General Questions
New around here ? Start With the Basics
What are the challenges starting up a new business in a foreign country?
Understanding the differences in informal institutions, for instance, cultural norms could be a challenge for foreign companies. These restraints are relatively more difficult to be noticed and understood by foreigners, but highly determine the success of a product or company. Recruiting local workforce that is familiar with the local environment might be a solution, but could potentially induce cultural differences in the company. This would create another challenge for the foreign company, which is to manage a group of employees with distinct beliefs and working styles.
Another challenge is overcoming the formal institutions such as tax systems. Different countries would have their own political, tax and legal systems. It is important for foreign companies to be aware of the differences and know how these systems would restrain their behaviours in the countries. Since a foreign company might not necessarily have the expertise in these areas, additional skilled workers might be needed. This could increase the costs of the company and make the breakeven point higher.
Choosing the appropriate market entry strategy might be a challenge. Companies need to decide carefully where, when and how to enter a foreign market to maximise their chance of success. They need to match their strategic goals with location and timing. Moreover, the most important issue with respect to the ‘how’ decision is which mode of entry is chosen. Companies would need to spend resources on change management, to monitor the process of its internationalisation and prevent disorganisation.
To conclude, the key challenges in starting up a new business in a foreign country would be overcoming the differences in formal and informal institutions and deciding on the optimal market entry strategy. Companies would need to overcome these challenges in order to gain a position and succeed in a foreign market.
How to expand online business internationally?
How to grow start-up in Asia?
- Seek Investments: it is very difficult for a start-up to develop in the very beginning, especially in the Asian market. Because of the high-growth property of this market, you would observe a huge amount of start-ups founding and closing every year. So the first thing you need to do is to make your start-up survive. You’ll need to find investments from Venture Capital (at the early stage) and Private Equity (at a later stage) to fuel your expansion, at least in the first few years, so that you can beat your competitor and grasp a significant amount of market share for your next expansion.
- Incubation: While investments from VCs and PEs would be very helpful to your business, you might ask how you can get investments from them. Alternatively, you might ask how you can start your business in the first place. The answer is incubation. There are different incubator programmes in Asia that provide you with the opportunity to trial your business idea before actually founding a company. The governments in Asia have been very generous and supportive for the development of high-tech industries. If you can demonstrate your potential to develop some really good products, chances are you’ll get funding from these programmes to at least start your business. You’ll probably get an office in one of their incubator park/zone with a relatively low price and professional consultation on what to do next. More importantly, they would help you find VCs and PEs that match your ambition. Of course, you’ll also need to worry about pitching, which is to make them confident enough to invest in you. You’ll probably be given some minutes of short presentation to illustrate your vision and potential. This is crucial to your investments so you might want to practise a bit more on this.
Which Asia country should I expand my business to?
If your company is in the tech-intensive manufacturing industry, you might want to expand into China and South Korea as these two countries have been investing increasingly more in the high-tech sectors.
This all depends on what your company does and how your company would like to expand. Our company (Bubufds Solution) focuses specifically on helping clients expand into overseas markets. We provide expert opinions and one-stop services on guiding you to expand internationally and wisely.
What’s particular about doing business in Asia?
- Large Market: Asia is the largest continent in the world, both in size and population. While it has not been the largest market in terms of capital in many industries, it is still the fastest-growing market in the world. The sheer size of the market implies the enormous profit you can make when you expand into this market and that is why many MNCs and even SMEs have decided to expand into this market.
- Diverse Culture: Asian is probably the most culturally diverse continent on this planet. With billions of people living on this piece of land, the issue of culture barrier becomes prominent. While one good may be the best-seller in one region, it might not be the same in a different region. One example would be zongzi, a traditional Chinese food. In some regions, people prefer salty zongzi whereas in some other regions people prefer sweet zongzi. This sort of cultural diversity would play a very important role in your business. You may have to customise your products with respect to different geographies and customs.
Lack of Respect for Patent/Copyright: While it has been improved in many countries over the last decade, it remains one of the most crucial problems when doing business in the Asian market. Many companies would actually “steal” your idea and make it their own. What is worse is that this sometimes even happens to big MNCs. One example would be the copyright lawsuits between New Balance and its “duplicate” in China, New Barlun. Fortunately enough, New Balance has finally won the lawsuit in Apr 2020. Nevertheless, if you do a business in the Asian market, you’ll need to be very careful with the copyrights of your logo, icon, etc.
Find Out More In News and Insights
What are different channels of digital marketing?
The traditional way of selling brands, products and services make use of...
Read MoreGlobal Technology Trends in 2021
Technology is key to any business... Some key trends are emerging with...
Read MoreThe Japanese Sensor Market
With a 54% share of the overall market, Japanese companies hold a...
Read MoreSocial Issues in the Business World
Global expansion can be an exciting venture but to ensure a company's...
