The right time to expand internationally is before your sales in local markets start to flatten. International expansion should be viewed as a pre-emptive strategy and not as a maneuver of last resort. Learn if your product is ready for international sales, where to begin and what to avoid.

Companies can grow their home market via aggressive sales, product development and line expansion, and/or acquisition of competitors. But these tactics become harder to execute as the local market saturates. Also, adding new products and business units may lead to a lack of focus and ‘sharpness’ that dilutes the company brand and positioning and exposes the company to a wider variety of competitors. You will be more successful in your international expansion if you stay focused on your core value.