Avoid the hidden costs and risks of exporting SaaS.
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FX losses & treasury management (Wise)
I assumed I could just charge in USD and convert later. I was wrong:
- Stripe’s FX fees ate margins
- Wise helped reduce payout costs and treasury handling
GST and VAT confusion
Advisors gave conflicting guidance: some said NZ GST applied, others didn’t. It depended on customer location, delivery model, and classification.
Dual-use export controls (MFAT)
Some software is “dual-use” — civilian + military applications — meaning it can trigger export restrictions. Simulation analytics brought us close to violations.
What I do now:
- Review MFAT’s Dual-Use Goods List
- Email MFAT before signing sensitive deals
- Keep internal records of classification
What James would do differently if starting again
- Get legal input on export classification earlier
- Build global-first pricing and support before launch
- Skip vanity events and focus on channel fit
Tools:
- Export compliance checklist
- MFAT dual-use guide
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