Read MoreUK vs Hong Kong – Company Formations
The UK is a powerful player in the European business world but...
Read MoreHoliday Season Boosts E-Commerce
For Amazon, 2020’s holiday sales has been the biggest in its history......
Read MoreBusiness Appropriate Attire in Malaysia
As workplace standards have evolved from professional-looking suits to simple t-shirts, dressing...
Read MoreDigitizing Trade in ASEAN Countries
To improve economic development, it is important to create strategic alliances. These...
Read MoreWhen is a Business Ready for Global Expansion?
So you want to expand your business overseas? That’s great – but...
Read MoreSkyscrapers
There are many ways a country can illustrate their authority... One of...
Read MoreSustainable Business in Japan
If you’re still unsure of where to expand your business, why not...
Read MoreRegional Comprehensive Economic Partnership
Fifteen countries, mostly from the Asia-Pacific region, have formed the world’s largest...
Read MoreThe Importance of Teamwork
Research shows that employers view the ability to work in teams as...
Read MoreHow Will a Biden Presidency Affect the World?
Biden is keen to maintain American leadership and steer away from Trump’s...
Read MoreOnline Shopping for Luxury Brands
Old merchandise tend to devalue luxury brands. Many luxury brands destroy them...
Read MoreGuanxi: A Way of Showing Respect in the Business World
In the Eastern hemisphere, specifically China, personal and business connections are important...
Read MoreGrowth in the US Economy
US manufacturing is seeing continual growth despite the negative effects of Covid-19.
Read MoreThe Effects of Covid-19
Covid-19 has revolutionized the world’s commercial ecosystem
Read MoreVirtual Reality
Virtual reality (VR) uses computer simulation technology to provide a simulated experience...
Read MoreVietnam – A Paradise for Tech Startups
With its affordability and thriving startup communities, Vietnam provides the perfect environment...
Read MoreWorking Visas for Japan
To expand your business in japan, you may need to send employees...
Read MoreIs it Possible to Own a Business in a Foreign Country?
Yes, it definitely is! Follow these tips to help you launch your...
Read MoreA Little More About Our Values
Bubu and Friends (originally Bubufds Solution) began with three competition winners desperate...
Read MoreWhy is Competition So Good for Business?
Whether you like it or not, your business will come up against...
Read MoreIs Taiwan The Place To Expand Your Business?
Have you considered growing your company in Taiwan? Below are outlined 5...
Read MoreManufacturing Hong Kong – the Big Break for Your Overseas Business
Considering Hong Kong’s prominent position in the global market, manufacturing your items...
Read MoreWhat Are The Challenges Of Localization?
What is ‘localization’? Localization means adapting your product or service to a...
Read MoreIntroducing New Products
When introducing a new product into the market there are many factors...
Read MoreJapanese Cuisine
Japanese cuisine has gained international attention in recent years.
Read MoreLearning from Mistakes
It is essential to learn from crises so we can adapt and...
Read MoreTipping in Japan
In western countries, especially in the US, tipping is the standard way...
Read MoreKey factors in international expansion
To grow businesses to an international scale, there are many different ways...
Read MoreSingapore’s Push for Electric Vehicles
The next step is the change from gas fuelled vehicles to electric...
Read MoreChallenges faced when expanding global business
To grow businesses to an international scale, there are many different ways...
Read MoreHow to grow my business to the international level?
To grow businesses to an international scale, there are many different ways...
Read MoreRight Place, Right Time: A Case Study on Nintendo
Covid-19 has forced most people to spend a vast majority of their...
Read MorePicking the Perfect Place
It is important to know about the relevant regulations in a country...
Read MoreBusiness in Singapore
Singapore is an ideal location for global businesses to site their headquarters....
Read MoreSouth Korean Games Move from PCs to Mobile
Nikkei Asian Review writes that Korea’s top three gaming companies - Nexon,...
Read MoreDiversifying Streams of Income
Currency and money are ultimately concepts established by the government. It only...
Read MoreGovernment Regulations in Business
Government regulations have a crucial role in business as they determine various...
Read MoreThe History of Currency and Exchange
Currency and money are ultimately concepts established by the government. It only...
Read MoreHow to Avoid Taxi Scams Right Out of the Airport: Vietnamese Taxi Scams
When you step out of the airport after a long flight, the...
Read MoreWhich Mask for Covid-19?
Apple stores in the UK are implementing a new regulation where customers...
Read MoreCovid-19 and the Digital Age
Quarantining is something many people did for months and are still continuing...
Read MoreQuality over Quantity: Japanese Fruits
Common fruits in Japan that are found in convenience stores or supermarkets...
Read MoreBenefits of Flexibility for a Business
If your business is too rigid, its chances of success will quickly...
Read MoreTaiwanese vs Chinese Business Negotiation Practices
Taiwan and China are usually viewed as a single identity with the...
Read More