International Expansion Planner
Enter a new country without surprises: market choice from your data, EOR vs entity, tax presence, VAT/GST, data residency, payments.
Before & after
Same prompt, same agent — the only difference is the skill.
International expansion is a complex process with many variables to consider. You'll want to research each market carefully, looking at GDP growth, market size, and local regulations. Some regions have higher barriers to entry than others, and you should consider partnership opportunities. Different regions may require different approaches to localization and go-to-market strategy. I'd recommend creating a spreadsheet comparing key metrics across potential markets. Would you like me to help you think through the criteria for evaluation?
MARKET RANKING FOR SOUTHEAST ASIA EXPANSION TIER 1 - ENTER FIRST (12 months): Vietnam. Market size $8.2B by 2026, 40% YoY growth, English-speaking talent in Ho Chi Minh City. Entry mode: local distributor network (avoids licensing delays). Regulatory: GST registration only. First hire: regional manager based in Singapore. TIER 2 - Q2-Q3 (6 months after): Indonesia and Thailand. Indonesia: largest market $12.4B but fragmented logistics. Thailand: Bangkok concentration but easier banking partnership. Both: regional entity required by law. Share one operations hub. TIER 3 - YEAR 2: Philippines, Malaysia. Lower GDP but English-native workforce reduces hiring risk. CRITICAL TRAPS TO AVOID: Do not attempt simultaneous expansion (spreads resources too thin). Avoid licensing-first in Vietnam (first approach distributor, not government). Payment timing: all regions require local bank account before revenue recognition. NEXT STEPS: Hire regional manager this month (3-month lead for visa). Engage distributor RFP for Vietnam in parallel. Expect 8-week regulatory approval cycles per market.
About this skill
Going international usually goes wrong on mechanics, not strategy: the salesperson whose signing authority creates a tax presence, VAT you should have charged from the first sale, or an EOR contract that leaves IP with the EOR. This skill plans the move and surfaces those traps early.
What it does
- Picks the market from your own demand data (signups, deals, tickets by country) and sets an exit trigger
- Chooses how to sell (remote, reseller, local team) and how to hire (contractor, EOR, entity) with the tradeoffs
- Flags permanent establishment, employment law, equity, VAT/GST, withholding, data residency, e-invoicing, and export issues for local advisors
- Covers localization that moves conversion: local payment methods, local-currency price points, support hours
What you get
A market plan with a recommendation, sell and hire models, a pilot with budget and exit trigger, an issues-to-verify table with who to ask and when, and a first 90 days.
Best for
Startups making a first hire abroad, seeing demand from a new country, or planning their first international market. Not a substitute for local tax and employment advisors.
SKILL.md preview
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name: international-expansion
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