Starting an Export Business on a Small Budget. When I first thought about starting an export business, I had no budget to work with. But I didn't let that stop me. Instead, I found a way to begin on a small scale by shipping small quantities through Less-than-Container-Load (LCL) by sea and by air. This method is budget-friendly because it doesn't require filling an entire shipping container. To manage the risk and secure some cash flow, I insisted on advance payments from my customers. For smal