Know what imported goods really cost before you commit

The problem

Importers price goods from the two numbers they can see: the supplier invoice and the freight quote. The bill that actually lands is bigger. Duty is charged on a value that includes freight and insurance. Tax is charged on a base that includes duty and certain levies. Inspection fees have minimums. Cargo tracking notes depend on container size. Broker, terminal, documentation, banking and trucking charges arrive one at a time.

By the time everything is paid, the margin that justified the purchase is often gone — and it is discovered weeks later, from a bank statement rather than a calculation.

Who it is for

• Traders and wholesalers importing containers of mixed goods
• Retailers pricing a new imported line for the first time
• Small manufacturers importing inputs and raw materials
• Clearing agents and consultants preparing costings for clients

What you get out of it

• A total landed cost you can defend, with the working shown
• Landed cost per sellable unit
• Profit, profit per unit, margin and markup
• Break-even price and the price needed for your target margin
• A record of which tariff line you used, where it came from and when you checked