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Freight forwarderfor small business

Quote, book, track and pay online for the shipments a growing business sends a few times a month, by air, ocean, truck or small parcel.

Rated on Google

Read reviews

“Air and ocean in one quote. We picked the lane.”

Automotive parts importer

“Duty estimate upfront. Finance approved same day.”

Aftermarket distributor
Since 2006Freight forwarding
150+Countries served
Air · Ocean · TruckOne instant quote
CustomsBrokerage and duty estimates

At a glance

Small business freight: key facts

For planning only. Every quote confirms the details for your shipment.

Who it is forOwners and founders shipping a few times a month
Typical modesAir · Ocean FCL and LCL · LTL · FTL · Small parcel
Key documentsCommercial invoice, packing list; ISF for ocean imports; EEI for exports over $2,500 per Schedule B line
Compliance watchCustoms bond for formal entries, generally over $2,500; HTS code for every product
Online accountQuote, booking, document upload and invoice payments
SupportUS-based customer service, 8 AM to 8 PM EST

First shipment

Your first shipment in 4 steps

Importing or exporting for the first time is mostly paperwork you can see coming. Here is the path from quote to delivery.

01

Get a quote

Enter origin, destination, commodity, weight and dimensions to compare air, ocean and truck, with duty and tax estimates before you book.

02

Book and upload documents

Book online and upload the commercial invoice and packing list. Ocean imports also need an ISF filing before the cargo is loaded.

03

Ship and clear customs

Follow air and ocean shipments on a map with email alerts while customs brokerage handles the entry.

04

Delivery

Pay invoices online and receive the cargo at your door, warehouse or Amazon fulfillment center.

FIRST TIMENot sure where to begin? Start with the first-time importer tips, then check what your goods will cost to land.
First-time importer tips

What we move

What small businesses ship with us

Typical small business freight we quote by air, ocean, truck and parcel.

Ecommerce inventory

Stock for your own site or marketplace, from LCL pallets to cartons.

Amazon FBA shipments

Freight delivered direct to Amazon fulfillment centers.

Product samples and first orders

Small, urgent shipments by air or small parcel.

Wholesale and retail restocks

Planned replenishment by ocean, then LTL to your warehouse.

Equipment and supplies for a new location

Palletized goods with real dimensions and weight.

Exports to overseas customers

Door-to-door rates from North America to 150+ countries.

Why ExFreight

Why small businesses ship with ExFreight

Everything online

Quote, booking, document upload and invoice payments in one account.

Duty and tax estimates

Rates to and from 150+ countries, plus a duty and tax estimate before you book.

Tracking with email alerts

Follow air and ocean shipments on a map, with automated status emails.

Small parcel to full containers

Samples by small parcel, stock by LCL or FCL, all in one place.

Which mode fits

Ocean, air or truck for your small business

A starting point, not a rule. Every quote shows each option side by side; the final mode depends on your lane, dates and cargo.

Ocean

Inventory

Stock for the next quarterLCL if it does not fill a container
Heavy or bulky goodsOcean keeps the cost down
Air

Speed

A first order or product samplesSmall and urgent
A reorder before you run outTiming outweighs cost
Truck

Door to door

Port or airport to your warehouseDensity-based LTL pricing
Parcels and Amazon FBASmall parcel or FBA delivery

Ocean imports

ISF

Customs brokerage, plus duty and tax estimates before you book, for small business shipments.

Customs

The paperwork a first-time importer meets

Ocean imports need an Importer Security Filing, due at least 24 hours before the cargo is loaded at the foreign port
The importer of record needs an EIN or CBP-assigned number, and formal entries (generally goods valued over $2,500) need a customs bond; goods subject to antidumping duties or other agency rules can need a formal entry and bond regardless of value
Every product needs an HTS code, which sets the duty rate. MPF and, for ocean, HMF are charged on top
US exports need EEI filed in AES when a Schedule B line exceeds $2,500 or a license is required

FAQs

Small business shipping questions

Still have questions? Our team is ready to help.

Can a small business use a freight forwarder?

Yes. You can quote, book, upload documents, track and pay invoices online, and US-based customer service is available 8 AM to 8 PM EST.

How much does it cost to ship as a small business?

There is no flat rate. Price depends on origin, destination, weight, dimensions and mode. Enter your shipment details to compare air, ocean and truck side by side, with duty and tax estimates before you book.

Do I need a customs broker to import?

Every import needs a customs entry. You can file it yourself or use a licensed customs broker; customs brokerage is available with your freight, and entry charges depend on the service booked.

Do I need a customs bond?

Commercial imports valued over $2,500 generally need a customs bond. You can use a single-entry bond for occasional shipments or a continuous bond if you import often.

What is an ISF and who files it?

The Importer Security Filing, or ISF 10+2, is required for ocean imports and is due at least 24 hours before the cargo is loaded at the foreign port. The importer or its agent files it, so confirm who does before you book.

Which mode suits a small shipment?

LCL lets a smaller order share container space, air suits samples and urgent reorders, and small parcel suits light packages. Every quote shows the options together.

Who is the importer of record and who pays the duties?

The importer of record is legally responsible for the entry and the duties. Your Incoterm decides who books and pays each leg, so settle it with your supplier before you order.

Can you deliver to Amazon FBA?

Yes. We ship freight direct to Amazon fulfillment centers.

What do I need to export my products?

A commercial invoice and packing list, plus Electronic Export Information filed in AES when a Schedule B line exceeds $2,500 or a license is required. The destination country can add its own rules, so check the country guide.

