U.S. fulfillment for sellers in Germany and the EU

German sellers can apply to store products in Florida and fulfill U.S. orders through FulfillHarbor while keeping their business in Germany. A U.S. company is not required for our warehouse application. German export formalities, U.S. imports, taxes and payment account requirements remain separate.

Reviewed: November 9, 2026

The German steps below are for businesses using the German export process. If your business is established elsewhere in the EU, use your country's customs authority for its registration and declaration procedures.

Start with your German export registration

Check your EORI registration before preparing the shipment. The German Federal Portal explains that an EORI number is valid across the EU and is used for participation in ATLAS, Germany's customs processing system. Applications and changes are handled through the German Customs Portal.

Agree with your customs representative who will submit the export declaration and provide the shipment documents. Explain that the products are moving into your own U.S. stock if they have not yet been sold to individual buyers. Ask your accountant which export evidence and records to retain for that arrangement.

Check the product and the route to the U.S.

The European Commission's export guide separates EU export preparation from the destination country's requirements. Use it to identify the questions to take to your customs provider: product classification, origin, required documents and any U.S. product conditions.

Give the provider the actual country of manufacture and dispatch, product description, materials, value and intended use. Ask whether the U.S. version needs particular labels or supporting documents. Your quotation should reflect the actual goods and shipment date. This page does not provide a blanket duty rate for German or EU products.

You arrange international transport and U.S. customs clearance separately. FulfillHarbor does not provide customs clearance. See the transport and customs checklist for details to discuss with your chosen provider.

If your business is elsewhere in the EU

An EU-wide identifier does not make German application forms the right choice for every seller. Start with the authority in the country where your business is established. The European Commission notes that member states use their own electronic export systems. Local VAT reporting and recordkeeping questions also belong with an adviser familiar with your country and business.

FulfillHarbor's international warehouse application is a separate step. We assess the products and your proposed use of the service before accepting stock.

Plan the store and the budget in both currencies

Choose which products will be held in Florida and how your store will use that stock. Avoid making the same units available from two places unless your inventory setup accounts for it. Review your U.S. customer delivery promises using the shipping services available for the packed product.

For Shopify businesses, Germany's payment account requirements continue to govern the relevant account. A U.S. warehouse address does not itself establish eligibility for U.S. payment processing.

Our charges are in USD. Include the incoming shipment, customs costs and currency conversion when comparing your selling margin in euros. Allow for storage if sales take longer than expected.

Receiving your first shipment

International onboarding requires a valid passport, contact or business details, a payment method, product and inventory-ownership declarations, and the signed agreement. Wait for approval and the assigned receiving instructions. Our storage is for cartons and bins, with no pallet storage.

Add products and expected quantities and register the inbound shipment before dispatch. Tracking can be added when the carrier or supplier provides it. Warehouse check-in confirms the stock available for orders. Follow the inbound shipment instructions.

Fulfillment charges

Postage, shipping service fees, packaging and additional work are separate. The lower pick-and-pack rate applies only to orders from the 101st onward. Storage continues while your goods occupy a bin, including months with no orders. There is no setup fee or monthly order minimum. See the full prices and applicable extra charges, including inactive storage and SKU space agreements.

Compare these charges with your expected sales and the space your products occupy. Two products at the same retail price can need different packaging, storage and postage.

Orders and returns after the stock arrives

Supported store connections import orders into your dashboard. You choose the shipping service and approve payment after the parcel is prepared. Shipment updates can then return to the connected store.

Eligible returned products can stay in your U.S. inventory for a later sale. Review the U.S. returns process and decide how your customer-facing refund policy will use the receipt and condition information.