Creating a 1. Have I ensured that a customer base exists in the country or countries l want to enter? A product that sells well in your home country may not necessarily have the same appeal elsewhere, so it's crucial to invest time and energy into researching potential foreign markets. "First, make sure your customers exist," said Joseph Paris, Jr., chairman of business consulting firm XONITEK and founder of the operational Excellence Society. "Is there a need for your offering? Are they inclined to purchase? Don't think that they might know that they will." Mike Zani, CEO of business consulting firm Pl worldwide, advised traveling to the country or countries you want to expand into to really do your homework and get first-hand idea of how your business will fare. This will give you the opportunity to not only conduct research and test your product in the foreign marketplace, but also to experience the culture and social norms of the people you'll be marketing to, he