Guides
Guides for global trade businesses
Practical answers on paying suppliers, getting paid, financing inventory, customs and banking, written for importers, exporters and wholesalers.
Paying suppliers
- Can I pay suppliers in China or Hong Kong from a US business account?Yes, if your provider supports it. Here is what to check, what details you need from the supplier and how Shield pays suppliers in China and Hong Kong.
- Deposit vs balance payment with an overseas supplier: what is normal?A deposit secures an order and the balance is paid later. There is no single normal split. Here is what drives it and how to lower your risk.
- How do I pay an overseas freight forwarder from a US business?Get a written invoice, confirm payment details by phone, then pay by wire, card or stablecoins. Here is how to pay a freight forwarder and keep clean records.
- How long does an international wire take, and how do I trace one?International wires can land the same day or take several business days. Learn what causes delays and how to trace a late payment with its UETR.
- How to Pay Alibaba Suppliers From a US BusinessCard, bank transfer or direct wire: how US businesses pay Alibaba and 1688 suppliers, what Trade Assurance covers, and how to keep orders protected.
- How to Pay Suppliers in Hong Kong From a US BusinessHong Kong trading companies, USD vs HKD accounts, the details you need for a wire and how to avoid bounced payments. A guide for US importers.
- How to verify a new overseas supplier before paying themConfirm the company exists, the people are real and the bank account is theirs. Then test with a small order and stage your payments before a large one.
- How US Wholesalers Pay Suppliers in ChinaWire, card, trade platform or letter of credit: how US wholesalers pay Chinese suppliers, what each method costs in cash flow, and where Shield fits.
- Is a letter of credit worth it for a small importer? How LCs workA letter of credit is a bank's promise to pay a supplier against documents. See how it works, what it costs, and when a wire or card is simpler.
- Is it safe to pay a supplier with stablecoins?Paying a supplier with stablecoins can be safe if you verify the supplier, confirm the wallet address and send a test first. Here are the risks and steps.
- Should I pay suppliers by card or wire?Use a card when the supplier accepts one and the order fits your limit, and a wire for large orders or wire-only suppliers. Here is a simple rule to follow.
- Supplier bank-change fraud: red flags before you wireA checklist for importers and wholesalers: how to spot changed bank details, spoofed emails and fake support calls before you send a supplier payment.
- SWIFT code vs routing number vs IBAN: which do I need?A routing number is for US payments, a SWIFT code identifies a bank for international wires, and an IBAN identifies an account. See which your supplier needs.
- What's the safest way to pay an international supplier?No single method is safest. Combine a verified supplier, staged payments and a method that fits the order: card, wire, letter of credit or platform checkout.
Getting paid
- How do I check a wholesale buyer before shipping on credit?Confirm the business is real, collect a W-9, call trade references and start with a small limit or prepayment. Here is how to vet a buyer before open terms.
- How to accept payments from international buyers as a US wholesalerGet paid by overseas buyers by wire, in local currency that settles to you in US dollars, or in stablecoins that convert to dollars. Here is how to choose.
- How US Wholesalers Get Paid by International BuyersWire, local currency, stablecoins or letter of credit: how US wholesalers collect from overseas buyers and get dollars into their account faster.
- Should my wholesale business accept stablecoins?Stablecoins can help when overseas buyers face slow or costly wires. See when they make sense, what to weigh and a practical way to start.
Credit and financing
- How do wholesalers build business credit for a new company?Set up the company, get a D-U-N-S number, add trade lines that report and pay on time. Here are the steps wholesalers use to build business credit.
- How do wholesalers finance inventory purchases?Wholesalers mix cash, supplier terms, a business credit card, credit lines and inventory financing. Here is how to match each option to your cash gap.
- How resellers finance inventory with a business credit cardHow resellers and live sellers use a business credit card to buy stock before payouts land: timing, limits, risks, and how it compares to other options.
- How small exporters prove past export sales to banks and lendersBundle invoices, shipping documents and payment records into one clean export history that a bank or lender can follow. A practical, step-by-step guide.
- The Best Business Credit Cards for Wholesale InventoryWhat wholesalers need from a business credit card: limits sized to revenue, no personal guarantee, a way to wire suppliers. How Shield compares.
