International expansion services for manufacturers

Experienced support for global growth

For many manufacturers, seeking sustained growth leads to expansion.

International markets are a valuable opportunity to reach new customers and increase revenue. However, expansion also comes with significant complexity. A global footprint requires careful analysis of the appropriate legal and operational structure and complying with jurisdiction-specific tax regimes. It can also involve managing an international workforce and optimizing a global supply chain.

A successful global presence starts with the right strategy. Wipfli’s global manufacturing consulting services can help you expand with support for navigating risks while taking full advantage of opportunities.

Why Wipfli

Wipfli offers a wide range of international expansion services, from tax compliance and consulting to comprehensive technology guidance.

We apply our manufacturing industry experience to providing hands-on support tailored to your company’s current needs and global aspirations. We also leverage our Allinial Global network to connect with firms across 100+ countries covering Europe, the Middle East, North and South America, Africa and Asia-Pacific.

Whether you’re a foreign-owned company starting or growing a U.S. subsidiary, or you’re a domestic company expanding your footprint, we’re ready to help you achieve profitable growth.

How we help you

Wipfli can help drive your international growth with tailored, global supply chain services, including:

Supply chain strategy, planning and management

Wipfli creates a tailored solution that aligns with your goals, incorporating your organization’s internal expertise to develop practical, fully-integrated strategies that optimize supply chain operations. In addition to helping you identify, qualify and develop supplies, we work with you to identify gaps in your current supply chain program and ways to improve performance and resilience.

Market analysis

We use our Allinial Global networks or other on-the-ground resources to conduct multi-country market analysis for your products and industry. From there, we create a strategic roadmap that outlines each phase of your journey according to your timetable and objectives.

Outsourcing, 3PL selection, transportation and logistics

We analyze your supply chain processes to define requirements, establish baseline logistics costs and service levels, and identify areas for improvement. We also help you manage requests for proposals and facilitate the selection and transition planning for third-party logistics (3PL) operations.

Operations assessment, warehouse and inventory management

Our assessments identify opportunities for improvement in warehouse operations, transportation, distribution, inventory and order management. We also evaluate performance across people, processes and technology to optimize your company’s workforce, network and infrastructure.

Integrated digital planning

We help companies choose the right digital technologies at key points along the supply chain, such as smart automation, end-to-end visibility and collaboration systems, artificial intelligence, machine learning and cloud platforms.

Sale and distribution support

We assist you by helping establish and drive sales in new or existing markets. We provide help in the following areas: start-up or re-focus sales efforts, establishing sales offices, hiring and training sales professionals, and in-country sales support.

Tariff solutions

Wipfli can produce analysis to help bridge IRS transfer pricing methods and requirements with customs transfer pricing valuation methods. Through our bridge analysis, your company is better equipped to determine the appropriate arm’s length price for intercompany sales acceptable to both the IRS and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Wipfli can also analyze options for unbundling (i.e., itemizing components of intercompany transactions such as goods, royalties and services) the dutiable value of goods. Our services can improve customs and IRS transfer pricing compliance by helping ensure that duties are not paid on non-dutiable elements. It also supports accurate functional segmentation and benchmarking.

In addition to global supply chain and tariff management, Wipfli offers a range of cross-border solutions designed to help drive international growth:

Global mobility services

Wipfli’s international tax team offers extensive experience and comprehensive strategy to help you navigate the tax implications of a global workforce. We consider the full life cycle of an expatriate assignment, assisting with shadow payroll, tax equalization calculations, hypothetical calculations, provision of tax counseling services and the preparation of an expat or inpat’s U.S. and non-U.S. individual tax returns.

Transfer pricing services

Wipfli offers guidance to help you with intercompany transactions and determining the appropriate arm’s length price as you expand your operations. Our team offers guidance on specific transfer pricing challenges, including support for planning, documentation, intercompany agreements and audit defense.

Quantitative analysis

Understanding cross-border taxation is crucial for success in today’s global market. Wipfli’s international tax team offers a variety of services to support your needs, including tax attribute analysis and tracking, modeling and calculating the impact of cross-border transactions or certain tax elections, cash repatriation and dispositions. Beyond tax services, we also work closely with your team to provide actionable guidance that aligns with your goals and clarifies your next steps.

Wipfli’s foreign direct investment advisory services can tailor the structure of your new entity and optimize global strategies to deliver short- and long-term results. Our services include support for:

International tax

Wipfli’s experienced international tax team monitors the many developments and changes in tax law to proactively advise you on the implications for your specific situations as they arise. We take complex sets of international tax rules and apply them to your factual situation to determine your reporting requirements and how transactions can be undertaken in the most tax-efficient manner.

State and local tax

Companies looking to expand in the U.S. need to navigate the complexities of state tax systems, as well as the direct and indirect taxes levied by localities such as counties or cities. Wipfli’s experienced state and local tax team helps you enhance your tax strategy and compliance with comprehensive support, including state tax registration.

Payroll

Wipfli helps you comply with state and federal payroll regulations, including support for implementing a payroll system, reporting new hires, IRS Form 940 filing and making payroll tax deposits.

Outsourcing

Avoid the cost and complexity of an in-house financial team with Wipfli’s comprehensive finance and accounting outsourcing, from accounting assistants to controller and CFO positions. Our customized approach is designed to foster business continuity and provide best practices, with support for positions from accounting assistants to controller and CFO. We also offer outsourcing for CIO, COO, CHRO and vCISO positions.

Site selection

Get experienced support to help you select the right site for your expansion. Wipfli’s team can assist you throughout your site selection journey with support for data gathering, RFP distribution, bid review and analysis and field visits.

Treasury management

Wipfli can assist in reviewing your treasury management functions across jurisdictions, including the U.S, and support good treasury management practices to drive your organization’s growth.

Technology

Wipfli provides comprehensive technology management for your U.S. operations, including assistance with designing and implementing the appropriate tech infrastructure. We also offer managed services to protect and sustain your environment, as well as helpdesk support for your U.S.-based employees.

Our support for U.S. companies looking to expand internationally includes:

International tax compliance and quantitative analysis

Through our Allinial Global association, our team can assist in analyzing the various filing requirements for U.S. outbound companies and transactions and completing foreign (local) tax forms. Additionally, we go beyond reporting obligations to help uncover any delinquent filings and mitigate future penalties.

We can assist your company with:

Optimizing foreign tax credits
Understanding IC-DISC tax incentives
Repatriation of foreign earnings
Completing complex tax filing requirements in the US (Form 5471, 8858, etc)
GILTI/FDII planning

International tax consulting services

Let Wipfli help minimize your effective worldwide tax rate. Our team supports your company with tax-efficient structuring of outbound transactions and operations, M&A planning and due diligence, legal entity rationalization, income tax treaty/permanent establishment analysis, cross-border withholding tax analysis and OECD Pillar 1 and 2 assistance.