Do I need a license to import as a small business?

No general import license is required for most goods. You import under your importer number (typically your EIN). Specific products — alcohol, firearms, certain agricultural and pharmaceutical goods — do require agency permits or licenses, but there is no across-the-board “importer’s license.”

Do I have to use a customs broker?

No, but most small importers do. A broker files your entries and helps with classification, while you remain the importer of record and keep the legal liability. The broker’s expertise is usually worth the fee on anything but the simplest shipments.

What is a customs bond and do I need one?

A customs bond is a financial guarantee to CBP that you’ll pay your duties and penalties. It’s required on formal entries (generally goods valued at $2,500 or more). A continuous bond is usually the economical choice once you import regularly.

How long do I have to keep import records?

Five years from the date of entry, under 19 U.S.C. § 1508. That includes entry summaries, invoices, and the backup for how you classified and valued the goods. Importing as a small business is manageable once you treat the compliance framework as part of the cost of goods, not an afterthought. Reidel Law Firm helps small importers set up classification, bonding, and recordkeeping correctly on flat-fee terms, with a plain-English compliance memo and direct attorney access. Get a flat-fee import compliance memo.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE LAW

How to Import as a Small Business: Customs Basics

Schuyler 'Rocky' Reidel July 14, 2023 5 min read

Importing as a small business means stepping into the legal role of “importer of record” — the party U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) holds responsible for declaring the goods, classifying them correctly, paying the duty, and keeping the records. You can hire a customs broker to file the paperwork, but the legal liability stays with you. Get the framework right before the