- What are net terms, and how do I get them from suppliers?Net terms let you receive goods now and pay later. Learn how net 30 works, why suppliers say no at first and how to earn terms step by step.
- What business credit card is best for buying inventory?Look for a limit sized to real orders, underwriting on your business and a way to pay suppliers that don't take cards. What to check and how Shield compares.
- What is a trade reference, and how do I give or get one?A trade reference is a supplier's statement about how a company pays. Learn how to line up references, check them and give one honestly.
Importing and customs
- Can I import refurbished or used phones into the US?Used phones can often be imported if they have FCC authorization, are genuine and are entered with duties paid. Here are the FCC, CBP and duty rules.
- Do I need a customs broker to import inventory into the US?CBP doesn't require a customs broker, but many first-time importers use one. See what self-filing takes, when a broker makes sense and what they cost.
- Does the $800 de minimis exemption still apply to my imports?CBP has suspended duty-free de minimis treatment for imports of $800 or less. See what replaces it, what is still exempt and what it means for resellers.
- Export paperwork checklist: Miami exporters shipping to Latin AmericaA general checklist of the documents Miami exporters commonly need: commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, EEI, certificate of origin and more.
- How do I calculate landed cost on imported inventory?Landed cost is what a shipment really costs once freight, duties, tariffs and fees are added. Here is the formula, a worksheet and the common mistakes.
- How do I get a CBP importer number (Form 5106), and do I need one?You need an importer number if you are the importer of record. Most US businesses use their EIN, and CBP Form 5106 registers your identity. Here is how.
- How do I import watches or jewelry into the US?Watches and jewelry need HTS classification, origin marking and sometimes wildlife (CITES) paperwork for straps. Here are the steps before you pay a supplier.
- How do I read a bill of lading? Master vs house B/L explainedA bill of lading is the carrier's receipt, contract and sometimes title document. Learn which fields to check and how master and house bills differ.
- How re-exports through Panama's Colón Free Zone work for Miami tradersHow the Colón Free Zone works as a re-export hub, what changed with Panama's re-export declaration, and what Miami and Doral electronics traders should confirm.
- How to track a shipping container or bill of lading by numberFind where your container is using the container number or bill of lading number. Learn to read the number, find the carrier and fix common lookup errors.
- Incoterms explained: who pays on EXW, FOB, CIF, DAP and DDPEXW, FOB, CIF, DAP and DDP explained for wholesalers and importers, with a simple table of who pays for freight, insurance, export and import clearance.
- Proforma invoice vs commercial invoice: what is the difference?A proforma invoice is a preliminary quote. A commercial invoice is the final customs document. See how they differ and what to check before you pay.
- What is a certificate of origin, and when does a buyer need one?A certificate of origin states where goods were made. Most US imports don't need one, but trade agreement claims and some buyers do. Here is how it works.
- What is a commercial invoice, and what must it include for US customs?A commercial invoice is the main customs document for an import. See what 19 CFR 141.86 requires and what to check before your supplier ships.
- What is a customs bond, and when does a small importer need one?A customs bond guarantees you will pay duties and follow CBP rules. Learn when imports need one, single vs continuous bonds, and how to get one.
- What is a customs power of attorney (CBP Form 5291)?A customs power of attorney lets a broker act for you with CBP. Learn what Form 5291 covers, general vs limited powers and how to revoke one.
- What is an HS code and how do I find the right one?An HS code classifies your product for customs and drives your duty rate. Learn the HS, HTS and Schedule B difference and how to find the right code.
- What is an Importer Security Filing (ISF 10+2), and do I need one?An ISF is advance cargo data CBP requires for ocean imports, filed before loading. Learn who files, the 10 data elements, deadlines and the bond requirement.
Reselling and inventory
- Chargeback prevention checklist for resellersA printable checklist for phone, electronics, sneaker and watch resellers who take card payments: descriptors, receipts, delivery proof and disputes.
- How do I check if a used iPhone is blacklisted before buying a lot?Get every IMEI before you pay, run it through the CTIA Stolen Phone Checker, check Activation Lock and test a sample with a SIM. Here is the full process.
- How Electronics Wholesalers Manage Cash Flow Between OrdersAllocations drop without warning and stock loses value as it sits. How electronics wholesalers keep cash free between orders, and where Shield fits.
