A comprehensive guide for merchants operating e-commerce businesses outside the United States, covering essential settings and legal requirements.

Language and Currency Settings

Change your website's language in language and region settings to match your local audience. Consider creating a multilingual website to reach international customers.

Use a location-appropriate domain (e.g., .com.au for Australia or .de for Germany) to establish local presence.

Shop currency automatically matches your payment provider's linked bank account. Select a different currency if selling to international audiences.

Measurements and Shipping

Switch to metric measurements (kilograms and meters) through language and region settings. Configure weight-based shipping calculations for accurate international shipping costs.

Legal Requirements

For EU businesses, create an imprint page displaying required business information.

Disable automatic newsletter opt-ins to comply with anti-spam laws like Canada's legislation.

Set up country-specific tax regulations:

• Standard country-wide tax rates
• Provincial taxes for Canada (added to nationwide tax)
• VAT-inclusive pricing options

Shipping Solutions

Use Easyship or Shippo extensions for:

• Discounted international shipping rates
• Custom shipping company integration
• Automated tracking and returns
• Multi-country shipping zones

GDPR Compliance

Ensure compliance with GDPR regulations for:

• Data collection
• Personal information storage
• Cookie requirements
• Privacy policies

Note: While Squarespace supports extension functionality, contact extension providers directly for specific support issues.

Remember to properly set up shipping zones for all countries you serve and maintain accurate tax regulations for each region.

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