Introduction
Can You Really Run An Export Business With A Nine To Six Job?
Imagine this You are working at your nine to six job and at the same time your export business is making a lot of money on the side. This sounds impossible It is not impossible.
Many people in Pakistan have already done this. They started working on their export business part time while they were still working at their jobs and they built very successful export businesses that gave them the freedom to quit their jobs and work full time on their export business. The secret to doing this is not a formula. It is just about selling the right products and having a good plan and spending one or two hours every day working on your export business.
In this guide we will tell you how to start an export business while you are still working at your job in Pakistan. We will tell you about the five products for people who are just starting out. We will tell you how to find people who want to buy your products. We will tell you how to set the price of your products. We will also tell you about people who have already started export businesses. Whether you live in Karachi or Lahore or somewhere else, in Pakistan this guide will help you build an export business from scratch.
Table of Contents
- You can start an export business even when you have a job
- What makes a product good for export there are three things
- Working with the people who supply and make the products
- Getting the products to the buyers this is about freight and customs
- Finding people who want to buy the things you export
- Making a website that looks professional and gets orders
- You have to sign up on these platforms that connect businesses
- Figuring out the price of the products this is called FOB price
- The best products to export from Pakistan here are five
- People who started exporting part time and did very well
- When is the right time to leave your job and export time
- Final thoughts, on export business
1. Why You Can Start An Export Business While You Are Working At A Job
People think that to start an export business you need an office and a lot of employees and you have to know a lot about international trade.. That is not true.
Many people in Pakistan started exporting with a laptop and they wanted to grow their business They were determined. They knew the basics of exporting They did not have an office or a lot of employees They just knew what to do They worked on it every day.
The important thing to know is that you do not have to be all the time for an export business. It is not, like a store where you have to be every day. You can set it up so that other people handle the products and the paperwork and the shipping. You just have to find people who want to buy your products and get paid.
This is why you can do it while you are working at another job You can manage an export business and a full-time job at the time because export business does not require you to be there all the time.
2. The 3 Essential Qualities of a Good Export Product For Job Holders
You are busy with your job Only have evenings and weekends free So the product you choose to export must have qualities Here are three essential things to look for:
✅ Quality #1: Available in Pakistan Preferably Nearby
You do not have time to travel far to get your product. It should be available near you or easily accessible within Pakistan This will save you time. Reduce stress.
✅ Quality #2: Consistent Repeat Demand
The product should be something that buyers need again and again This means you will get orders Consistent orders are the foundation of an export business.
✅ Quality #3: Lightweight and Easy to Ship
Do not choose bulky products at first Also avoid products that can spoil quickly These products are difficult to manage while working a job Start with light products.
Pro Tip: As a beginner job-holder exporter do not export products unless you know a lot, about that area The risk is too high The logistics are too complicated.
3. How to Work with Suppliers and Manufacturers
You cannot make the products yourself when you have a full-time job so your business needs to be about working with the suppliers or manufacturers.
Here is what you need from your suppliers:
- Consistent product quality. People who buy from you will come back only if the quality of the products does not change from one order to another
- Understanding of export packing standards Your suppliers need to know how to pack the goods so they can be shipped to countries
- Delivery If the goods are delayed you can lose the people who buy from you and your reputation can be damaged
- Willingness to prepare orders when you need them This includes working on weekends if necessary
When you find the suppliers and manufacturers and you start working with them about 80 percent of the work related to making the products is taken care of.
Your job is to do the work: find people who want to buy from you take their orders and get paid.
To find suppliers you can look in these places:
- wholesale markets in Lahore, Karachi, Faisalabad
- Industrial estates in Sialkot, Kasur
- Farming communities in Khushab, Khairpur and rural areas of Punjab and Sindh
You should always have 2 to 3 suppliers that you work with so you have options if you need to compare prices or check if something is available. This way you always have a plan, with your suppliers.
4. Handling Freight Forwarding and Customs Clearing
When you start exporting it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the stuff. Like customs papers, shipping procedures and bills of lading. But here’s the thing: you don’t have to know it all away.
You just need to hire two people:
🔹 Clearing Agent
A clearing agent handles all the customs stuff They do things like:
- Manage all the paperwork for customs
- Clear customs for you
- Prepare all the export documents to send to the buyer
- Deliver all the papers to you in person or by courier
🔹 Freight Forwarder
The freight forwarder takes care of all the shipping stuff, like the bill of lading and other shipping papers.
The good news is that most clearing agents can also handle freight forwarding these days. So you might only need to hire one person for both jobs.
Your job as the exporter is to focus on the buyer collect the payment and let the experts handle the rest. As you make shipments you’ll start to understand the process better.. At first focus on what makes you money: building relationships, with buyers and making sales.
5. How to Find Buyers for Your Export Business
This is the question that beginner exporters ask a lot and it makes sense Without buyers you do not have an export business.
Narinder Maheshwari says that the main thing to do is not to look for buyers but to get them to come to you. The best way to find buyers from countries is not to call them out of the blue or send them lots of emails. It is to put yourself where buyers are already looking.
There are three ways to do this:
Method 1: Your Own Website That People Can Find on Google (This Is the Best Way)
If you have a good website that shows up on Google when people search for export things this is the best way to find buyers When people from the USA or Europe or the Gulf look for products, on Google they can find your website. Then they get in touch with you directly by WhatsApp or email.
Narinder Maheshwari says that if your website shows up well on Google, then 80% of your work is already done. When your website is doing well on Google you get lots of people asking about your export business without having to pay any money.
Method 2: B2B Platforms
You need to sign up your company on all the B2B export platforms. Spend some time on them every day like one or two hours. Some important platforms are:
- Platform: Alibaba, Website: alibaba.com
- Platform: TradeKey, Website: tradekey.com
- Platform: Export Hub, Website: exporthub.com
- Platform: Go For World Business, Website: goforworld.com
Make a profile for your company on these B2B platforms Add pictures of your products and write descriptions that are easy to understand. Lots of buyers use these B2B platforms every day to find suppliers for the things they need.
Method 3: Social Media Marketing
Using media to get the word out can really help get people to ask about buying from you especially if you also have a good website that people can look at.
