We're opening our first new country

You want one more country, with the duty inside the price the shopper sees, and a receipt that still says your brand. Returns need an address, or the first month is tickets.

The lists for this job

These are the ones I'd pick first, which is why I partner with them. I may earn a referral fee.

DISCLOSURE

Listings and verdicts can't be bought. Sponsored slots and reviews are always labeled.

WHAT MATTERS

The shopper sees duties and taxes before they pay.
You stay merchant of record unless you mean to give that up.
Returns have an address and a rule.
The setup does not require a new store for one country.

Before you sign

Who is merchant of record, and where the cash lands.
Which country is in scope, and what a second country costs.
The returns path, including who pays the label.
How duties are calculated when the product data is wrong.

NONE OF THESE

If the country is a test of a few dozen orders, ship it yourself with a clear landed price and a returns rule you can explain. Do not buy a platform for a hunch.

Questions

Should I open a local company first?

Not for a first test. Get one country checking out cleanly. A local entity is a later decision.

Do I need a local 3PL on day one?

No. A landed checkout and a returns rule matter more than a building in-country.

What do I watch in the first month?

Tickets about duties, refused parcels, and the real delivery time versus what the site said.