Import agents, for example, can earn lucrative commissions with relatively low financial risk, and an annual income of £40,000 is considered average. At the higher-risk end of the business, one-person import agencies (principle buyers of foreign goods) and exporters can generate substantial incomes, often exceeding £100,000 a year.
Whether you're importing or exporting, agency or principal, the same basic procedures for setting up a potentially beneficial trading partnership apply.