Home/Freight Forwarding Services/Freight forwarder for small business

Freight forwarderfor small business

Quote, book, track and pay online for the shipments a growing business sends a few times a month, by air, ocean, truck or small parcel.

Rated by shippers on Google

Read Google reviews

“Air and ocean in one quote. We picked the lane.”

Automotive parts importer

“Duty estimate upfront. Finance approved same day.”

Aftermarket distributor
Since 2006Freight forwarding
150+Countries served
Air · Ocean · TruckOne instant quote
CustomsBrokerage and duty estimates

At a glance

Small business freight: key facts

For planning only. Every quote confirms the details.

Who it is forOwners and founders shipping a few times a month
Typical modesAir · Ocean FCL and LCL · LTL · FTL · Small parcel
Key documentsCommercial invoice, packing list; ISF for ocean imports; EEI for exports over $2,500 per Schedule B line
Compliance watchCustoms bond for formal entries, generally over $2,500; HTS code for every product
Online accountQuote, booking, document upload and invoice payments
SupportUS-based customer service, 8 AM to 8 PM EST

First shipment

Your first shipment in 4 steps

Importing or exporting for the first time is mostly paperwork you can see coming. Here is the path from quote to delivery.

01
Get a quoteEnter origin, destination, commodity, weight and dimensions to compare air, ocean and truck, with duty and tax estimates before you book.
02
Book and upload documentsBook online and upload the commercial invoice and packing list. Ocean imports also need an ISF filing before the cargo is loaded.
03
Ship and clear customsFollow air and ocean shipments on a map with email alerts while customs brokerage handles the entry.
04
DeliveryPay invoices online and receive the cargo at your door, warehouse or Amazon fulfillment center.
FIRST TIME

Not sure where to begin? Start with the first-time importer tips, then check what your goods will cost to land.

First-time importer tips

What we move

What small businesses ship with us

Typical small business freight we quote by air, ocean, truck and parcel.

Ecommerce inventory

Stock for your own site or marketplace, from LCL pallets to cartons.

Amazon FBA shipments

Freight delivered direct to Amazon fulfillment centers.

Product samples and first orders

Small, urgent shipments by air or small parcel.

Wholesale and retail restocks

Planned replenishment by ocean, then LTL to your warehouse.

Equipment and supplies for a new location

Palletized goods with real dimensions and weight.

Exports to overseas customers

Door-to-door rates from North America to 150+ countries.

Why ExFreight

Why small businesses ship with ExFreight

Everything online

Quote, booking, document upload and invoice payments in one account.

Duty and tax estimates

Rates to and from 150+ countries, plus a duty and tax estimate before you book.

Tracking with email alerts

Follow air and ocean shipments on a map, with automated status emails.

Small parcel to full containers

Samples by small parcel, stock by LCL or FCL, all in one place.

All platform features

Which mode fits

Ocean, air or truck for your small business

A starting point, not a rule. Every quote shows each option side by side; the final mode depends on your lane, dates and cargo.

Ocean · Inventory

Stock for the next quarter

LCL if it does not fill a container

Heavy or bulky goods

Ocean keeps the cost down

Ocean freight
Air · Speed

A first order or product samples

Small and urgent

A reorder before you run out

Timing outweighs cost

Air freight
Truck · Door to door

Port or airport to your warehouse

Density-based LTL pricing

Parcels and Amazon FBA

Small parcel or FBA delivery

Trucking

Ocean imports

ISF

Customs brokerage, plus duty and tax estimates before you book, for small business shipments.

Customs

The paperwork a first-time importer meets

Ocean imports need an Importer Security Filing, due at least 24 hours before the cargo is loaded at the foreign port
The importer of record needs an EIN or CBP-assigned number, and formal entries (generally goods valued over $2,500) need a customs bond; goods subject to antidumping duties or other agency rules can need a formal entry and bond regardless of value
Every product needs an HTS code, which sets the duty rate. MPF and, for ocean, HMF are charged on top
US exports need EEI filed in AES when a Schedule B line exceeds $2,500 or a license is required

FAQs

Small business FAQs

Can a small business use a freight forwarder?

Yes. You can quote, book, upload documents, track and pay invoices online, and US-based customer service is available 8 AM to 8 PM EST.

How much does it cost to ship as a small business?

There is no flat rate. Price depends on origin, destination, weight, dimensions and mode. Enter your shipment details to compare air, ocean and truck side by side, with duty and tax estimates before you book.

Do I need a customs broker to import?

Every import needs a customs entry. You can file it yourself or use a licensed customs broker; customs brokerage is available with your freight, and entry charges depend on the service booked.

Do I need a customs bond?

Commercial imports valued over $2,500 generally need a customs bond. You can use a single-entry bond for occasional shipments or a continuous bond if you import often.

What is an ISF and who files it?

The Importer Security Filing, or ISF 10+2, is required for ocean imports and is due at least 24 hours before the cargo is loaded at the foreign port. The importer or its agent files it, so confirm who does before you book.

Which mode suits a small shipment?

LCL lets a smaller order share container space, air suits samples and urgent reorders, and small parcel suits light packages. Every quote shows the options together.

Who is the importer of record and who pays the duties?

The importer of record is legally responsible for the entry and the duties. Your Incoterm decides who books and pays each leg, so settle it with your supplier before you order.

Can you deliver to Amazon FBA?

Yes. We ship freight direct to Amazon fulfillment centers.

What do I need to export my products?

A commercial invoice and packing list, plus Electronic Export Information filed in AES when a Schedule B line exceeds $2,500 or a license is required. The destination country can add its own rules, so check the country guide.

Still have questions? Our team is ready to help.

Contact your local office
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