Find clients and sell your products in India

Finding clients abroad is always a challenge, and business development in India is not different. You need the right contacts and once you reach the decision maker, you need the right sales pitch.
A lot of companies that want to enter the market in India do this with their general sales pitch. However, if you don't know the local regulations, pricing levels and your competition's product, sales meetings may be difficult to conclude successfully.
International business development
Does it make sense to enter the market in
India
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How to sell your product or service in India?

India, located in South Asia, is the world’s second-most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.3 billion as of 2023. Known for its rich cultural diversity, historical heritage, and vast geography, India plays a significant role in global affairs.

The Indian economy, with a GDP per capita of around $2,100 USD in 2023, is characterized by a mix of agriculture, manufacturing, and services. Agriculture remains a key sector, supporting a large portion of the population. The service sector, particularly IT and software services, has seen rapid growth and global integration. Manufacturing is also expanding, with initiatives like ‘Make in India’ promoting industrial development.

Indian business culture

In Indian business culture, the head of the organisation gives all the explicit instructions and team follows it without complaints. India is a male dominated society and women should be ready for personal questions too. Business in India is based on trust. They value personal networks and close ties.

Negotiations in India

If you want to do business in India and want to start negotiations, please be aware of the following points.

  • The negotiation process can be slow.
  • It is good practice to be patient and polite.
  • Sometimes it can take multiple visits spread over a few months.
  • Hierarchy is important in India.

The India legal system for businesses

The Indian legal system is fashioned on English common law. It is a unique combination of English common law with statutory and regulatory law. Some statutes enacted before independence still operate though amended many times to to evolve with the specific needs of the times.

Contemporary Indian law also exhibits European and American slant. Primarily enactments are passed in the Parliament and the state legislatures. Case law or judgments of the Supreme Court of India and High Courts of various states and specialized tribunals forms the secondary source of law.

As per the Constitution of India the law laid down by the Supreme Court of India is binding upon all the courts in India.

India follows adversarial model. Parties to a dispute represent their arguments, and present evidence besides calling and questioning witnesses.

The Indian judiciary is known for its fierce independence. It is free of influence from the legislative and executive sections of the Indian government.

Translate your website and check your SEO

Even if your business is really international, it may be wise to set up local website translations and check whether your text aligns with the culture. 

This also counts for India and its inhabitants. People prefer reading in their own language and also search most of the time in their own language. Therefore you need to include the relevant keywords in your texts, and these may not be a direct translation.

With regards to content, my personal experience is that if you have a successful blog topic in one language, it is likely to do well also in other languages. Don’t reinvent the wheel, just make a proper translation.

Shipping your products

If you sell physical products, you need them to get delivered into India. Depending on the country you are in, this may be a challenge.

First of all you may have to pay import duties or settle VAT. This can be complex if you don’t have your own legal entity in the country. 

There may also be non-financial bariers, like certifications or approvals to be obtained. Especially for food, cosmetics or medicine this may be the case. Check this in advance, even before you invest in your marketing.

VAlidate the HS-codes you use for shipping

Almost every country or trade block in the world has its own detailing on the international HS-code list. With our report you strongly reduce the risk on misclassifications, delays and higher custom duties than expected. 

Tell us what you want to ship and where to and we ask you all relevant questions to get to the most likely code.

Frequently asked questions

First determine who can be the end-users for your product or service. From who do they purchase now? Interview a number of key players in the value chain how they perceive your offering and ask them who is your competition. Only then you can position your product or service and effectively approach potential buyers.

In India, just as many comparable countries, this all depends on your offering and the way you organise your sales. If you offering already sells in other countries, you have good chances, but you still need to figure out the market structure and the sales channels that perform best. We always recommend to do interviews with key players first.
Yes, India is certainly open for international business, the country has trade relationships with many other nations and although there may be import duties, certification and other customs regulations, you can certainly sell your goods there.
First of all adhere to the local business culture and follow local ways of making appointments and structuring them. Also in India, companies want to make profits so if you can show how your product or service contributes to that, then the interest will be not different than in other countries. Where possible, work with local partners or have your sales supported by an international business consultant.

Yes, we can certainly do that, because we have experienced business developers in the country. Of course it is important that your product is good, well documented and you have discovered the best sales processes already in your home country.

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