Become an NRI Proposal Template
Use this page to understand what a Non-Resident Importer is, why a company would use this model, how to qualify the opportunity, and how to position the proposal without turning it into a generic Canadian expansion pitch.
What an NRI is
A Non-Resident Importer is a company outside Canada that acts as the importer when selling goods into the Canadian market.
Why clients buy it
Clients want access to Canadian customers without taking on the cost and complexity of opening a Canadian location first.
When to use the proposal
Use this proposal when the conversation is about Canadian expansion, customs setup, import responsibility, or supply chain support.
Understanding The Service
What is a Non-Resident Importer?
A Non-Resident Importer is a company that sells into Canada while remaining based outside Canada. For a new sales rep, think of it this way: the client wants to reach Canadian customers, but they need a way to handle customs, import requirements, duties, taxes, visibility, and delivery without building a Canadian operation from scratch.
The client wants to sell into Canada
The client may have demand from Canadian buyers, but they need help understanding how goods legally enter Canada and how the customer receives them.
Canadian expansion creates setup questions
Clients may need help with customs clearance, duties and taxes, documentation, final delivery, and visibility. Without support, the process can feel too complex to move forward.
You are selling a simpler path into Canada
Do not position this as just customs paperwork. Position it as a way to help the client reach Canadian customers with a more organized import and delivery process.
How To Sell It
Most NRI clients are trying to solve one of these problems.
The client is usually not asking for an acronym. They are asking for a way to grow into Canada without getting stuck in customs, setup, tax, or delivery confusion.
They want Canadian market access
Use this angle when the company sees Canadian sales potential but does not have a Canadian office, warehouse, or team.
They do not know where to start
Use this when the prospect is interested in Canada but unsure about importer responsibilities, customs setup, or required documents.
They are worried about customs rules
Use this when the client is concerned about classification, trade agreements, government requirements, duties, taxes, or release issues.
They want a better customer experience
Use this when the company wants Canadian buyers to receive product smoothly without confusion around import charges or delivery steps.
They need shipment control
Use this when the prospect wants access to shipment status, customs visibility, reports, invoices, and updates.
They need one connected solution
Use this when brokerage, warehousing, logistics, and final delivery need to work together instead of being handled separately.
Qualify The Opportunity
How to know if this is a real NRI opportunity.
Not every company selling across the border needs this proposal right away. Use these indicators to decide whether the NRI conversation is worth developing.
Use this proposal when the client wants a serious path into Canada.
Slow down if the client only needs a one-time shipment moved.
Discovery Questions
Ask before sending the proposal.
These questions help identify whether the proposal should focus on market entry, customs setup, warehousing, delivery, visibility, or full supply chain support.
Why are you looking at Canada now?
This tells you whether the client has real demand, a growth plan, or only general interest.
What products are you planning to sell into Canada?
This helps identify customs requirements, classification needs, trade agreement questions, or special handling concerns.
How do you want Canadian customers to receive the product?
This opens the conversation around delivery expectations, final-mile service, warehousing, and customer experience.
Are you already shipping into Canada today?
This tells you whether they are starting from scratch or trying to improve a current process.
Where do you need the most help?
This helps determine whether the conversation is mainly about brokerage, taxes and duties, warehousing, delivery, or visibility.
What would help you feel ready to move forward?
This helps move the conversation toward internal review, setup, pricing, a meeting, or onboarding documents.
Proposal Playbook
How to use the proposal without dumping copy.
The original proposal language stays on the left. The selling angles live in the right card as dropdowns, so the rep can match the proposal section to the client’s actual Canadian market-entry problem.
Use this when the client wants to sell into Canada without opening a Canadian location.
This is the main opener. It connects Canadian market growth with customs, import responsibility, and support from Frontier.
Match the proposal angle to the client’s Canadian expansion problem.
Open the selling angle that matches what the client said during discovery. Do not lead with every NRI benefit at once.
Lead with: A simpler way to reach Canadian customers.
Use when: The client sees sales opportunity in Canada but does not want to open a Canadian location immediately.
What you are selling: A path into Canada that connects import setup, customs, and delivery support.
Lead with: Import responsibility and customs setup support.
Use when: The client is unsure about importer requirements, documents, duties, taxes, or customs release steps.
What you are selling: Guidance through the setup process instead of leaving the client to figure it out alone.
Lead with: A cleaner experience from customs clearance through final delivery.
Use when: The company wants Canadian customers to receive product without confusion around import charges or delivery handoffs.
What you are selling: A better buying experience for the client’s Canadian customers.
Lead with: Access to shipment status, reports, invoices, and updates.
Use when: The client wants to understand what is happening across customs, delivery, and customer orders.
What you are selling: Control and visibility instead of guessing where the process stands.
Lead with: Frontier’s ability to connect customs, warehousing, logistics, and final delivery.
Use when: The client needs more than one service to support Canadian expansion.
What you are selling: A connected solution instead of disconnected providers and handoffs.
Lead with: Support around customs requirements, classification, duties, taxes, and government requirements.
Use when: The client is concerned about making mistakes before entering Canada.
What you are selling: Confidence that the expansion plan is being approached properly.
Common Objections
What a rep may hear on a call.
These are coaching notes, not scripts. Use them to keep the conversation grounded.
“We only have a few Canadian customers.”
Ask whether Canadian demand is expected to grow and whether the current process creates friction for customers, internal teams, or delivery timelines.
“We do not want to open a Canadian location.”
That is exactly why the NRI conversation matters. Position it as a way to explore Canadian sales without starting with a physical presence.
“We just need freight moved.”
Ask who is acting as importer, how duties and taxes are handled, and what the Canadian customer experience looks like after the shipment arrives.
“This sounds complicated.”
Keep the explanation simple. Frontier helps connect customs, setup, visibility, and delivery so the client is not managing every step alone.
Support Resources
What to send and when to send it.
Use these resources based on where the client is in the sales conversation.
Past Proposal Examples
Use past proposals when you need a working example for structure, market-entry language, or NRI-related positioning.
Important Forms
Send when the opportunity is moving toward setup and the client needs documentation to begin onboarding.
Updated Rate Sheets
Use after the client’s product, volume, shipment profile, and service need are understood.
Brochures & Mailers
Use client-facing material when the prospect needs a simple overview before a deeper proposal or setup discussion.
Setting Up an NRI Account
Use once the opportunity moves from proposal discussion into setup requirements and onboarding steps.
Proposal Templates
Return to the main proposal template library when another service-specific proposal format is needed.
Final Checklist
Before sending the NRI proposal.
Use this checkpoint so the proposal does not become a generic Canadian expansion document.
Next step for the sales rep.
Confirm the client’s Canadian market goal, choose the right NRI proposal angle, explain the value clearly, and send only the resources that help move the opportunity toward setup.