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How to Start Importing From China with ₦100,000 or Less is yours. Download it now, work through it chapter by chapter, and place your first import order with confidence.
Profit big.
Start here in three steps
The guide is built to be read in order. Each chapter sets up the next one, so don't skip ahead.
Download and save it
Tap the red button above. Keep the PDF somewhere easy to find, like your phone's Files app or a "Business" folder on your computer.
Read it in order
Open a notes app beside you. Finish the checklist at the end of each chapter before you move to the next one.
Follow the 30-day plan
Chapter 14 turns everything into a week-by-week plan, from picking a product to selling your first imported stock.
What's inside your guide
Fourteen chapters, a glossary and a printable checklist. This is everything covered, with the page where each part starts.
- IntroWhy import?The math behind cutting out the middleman4
- Ch. 1What your budget actually gets you₦50k, ₦100k and ₦150k tiers side by side6
- Ch. 2Finding and scoring winning productsA 6-factor scorecard to pick your first product8
- Ch. 3Sourcing on Alibaba and 1688How to vet suppliers before you pay10
- Ch. 4Placing your first Alibaba orderA 10-step walkthrough, click by click12
- Ch. 5Message templates suppliers answerInquiry, sample, negotiation and freight forwarder14
- Ch. 6Incoterms and payment termsEXW, FOB, CIF, deposits and T/T explained16
- Ch. 7Avoiding scams and red flagsWhat to walk away from, and how to protect your money17
- Ch. 8Shipping smart: air vs. seaAgent or DIY, with a first-shipment checklist18
- Ch. 9Customs and clearing in NigeriaHS codes, Form M, PAAR and the full duty stack19
- Ch. 10Case study: one product, start to finishA full worked example with real numbers21
- Ch. 11Pricing and reselling for marginLanded cost, price tiers and where to sell23
- Ch. 12Reordering and scalingGrowing past your first shipment25
- Ch. 13Common first-timer mistakesSix costly errors and how to avoid them26
- Ch. 14Your 30-day action planWeek-by-week steps from research to sales27
A preview: where your money goes
Chapter 1 shows exactly how a first order is split. These are illustrative ranges for small, lightweight products such as phone accessories and fashion items.
₦50,000
- Product cost
- ₦28k – ₦30k
- Shipping (air)
- ₦12k – ₦15k
- Clearing / duty
- ₦6k – ₦8k
- Buffer
- ₦3k – ₦5k
₦100,000
- Product cost
- ₦55k – ₦60k
- Shipping (air)
- ₦20k – ₦25k
- Clearing / duty
- ₦10k – ₦12k
- Buffer
- ₦6k – ₦8k
₦150,000
- Product cost
- ₦85k – ₦90k
- Shipping (air)
- ₦28k – ₦32k
- Clearing / duty
- ₦14k – ₦16k
- Buffer
- ₦10k – ₦12k
Heavier or bulkier products raise the shipping share and reduce how many units your budget covers. Always confirm current prices with suppliers and freight forwarders before you commit funds.
See the math in action
Before you set a selling price, know your landed cost per unit. This is the case study from Chapter 10.
Chioma's wireless earphones
| Product: 150 units × ₦320 (via Trade Assurance) | ₦48,000 |
| Air freight, 11-day transit | ₦22,000 |
| Clearing: duty, surcharge, FCS, ETLS, VAT, agent fee | ₦14,000 |
| Total landed | ₦84,000 |
Landed cost per unit
(Product cost + Shipping + Customs/Clearing + Other fees)
÷ Total units received
The duty stack, explained in Chapter 9
- Import dutyRate by HS code × CIF value
- Surcharge7% of duty
- FCS4% of FOB value
- ETLS0.5% of FOB value
- VAT7.5% of CIF + charges
Your first 30 days
A small, well-run first shipment that you learn from is worth more than a big one built on guesswork.
Research and validate
- Shortlist 3–5 product ideas that already sell
- Check local wholesale prices
- Create your Alibaba account
Vet suppliers and sample
- Message 3+ verified suppliers
- Compare price, MOQ and production time
- Order a sample if budget allows
Order and arrange shipping
- Confirm price and quantity
- Pay through Trade Assurance
- Get 2+ freight quotes and book
Receive, price and sell
- Clear goods with your agent
- Calculate true landed cost
- Set your price and set aside reorder capital
Four rules to remember before you pay anyone
If you only keep a few ideas from the guide, keep these.
Pay only through Trade Assurance
Moving payment off the platform removes your only real protection. Keep every conversation on-platform too, as it becomes your evidence in a dispute.
Order a sample first
Confirm the quality matches the photos, and that you can sell at your target price, before committing your full capital to a bulk order.
Budget for the full duty stack
Product cost plus shipping is not your cost. Add duty, surcharge, FCS, ETLS, VAT and handling so your margin doesn't "disappear" at clearing.
Use a licensed clearing agent
Form M and PAAR must be filed before your goods arrive, and the right HS code matters. Get an all-inclusive landed-cost quote before you ship.
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