Foreword by Andy Carrane, CPO & One of ExpandNow’s International Ecommerce Experts 

Brands of all sizes face unprecedented challenges in scaling their online businesses internationally. While there are countless technologies designed to address these challenges, none sidestep the inevitable hurdles: VAT, FX, import duties, etc.—they’re unavoidable. Tax authorities are unrelenting, and as global legislation grows more complex and stringent, compliance becomes a daunting task. For enterprise brands, it’s challenging. For SMBs and mid-market brands, it’s nearly impossible and prohibitively expensive.

A Merchant of Record provider—a specialist that handles everything from taxes and compliance to payments and risk for your international sales—remains the perfect strategy to gain an instant global selling presence without risking costs or reputation.

As an international ecommerce expert, I have spent decades helping global household names navigate these waters, and our team of industry veterans have seen three recurring pain points that hold the Merchant of Record providers and the business model itself:

  • Delayed Payouts: Waiting weeks or months to receive your hard-earned revenue stifles growth and disrupts cash flow. At ExpandNow, we’ve solved this by paying our brands daily.
  • High Costs and Hidden Fees: Complex pricing structures and unexpected costs often erode profit margins. With ExpandNow, it’s refreshingly simple—you’ll pay 5% or less, with no hidden fees, so you can keep more of what you earn.
  • Lengthy Onboarding and Integration: Traditional setups that drag on for months are a thing of the past. At ExpandNow, integration takes just hours or days, and most require no engineering resources, letting you get started with ease.

Beyond addressing these core challenges, ExpandNow, as Merchant of Record providers, delivers unparalleled flexibility. We welcome all brands—big or small—and we don’t impose minimums or force you to consolidate markets to meet arbitrary thresholds. Our mission is to empower you to succeed on your terms.

As international ecommerce experts, at ExpandNow we believe every brand deserves a shot at global success. Whether you’re a startup or an enterprise, you’ll enjoy the same adaptability, transparency, and speed to fuel your growth.

We’re not just redefining the Merchant of Record providers model; we’re building partnerships rooted in trust, transparency, and growth.

Welcome to the future of international ecommerce.

Andy Carrane
Chief Product Officer, ExpandNow