U.S. Expansion for European Brands
You've built a successful brand in Europe. Now build one in America.
The U.S. is the largest consumer market on earth — and the hardest to enter from abroad. We handle sales tax, 3PL, compliance, marketplaces, and DTC so you don't have to hire five American vendors from across the Atlantic.
What changes when you enter the U.S.
Why the U.S. is different
The things that stall Europe brands — handled
Your product already sells. What stops most brands isn't demand — it's the operational and regulatory maze. We've walked it many times.
Sales tax, not VAT
The U.S. has no VAT. Instead you face economic nexus across 45+ states, each with its own rules. We set up compliant collection and remittance.
Compliance & labeling
CE marking doesn't apply. Depending on category you may face FDA, FTC, CPSC, or Prop 65. We coordinate the right path before you list.
U.S. fulfillment & returns
Shipping from Europe kills margin and Prime eligibility. We stand up a U.S. 3PL and build a returns process American buyers expect.
Localization that converts
Translation isn't localization. American buyers want different benefits, proof points, and search terms. We rewrite your listings for how the U.S. shops.
USD margin model
FX, U.S. ad costs, marketplace fees, and fulfillment change your unit economics entirely. We rebuild your pricing before you commit inventory.
Entity, banking & Brand Registry
U.S. entity, EIN, banking, and Amazon Brand Registry as a foreign seller are their own gauntlet. We handle the setup.
The MAX Method™
One proven path to U.S. market leadership
Assess
Opportunity, margin readiness, and what U.S. entry really takes.
Strategize
Channels, pricing, assortment, and a launch roadmap for your category.
Launch
Marketplaces, DTC, compliance, and 3PL stood up and live.
Operate
Listings, inventory, ads, service, and returns run by us.
Scale
New channels and categories toward U.S. market leadership.
Proof
Brands like yours, already selling in America
Launching one of America's most ambitious luxury retail flagships
Printemps, the iconic French luxury retailer, chose Shopify Plus as the commerce platform for its first U.S. flagship at One Wall Street in New York.
Building the U.S. commerce operation for one of Europe's largest juvenile products brands
Kinderkraft had become one of Europe's leading baby gear manufacturers and was committing millions of dollars to U.S. inventory — but needed a single team to build and run its American eCommerce business.
Questions
Common questions from Europe brands
Do European brands need a U.S. entity to sell on Amazon or Walmart?
In most cases yes. To get paid cleanly, enroll in Amazon Brand Registry as the trademark holder, and stay compliant, foreign brands typically set up a U.S. entity, EIN, and banking. We handle that setup as part of a market-entry engagement.
How is U.S. sales tax different from VAT?
The U.S. has no VAT and no national sales tax. Each state sets its own rules, and selling enough into a state creates economic nexus, an obligation to register, collect, and remit. We set up compliant collection across the states where you owe it.
Can we keep shipping from Europe, or do we need a U.S. 3PL?
Shipping from Europe kills margin and Prime eligibility. American buyers expect fast delivery and easy returns, so we stand up a U.S. 3PL and a returns process that matches the local standard.
How long does U.S. entry take for a European brand?
A focused marketplace launch can go live in weeks once entity, compliance, and fulfillment are in place. The timeline is usually set by regulatory and operational readiness, not by the storefront itself.
Start here
Book a Strategy Assessment
A focused, no-obligation session. In 30 minutes you'll get a straight read on your biggest eCommerce opportunity — where the growth is, what's holding it back, and whether it's worth pursuing. If it's not, we'll say so.
Book your assessmentNot ready to talk? Get the free U.S. Market Entry Checklist →