- How Luxury Resellers Pay for Inventory the Same DayWatch, jewelry and bag dealers lose pieces to whoever pays first. How to pay sellers the same day without tying up all your cash.
- How resellers can stop chargebacks before they startSeven steps for phone, electronics, sneaker and watch resellers to prevent card disputes, from clear descriptors and receipts to delivery proof.
- How should a wholesaler match supplier invoices to payments monthly?Use a 3-way match of purchase order, receiving record and supplier invoice, then tie each payment to its invoice every month. Here is a simple routine.
- How to buy iPhones and electronics wholesale for resaleBuy from authorized distributors or verified wholesalers, order a small batch first, and check every serial number before you resell electronics.
- How to check a luxury watch's serial and reference numberBefore you pay for a luxury watch, confirm it matches its papers and run a lost-or-stolen registry check. Includes red flags and a pre-payment checklist.
- How to get and use a Florida resale certificateHow Florida's annual resale certificate works for wholesalers and resellers: who gets one, how to print it, how to use it, and what sellers must keep.
- How to read an iPhone part number and A-numberA guide for phone wholesalers: find an iPhone's part number and A-number, match the A-number to a model and region, and know what the codes can't prove.
- How to receive a phone lot so you can file a claimA receiving routine for wholesale phone shipments: film, count, match IMEIs, check lost or stolen status, grade and log problems so claims hold up.
- How to tell if a wholesale product is legit before you buyCheck the seller, the paper trail and a physical sample before you pay. Learn the warning signs of counterfeit, diverted and gray market wholesale stock.
- How to verify a diamond grading report and supplier paperworkCheck a diamond report on the lab's own site, match it to the stone, and run a provenance and paperwork checklist before you pay a jewelry supplier.
- Incoming phone lot receiving checklistA printable checklist for receiving a wholesale phone shipment: count, IMEI match, lost or stolen checks, grading, evidence and claims.
- Marketplace payout fees: a worked exampleTake-home math for a $220 sneaker sale and a $400 electronics sale on StockX, eBay, TikTok Shop, GOAT and Whatnot, row by row.
- Should resellers use separate cards for inventory and expenses?One business card is fine, but two can keep inventory costs apart for bookkeeping. Here are the trade-offs and rules of thumb for resellers.
- What a $220 pair of sneakers pays on StockX, GOAT, eBay and moreOne $220 sneaker sale run through the fees of StockX, GOAT, eBay, Whatnot and TikTok Shop, so you can see what lands in your account.
- What is a 1099-K, and does my reselling business get one?A 1099-K reports payments received through card processors and payment platforms. See who sends one, the current threshold and what resellers should do.
- What is the cash conversion cycle, and how do resellers shorten it?The cash conversion cycle is the gap between paying for inventory and collecting cash from sales. Learn the formula and practical ways to shorten it.
- What records should a reseller keep for taxes and audits on inventory?Keep supplier invoices, proof of payment, shipping and customs papers, sales records and inventory counts. Here is what to save and for how long.
Banking and compliance
- Bank-readiness self-check for trade businessesA step-by-step self-check for trade businesses to run before applying for a business account: entity, owners, website, volumes and documents.
- How does a non-US owner get an EIN for a US business?Non-US owners can form a US company and then apply for an EIN by phone, fax or mail. Here are the steps, the IRS contact details and what to plan for.
- How Non-US Founders Open a US Business AccountHow founders outside the US get a US business account: form a US LLC, get an EIN, open the account. Documents, timelines and pitfalls.
- How to screen a buyer or supplier against US government listsCheck a new buyer or supplier against the US Consolidated Screening List and OFAC search before you ship or pay. Learn how to search and what to do on a match.
- Is your trade business bank-ready? A self-checkBanks look at where owners live, what the business does, and whether your documents and website tell the same story. Check yours before you apply.
- What documents do I need to open a business account as an importer?Import and wholesale businesses are often asked for more than the basics. Here are the KYB documents, trade-specific extras and tips to avoid delays.
- Why do banks close or freeze accounts for trade businesses?Banks often close or freeze trade accounts when activity is hard to explain. Learn the common triggers and how to lower the risk with clean records.