Many kinds of business can operate from home and surely succeed. With very minimal start-up funding, no inventory, no shipping costs, but it can be highly profitable. Often, it takes a lot of hard work when you start but becomes easier, lighter and profitable as time goes on. Trading is the business of matching buyers and sellers. You call it International trading when you deal with people from different countries. All you will do is coordinate the functions of both the exporter and the importer. And the best part is you get paid for it!

Before you get excited, you should bear in mind that the business of trading is not easy. Since you will be negotiating business for companies separately located across the globe, it is but natural for these companies to be wary in transacting business with you at the start. With transactions involving hundreds of thousand of dollars, a company cannot leave the outcome to chance.
To be successful in an international trading business, it is a must to complete your self with a little investment in computers, telephone and a fax machine. Then, for a beginner, the best way to achieve this is to check out the companies who are selling the product that you intend to sell. Select a product that you are most familiar with. You may have to show them your credentials include your experience, companies you have previously dealt with, merchandise you traded and even a bank reference. It is necessary that you have core understanding of trading activities before you even attempt to contact any company. You mostly have to take care of all the contacting process and expenses to bring an interested buyer to the exporter. Very often, most of these transactions become a "one-shot" deal because; either the buyer goes directly to the suppliers or vice-versa on the second order, if there is any.

Without the proper appointment from the supplier, the risk that you will no longer be a part of subsequent shipments is greater. Whether there will be future transactions or not, it is better that you have the proper appointment to be assured of your commissions. You must also make sure that the company you are representing is credible as well as reliable by checking their history. A letter of credit is a form of payment used in import-export activities. The buyer opens a letter of credit in his bank and the bank guarantees payment upon submission of pertinent documents that the bank will require. As a trader, however, your responsibility is to make sure that the Letter of Credit is opened on time. After that, all you do is waiting for the shipment to come in - and your commission checks from your supplier.

Initially, try to concentrate on one product line. Show to your supplier that you dedicate more time promoting their product. As you expand your product line, you follow the same process. Look for the supplier, find the buyer and negotiate. Eventually, as you become familiar with suppliers and buyers, you will find new product requirements for new suppliers and new buyers. Slowly, you develop your image as an international trader and before you know it, you will start receiving inquiries from buyers and offers from suppliers. This is really you can do from home.