How Much Does a Customs Broker Cost? A Benefits Analysis (2024)

How much does a customs broker cost for the average importer? Typically, the cost of a customs broker depends on the complexity of your import needs. Brokers often handle various parts of the import clearance process, and it varies by commodity. If you choose not to use a customs broker, it might still cost you in the form of fees or penalties that may have been avoided.

The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency manages import cost fees. Fees are either a flat rate or a fixed percentage of the import’s value. Requirements with no upfront cost can still result in a penalty fee if there are mistakes found later. Brokers charge varying fees in exchange for assisting with import services.

A basic breakdown of the most common services completed by customs brokers will provide you with a starting point for your own import budget calculations.

The True Cost of a Customs Broker

When you’re looking to hire a customs broker, you need to look at costs in two ways. Number one, you look at the amount the brokers are charging for their services.

You may find yourself shopping around, comparing rates and reviews as you would for any service. Perhaps you even come to the conclusion that the DIY approach is best. Before you commit to that, you need to examine what the cost of your potential mistakes may be.

In nearly every case, the penalty for mistakes in your documentation or import process will far outweigh what you would pay for a brokerage service. Not convinced of the value yet? Let’s examine this in more detail.

How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Customs Broker?

How much it costs to hire a customs broker will depend on what services they take on and how often they need to do them.

Frequent importers may have a continuing contract with brokers and be billed collectively for a variety of different services. Estimating these costs is difficult because it varies, not only from broker to broker, but from commodity to commodity.

Commodities where importers should expect to pay additional fees include:

• Beef
• Pork
• Honey
• Cotton
• Potatoes
• Mushrooms
• Watermelon
• Alcoholic Beverages

These products have specific entry needs that result in fees that must be paid to the CBP. However, they aren’t flat rates, so hiring a customs broker will help you avoid over or underpaying.

Those importers and exporters who only ship a few times a year are more likely to pay for services as individual tasks. First-time importers may also wish to schedule a private consultation with a customs broker to review necessary documentation and procedures. Private consultations can vary between $250 to $500 depending on the company.

Why the wide price range for the same services? Although customs brokers are licensed by the United States, brokerage firms are privately run businesses that are free to set their own prices.

Price differences could be the result of:

• Firm location
• Product specializations
• Experience level
• Company size
• Electronic data filing capabilities
• Promotional offers

Choosing a customs brokerage service that fits your unique import needs is going to bring more value than if you just hire the cheapest service. International trade has too many unique needs that require professional expertise.

What Services Do Customs Brokers Provide?

As mentioned, customs brokers charge clients based on specific services. For all the thousands of different kinds of products that pass through U.S. customs, there are hundreds of different documents and certifications.

Because of how specific some needs are, listing them would take up way too much time. Most importers will only deal with a fraction of them that relate to their own products.

Instead, we’ll review the most common services provided by brokers:

• ISF Filing
• Customs Bonds
• Power of Attorney
• Importer of Record Registration

With very few exceptions, these services are required for all commodities clearing customs. Licensed customs brokers work on these more than any other, and most have it down to a fine art that saves you time and minimizes possible errors.

Check out our article on customs brokers vs freight forwarders to learn the difference between the services these two offer.

1. ISF Filing

Any merchandise imported into the U.S. by ocean vessel must be accompanied by an Importer Security Filing (ISF) prior to arrival.

ISF filing can be completed by the importer directly or by an assigned agent – a customs broker. It has to be completed and filed at least 24 hours before arrival at a port. Even goods entering a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) must have one filed.

There are ten data points that must be included by the importer with every filing:

1. Seller information
2. Buyer information
3. Importer of Record number or FTZ applicant number
4. Consignee
5. Manufacturer or supplier
6. Transport ship
7. Country of origin
8. Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) Code
9. Container stuffing location
10. Consolidator

Some of this information is very straight forward – buyers and sellers are simple enough, and even things such as country of origin shouldn’t be too difficult. Information on HTS codes, however, must be exact.

If the CBP fails to receive an ISF filing or receives ones with mistakes, consequences include:

• $5,000 fine per violation
• CBP hold preventing product release or transfer
• Refusal of an unlade permit
• ‘Do Not Load’ orders upon arrival

Although only one of these is a specific fine, the others could cost you just as much money. Delays can cause missed deadlines on promised deliveries, and some holds result in having goods seized and destroyed.

In comparison, the average service charge from a customs broker for ISF filing is between $25 to $50. Paying less than a hundred bucks to save yourself thousands seems well worth it.

