Our world today feels smaller than ever, largely due to advancements in communication and technology, making plenty of business owners wonder: Should I expand my services abroad? My guest today is Hans Peter Bech, author of the bestselling book Building Successful Partner Channels and managing partner of TBK Consult, a company that helps IT groups break into foreign markets. We discuss the intense planning and logistics behind expanding a business, how culture impacts sales, and Hans Peter Bech’s suggestions for anyone considering making the jump into a foreign market.

Episode Highlights:

• Who is Hans Peter Bech?
• Why you should take your company global
• Partner channels and foreign markets
• Challenges to expansion for IT companies
• How doing business differs from country to country
• Why planning is essential to expanding your business
• Hans Peter Bech’s top tips for going global

Resources:

• Predictable Prospecting by Marylou Tyler

• Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers by Alexander Osterwalder
• Connect with Hans Peter Bech on Linkedin, on the TBK Consult website, or by following him on Twitter  

Tweets/Quotes:

“The value of an information technology company that can prove global potential and traction is dramatically higher than an IT company that only operates in a single country” - Hans Peter Bech

“Preparing a business plan is much faster and far less expensive than executing the plan”- HPB

“Understanding local culture is fundamental for designing effective business processes”- Hans Peter Bech