Victoria, Johan and Anne at an exhibition in Gothenburg.

News & Insight 6 Oktober 2023

Everything the UF company needs to know about purchasing

During the autumn, around 3,000 high school students start a UF company in the Gothenburg region. A large percentage of you who start UF companies choose to purchase goods or materials to realize your ideas. Does it matter which country you buy it from? And what hidden costs can arise? We list our best tips for you to succeed with your purchases.

In short – to make purchases as a UF company

A UF company does not have an F-Tax slip. This means that you do not have an organization number, which is a unique identifier assigned to legal entities, for example, companies and associations – not UF companies. Which in this case means that you purchase goods in the same way as a private person. There are producers and suppliers who do not do business with private individuals. When you order as a private person, you also need to pay (import) VAT and any customs duties. The cost is based on a percentage of the product value – therefore it is not always better to buy cheaply from Asia.

Tips for you as a UF company

• Currently, delivery times are unpredictable. Make sure to order on time with a good margin.
• How much do you think you can sell? Evaluate the pros and cons of ordering a little more now or replenishing the stock later.
• • If you order more directly, you have ensured that you have goods/materials for a longer period, but there may be a greater cost initially. How high do you dare to set sales targets?
  • If you order a little later in order not to sit on too much stock, there may be delays in deliveries.
  • Can you decide how the goods will be delivered? Faster and more expensive transports are by air or courier transport. Cheaper and slower going by boat or truck. You may want to get a first delivery home quickly and that the supplementary order may take longer.
• Don’t take the first best! Compare suppliers’ quality, transport times and price.
  • Make sure you have someone to turn to at the supplier/transport company if something goes wrong along the way or if there is something wrong with the order.

• Can you choose a more environmentally friendly delivery method? Transport is (mostly) dirty and climate compensation is a good option to reduce your climate footprint. If your UF company has a sustainable profile, it is good to use in your marketing.

• Is your supplier located in Sweden? If it’s not too far, you can certainly go there. Build a relationship and try to get good contact with the supplier.
  • Can you get a test product to evaluate the quality of the material and the product?
  • If there are problems along the way, they will be much easier to solve if you have good contact from the start.

Suppliers in Sweden

They can be more expensive but easier to get good contact with.

• Delivery from a Swedish supplier is easier and smoother.
• “Support your local”. Buying locally produced is often a more sustainable alternative.
• Even this aspect can also be good for marketing purposes.

Supplier in the EU

• (Simplified) It is more expensive to buy from the EU than in China but cheaper than from Sweden.
• The contact and deliveries are often better and go more smoothly than buying in from, for example, Asia.
• You don’t have to pay VAT or duty. Read more at: https://www.tullverket.se/sv/privat

Suppliers in Asia and China

• Cheap for large volumes
• (Often) Erratic deliveries
• It can be difficult to make good contact
• You do not have the same guarantees, which means more uncertain business
• You pay costs for customs and VAT. Read more at: https://www.tullverket.se/sv/privat

Information from the Swedish Customs Service about shopping from abroad

Keep an eye on your goods before you order them home.

Shop online
https://www.tullverket.se/privat/panatet/handlapanatet.4.7df61c5915510cfe9e7104fe.html

Shop in another country
https://www.tullverket.se/privat/paresan/handlaiettannatland.4.7df61c5915510cfe9e710597.html