2. Customs Bonds

If you plan on importing more than $2,500 worth of products, you need a customs bond. A customs bond is how the CBP ensures that all necessary fees and import duties owed are paid.

The bond amount needs to be at least 10% of any duties or taxes that need to be paid. Customs brokers arrange for the purchase of bonds through a surety company. Importers pay a service charge that depends on both the broker and the amount required.

Some brokers simply charge a flat fee for a bond if it’s under a certain value. Most brokers begin with a base charge of about $40 and add on from there. Flat rates typically vary between $200 to $400, but prices may change based on the state of the economy.

There are two types of customs bonds brokers can arrange on behalf of their clients.

• Single entry bond
• Continuous bond

Which one you require depends on your import practices. What’s stopping an importer from simply getting a bond directly from the surety? In most cases, it’s the surety itself and their unwillingness to risk their business.

These are companies placing themselves on the line for what could be thousands in customs entry taxes. Most sureties will not work with anyone other than a licensed customs broker. In their experience, most importers simply don’t have the needed experience and are more likely to make mistakes that end up impacting the surety company.

3. Power of Attorney

Customs brokers make importing simpler by consolidating many of the required tasks. To accomplish this, they must often work with various government agencies.

Other than the CPB, agencies that are frequently involved in the import process include:

• U.S. Department of Agriculture
• Bureau of Industry and Security
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration
• The Environmental Protection Agency

In order for a customs broker to work with these organizations on behalf of an importer, they need to be granted power of attorney (POA). It won’t give the broker any control over the inner workings of your business. It simply allows them to legally sign off on certain documents.

Fees for a POA filing are rarely charged separately because it’s being used to complete other tasks. Anytime you use a customs broker to assist with customs clearance, there must be a POA signed and on file with the CBP.

This is actually a requirement of 19 CFR 141.44 and is completed with Customs Form 5291 or another valid POA authorization.

4. Importer of Record Registration

An importer of record (IOR), whether a company or an individual, is the party the CBP will hold responsible for complying with all import laws.

This is an important role that can have severe financial and legal consequences if mistakes are made. Because of that, the chosen IOR is often part of the negotiations between the involved parties. In many cases, Incoterms® are used to officially designate the buyer or seller with the job.

There are 11 different types of Incoterms® used in international trade.

Depending on the contract terms, the responsible party must then complete an importer of record registration.

Customs Brokers can assist with this in two ways.

1. A licensed customs broker can complete the registration process for your business or for an individual.
2. A licensed customs broker can agree to act as the importer of record as a third party affiliated with your company.

The majority of brokerage firms will complete your IOR registration without an issue. In this case, you are using their services to make sure that all the right information is present and that it’s being filed with the correct authorities.

Fewer brokerage firms are willing to act as the IOR in your business’ place. By taking on the responsibility of being the IOR, they also place themselves in the hot seat should anything go wrong. For many firms, it’s just not worth the financial liability it places them in.

Are Importers Legally Required to Use A Customs Broker?

U.S. Customs services cannot legally require you to use the services of a customs broker.

Any member nations of the World Customs Organization (WCO) follow similar rules. The U.S. does have specific licensing for customs brokers, but has no control over a private citizen or company that wants to handle things on their own.

Please realize that licensed or not, you won’t get any leeway from the CBP for mistakes – an audit is possible with any shipment from anyone. They collect millions of dollars worth of penalty fees every year, as well as a few million more in seized shipments that didn’t follow procedures.

Trade Enforcement Activities of the CBP

By not using a customs broker, you are much more likely to end up on a statistics table like the one here.

However, no matter how much research and care is taken, the biggest hurdle is securing a customs bond. As mentioned, most sureties that deal with customs bonds will only work with licensed customs brokers.

If you want to minimize the number of services you have a broker taking care of, know that it is possible to secure only a customs bond from a broker if that is your preference. Depending on the arrangement, you may not even need to complete a POA for the process.

Get Your Money’s Worth With USA Customs Clearance

To hire or not to hire a customs broker? If you’re looking to expand your import/export business, knowing how much it costs to hire a customs broker is a worthwhile investment towards that future.

USA Customs Clearance and our team of licensed customs brokers are here to tackle the various import laws and document filings required for successful transactions.

We take it on, so you don’t have to.

• Importer of Record Registration
• Customs Bonds
• Manifest Confidentiality Filing
• 1-on-1 Customs Broker Consultations

Call us today at (855) 912-0406 to find out how we can start helping your business today. Ready to schedule your 1-on-1 consultation? Click here to arrange for your personalized session.