# 5 Game-Changing Business Tips for Entrepreneurial Immigrants

- Link: https://www.lumlawgroup.com/5-game-changing-business-tips-for-entrepreneurial-immigrants/
- Published: 2018-06-08T08:52:24-07:00
- Author: Albert J Lum

In the U.S., you have already seen plenty of active businesses everywhere. What 
you may not notice is that [many companies fail](https://www.daveramsey.com/askdave/small-business/6076)
and are replaced on a regular basis. Entrepreneurial [immigrants](https://lumlawgroup.com/Staging/portfolio-galleries/immigration/)
frequently do very, very well in business-friendly locations, but they aren’t immune
to harsh market forces either. Here are five essential tips for immigrants who want
to start a business in a new country.

## Learn the Customs

[[

Personal hobbies and interests are different in every country. Some countries promote
spending time with family, while others support more self-centered independence.
Learn more about Americans to create products and services that they will need and
want.

## Learn the Laws

[[

American business owners have many rules to follow if they want to remain in business.
They need to obtain and renew licenses, follow safety regulations from the [OSHA or FDA](https://lumlawgroup.com/Staging/portfolio-galleries/business-law/),
and pay their taxes every year. If you’ve worked in another country, you may find
hundreds of additional rules to learn and follow.

Other rules pertain to the specific type of industry. Construction workers are required
to wear protective clothing, while medical professionals need certain immunizations.
For every rule, also learn about the penalties, such as fines or imprisonment, for
not complying.

## Improve Communications

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Communication is the most important field to study in business. You cannot find 
customers if you cannot communicate with them effectively through advertising. Furthermore,
as [Franchise Gator ](https://www.franchisegator.com/articles/the-importance-of-the-fdd-11046/)
advises, you will be unable to understand the important business paperwork that 
you will need to read and file.The first step is to read, write, and speak better
English.

There are classes for people learning English as a second language along with online
learning software. [Wordcounter.io](https://wordcounter.io) includes free grammar
tools that will help your written communications sound like native English. Correct
all spelling and grammar errors before you advertise to customers.

## Focus on Marketing

[[

Getting in contact with customers is one of your most important tasks as a business
owner. Work with American marketing professionals from the beginning. They already
understand the culture, and can offer advice on everything from creating websites
to building SEO content.

## Get Help

There are several small business loans available specifically for entrepreneurial
immigrants through the US Small Business Administration — which might be one of 
the reasons why 48% of overall growth of US business ownership between 2000 to 2013
was attributed to immigrant business owners, and the number of self-employed immigrants
more than doubled between 1994 and 2015.

If you find yourself having difficulty securing a loan due to low collateral or 
other challenges, [signing a “comfort agreement” may be helpful](https://www.verdant.co/blog/buying-hotel-financial-checklist/).
This is an additional contract between the borrower and the lender that provides
the lender with wiggle-room or recourse in the case you default on your loan.

 

You may have the money and resources, but if you don’t have basic knowledge about
doing business in America, you won’t succeed. Come up with a plan on how you will
gain this knowledge. Then, learn the tips that are proven to help countless entrepreneurial
[immigrants](https://lumlawgroup.com/Staging/portfolio-galleries/immigration/).