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Carolyn Powell

In our last post, we covered some of the initial questions and considerations Canadian businesses should keep in mind when considering a move to the U.S.

 Now that you know what to ask, let’s talk about what to do. We’ve helped simplify the process with this list of best practices that can help a company hit the ground running in its journey to U.S.-based success.

Connect with US-based field experts

No matter where you’re looking to land in the U.S., the area likely has an organization that specializes in helping companies grow their business stateside. Choosing one—like Invest Buffalo Niagara—means you have a single point of contact you can use to find experts in site selection, human resources, accounting, taxation, insurance, legal matters, financial services, and much more.

Make it easy for management to get there

There’s no denying it: today’s business landscape and its activity levels are complex. They’re factors that require hands-on management—which means critical members of your management team have to be in easy reach. Choosing a location that’s accessible is critical to your expansion success, and strengthens operations on both the U.S. and Canadian sides.

Remember: location, location, location.

Employee satisfaction is key to getting (and keeping) the best people on your team. When looking for that perfect spot, consider commute times, cost of living, property development, restoration and reclamation activity, and the number of amenities in place that would be appealing to employees. Hint: the Buffalo Niagara region excels in all of these.

Get in touch with Canadian peers

Some of the best advice on the challenges and payoffs that come with U.S. expansion are Canadian companies who have been through the process. Local U.S. economic development groups can often make introductions for you to connect to other Canadian HQ companies that have located in their community.

Remember the advantages

Although it can seem like a lot of work to get the ball rolling, the effort’s worth it. For instance, the U.S. offers Canadian businesses access to a huge market (41% of the U.S. population is within just a 1-day drive). Similarities in consumer culture lower hurdles. And being able to offer the revered “Made in the USA” label helps win both consumer hearts and larger contracts.

Look into incentives

There are a number of significant incentives in place to attract Canadian companies to the U.S., from tax breaks that reduce your tax burden to site-specific incentives that can offset start-up costs. No matter what, the best place to start is with an organization well-versed in the incentives programs available in the specific area you’re thinking of expanding to.

Have questions or looking to get started on the process? Please get in touch—and we hope to be able to call you “neighbor” soon.

Schedule a call with Carolyn
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About Us

Founded in 1999, Invest Buffalo Niagara represents the eight counties of Western New York. We are the region’s nonprofit, privately funded economic development organization focused on job creation. 

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