In short, customs brokers help importers clear their shipments through customs and into the United States. This occurs through a variety of tasks that a customs broker is responsible for. These tasks include:
While the goal of a customs broker may seem simple, the path to get there can be complex and labor intensive. Many customs brokers, including those you’ll find at USA Customs Clearance, offer even more services beyond what’s listed above. These services include customs consulting, duty drawback, domestic & international shipping, warehousing, and more. Our ultimate goal is to simplify and assist with all of your supply chain needs.
Speaking of cost, it’s important to understand what fees are associated with using customs brokerage services. All customs brokers will operate differently in terms of the costs, however, there are a couple of fundamental details to know.
1. Fee calculations will vary.
The way in which customs broker fees are calculated will vary quite a bit. Some of the different calculations methods are listed below:
There are also minimum charge thresholds in many cases. It’s worth noting that the fee amount, calculations, and more will vary from company to company. For example, one company may charge a flat rate with a minimum cost threshold for a product, another company might charge a different price based on percentage value.
2. Broker fees can sometimes be reduced when utilizing other services
Similar to other scenarios, you may be able to obtain a lower rate in some cases when bundling multiple products and services through your broker. This is only possible when brokers offer a wide array of services. While some customs brokerage firms specialize in one product or service, such as customs bonds or ISF Filings, USA Customs Clearance, powered by AFC International, offers a comprehensive range of customs brokerage services. Because of this, we’re often able to help you save on customs broker fees when compared to the competition.