Guatemala - Market Entry StrategyGuatemala - Market Entry Strategy
Companies should consider their own resources, previous export or business experience abroad, and long-term business strategy before entering the Guatemalan market. Nevertheless, U.S. products and services enjoy an excellent reputation, and Guatemala is an attractive market for U.S. companies. One of the most common market entry options is finding a local agent or distributor. Other approaches include licensing, franchising, and identifying local partners for market knowledge and contacts.
The U.S. Department of Commerce, United States Foreign Commercial Service (USFCS) offers customized solutions to help U.S. companies, including small- and medium-sized enterprises, succeed in Guatemala. Given the regional nature of this market, this will often include consideration of market opportunities in other Central America countries as well. USFCS stands ready to help U.S. companies develop comprehensive market entry or expansion plans, learn about export- and customs-related requirements, obtain export financing, and identify potential partners, agents, and distributors through business matchmaking programs, trade shows, and trade missions led by senior U.S. Government officials. For U.S. companies that purchase our Gold Key Service, USFCS can facilitate one-on-one meetings with: pre-screened buyers; potential customers or end-users; experienced professional services providers; and key government officials. Furthermore, by engaging USFCS, U.S. companies can learn how to leverage high-level bilateral policy discussions. With these tools, explained in greater detail in this Country Commercial Guide, U.S. companies will be better positioned to take advantage of opportunities in Guatemala and throughout Central America.
In addition, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) provides equivalent-level trade services at no cost for U.S. companies interested in exporting agricultural, fishery, and forestry products through their Agricultural Trade Offices. FAS works with USDA agencies and other U.S. food safety-related agencies (, the United States Food and Drug Administration) to coordinate the U.S. response to newly arising sanitary, phytosanitary, and technical barriers to trade, such as identifying and resolving challenges posed by new procedures introduced at port or acquiring, translating, and coordinating the U.S. response to draft regulations that could affect U.S. exports.