How can I become a customs broker in the US?

Why use a customs broker?

• What are the advantages in using a Canada Customs Broker such as www.baycitybrokers.com is it worth going through a customs broker rather than self clearing? I'd like to know the facts. From my research people said they have saved over an hour by going through a customs broker and the cost isn't very much. Any help would be great.

• Answer:

  It depends on what you are shipping. Canada post will clear items of a certain value for something like $8.50. You merely have to pay the duty when you pick up the package. International couriers will clear most items if you pay the the service -- it will cost you a fair amount and if the value of the item is sufficient you'll need to fax/email a power of attorney contract and credit card information to them. Cost can be as much as $50 over the normal shipping cost. It is useful having an agent present. They can fill out forms, answer most questions, and more importantly, it doesn't get stuck in customs while they try to contact you. Normally, an actual customs' broker isn't necessary for orders, but for commericial items traveling across the border is can be a huge savings. If you are transporting a crate of say 100 different items and customs whats to open it, go through the inventory, have someone show receipts for items returning to Canada, etc. then its great having someone else do the work.