aside, even part-time, to drive export initiatives while working across many different time zones?

Is there someone in your organization who has time set aside, even part-time, to drive export initiatives while working across many different time zones?

Yes

No

39. Do you have some capacity (internally or through partners) to handle language or cultural differences with international customers?

Do you have some capacity (internally or through partners) to handle language or cultural differences with international customers?

Yes

No

40. Are you open to supporting staff training and giving them time to build export-related skills through learning and practice?

Are you open to supporting staff training and giving them time to build export-related skills through learning and practice?

Yes

No

Section J: Product or service suitability

41. Can your product or service be delivered to at least one other foreign market at a reasonable cost and within acceptable timeframes?

Can your product or service be delivered to at least one other foreign market at a reasonable cost and within acceptable timeframes?

Yes

No

42. Is it technically and financially realistic to meet key regulatory, certification or compliance requirements for your product or service in at least one target market?

Is it technically and financially realistic to meet key regulatory, certification or compliance requirements for your product or service in at least one target market?

Yes

No

43. Do you have a simple plan for supporting customers after the sale (for example, remote support, clear documentation, local partners)?

Do you have a simple plan for supporting customers after the sale (for example, remote support, clear documentation, local partners)?

Yes

No

44. Can you start by focusing on a manageable set of products or services and one or two priority markets?

Can you start by focusing on a manageable set of products or services and one or two priority markets?

Yes

No