Make sure you draw up a list of potential customs brokers to work with after you must’ve conducted research. The first thing you’ll need to consider is experience and not just that, it has to be a valuable experience in your industry or the type of products you’re dealing with. Also, you’ll want someone who has positive references and has worked well with previous clients. The customs broker should also be licensed and approved and this should be something you should look at when considering hiring a customs broker. If you’re working with a large number of goods, it will also be important if your customs broker can work with such a large volume. After all this, you can then look at fees and select your most preferred professional.

If you’re an individual who is not familiar with the proper terminology or procedures in importing, then you might need to consider hiring a customs broker to help you safely importing your goods. It’s not like it’s not a process you cannot do yourself or something required by law, but with customs brokers, you can simply have the whole process done without any delays. They ensure that your import papers or documents are filed correctly and penalties are avoided. Many successful importers make use of customs brokers.

The cost of hiring a customs broker usually ranges between $35 to $150 depending on what the customs broker will be doing for you. This fee range does not include other charges that might need to be paid such as a clearance charge, which could rise to even more hundred dollars.

A customs broker is a professional who helps importers and exporters to meet Federal requirements regarding imports and exports. They can either be a private individual or an association or corporation and they simply work for clients to meet required guidelines. Custom brokers usually submit the necessary information and required payments to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on behalf of their clients. They must be experienced and knowledgeable about several things, some of which include entry procedures, admissibility requirements, classification, and valuation.