1.SECURE AN EXPORT CONTRACT
This means that you must reach an agreement with your buyer.After getting a buyer,securing a contract starts with you sending a proformal invoice(Shipper/seller name,address,buyer adress,product specification and destination)
Now, how do you meet buyers in the first place? Buyers can be gotten through the following:
@Online Search-There are several websites offering this service.There you meet sellers and buyers of commodities.Examples are www.alibaba.com,www.tradekey.com etc.You can also make enquiries on your own
@NEPC Database-Nigeria Export promotion Council has a adatabase of would be buyers and can be supplied when needed.
@Export consultant-Export consultants can also help in helping to get buyers and also drawing of contract agreement.Export consultants undoubtedly have vast knowledge about export CONTACT MR. AKIN SHODIPE AN EXPORT CONSULTANT ON 08053910791 OR VISIT HIM AT STREND INT.LTD PEZ CENTRE, NO.40 AKINREMI ST ANIFOWOSE ST.IKEJA.

2.SOURCING.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THE LOCATION OF YOUR PREFERRED PRODUCTS.

3.TRANSPORTATION AGREEMENT.
You can liase with any available container that can accomodate the goods to be exported from the source loaction to the port.Then you'll have to decide if you will handle the transportation to the buyers country or leave it all to the freight forwarder

4.PROCESSING OF DOCUMENT BY FREIGHT FORWARDER
To do this, the freight forwarder needs the following from the seller
#proformal invoice;Shipper/seller name,address,buyer
adress,product specification and destination)
#copy of contract
#Export tax receipt
Having gotten all this,You or the freight forwarder will do the following
$Book for a container
$Make arrangement to pick the export product from the source to the port
$Provide shipping manifest(info about the ship e.g departure and arrival date) to the buyer
$He gets the bill of laden and makes it available to the seller(document that proves the ship has sail) to the buyer

5.BUYER SEND INITIAL PAYMENT
The bill of laden is the document needed by the buyer to pay the initial money as embedded in the contract or as you please.Usually,it is 70%when the bill of laden is provided by the seller.The means of payment depends on the contract terms.
6. VESSEL ARRIVES DESTINATION
This usually takes at least to three weeks The time frame depends on the destination.

7.BUYER CONDUCTS INSPECTION AND SENDS BALANCE
The buyer weighs,sizes inspects the product he also checks the quality.He makes sure everything is as specified,he then sends balance.

STRATEGY TO SECURE A GOOD BUYER
There are no basic rules to get a good buyer but we only advice you to follow these steps

1.INTRODUCTION LETTER
Introduce your company and include the following information
-QUANTITY BUYERS REQUIRE
-SHIPPING TERMS
-DELIVERY SCHEDULE
After you have sent the introductory mail,you go to the next stage
2.PRICE QUOTE
After they have replied,you then give them a price quote.Price quote are usually valid for just 3 weeks to one month because of market flunctuation.

3.AGREE ON PAYMENT AND SHIPPING TERMS
After agreeing on prices,the next step is agreeing on payment and shipping terms.A good negotiation will get you 50% initial payment on provision of bill of laden and final 50% when the goods have reached their destination.The last thing is to agree on shipping terms which could be either of the two FOB and CIF

FOB;FREE ON BOARD
With an FOB contract,the seller responsibility ends when he/she gets the goods to the port and completes the shipping documentation with the shipping company.Here, the buyer settles the freight/transportation charge and insurance(if needed)

CIF:COST, INSURANCE AND FREIGHT
With a CIF contract,the seller handles every charges from here,the seller paysfor freight to the buyers port and also pay for insurance.All these fees will have been included in the quotation submitted to the buyer during negotiation.This can increase the profit margin of the seller but it will also increase the capital outlay,thereby,increasing the sellers risk exposure.

EXPORT DOCUMENTS REQUIRED
1& Proforma Invoice:This is an invoice prepared by the seller in advance of shipment that documents the cost of goods.It is the invoice you issue to the buyer before you execute the contract.
The following are the information required in the proformal invoice
shippers name
shippers address
buyers name and address
Total quantity to be shipped
Unit price per metric tonne
Total price,
Payment terms
Shipping terms
Country/Port of origin
Destination port.
2& Export tax form:This is processed in the bank. The following documents are needed before you can statr the processing:
photocopy of your certificate of incorporation(BUSINES REGISTERATION CERT.)
photocopy of your eport license
copy of the contract
proforma invoice
You will need to pay 0.5%of the total export value as a form of tax.After this, you will be eligible to receive an export tax receipt from your bank

source:http://healfarm..com.ng/2016/07/stages-of-exporting-transaction_4.html
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