Going Global?

By Graham Sheridan

For ambitious businesses, expanding into new international markets marks a strategic leap forward. Whether you're seeking new revenue streams, diversifying risk, or building resilience across borders, global growth opens the door to transformative opportunity. But with that opportunity comes complexity, and one of the most overlooked risks: foreign exchange (FX) exposure.

At Moneycorp, we've spent over 45 years helping businesses navigate this complexity. From high-growth start-ups to established multinationals, our clients rely on us to ensure that currency risk doesn't become a hidden cost or a barrier to progress.

If international expansion is on your radar, here's what you need to know to stay ahead of the curve and why FX strategy should be part of your growth blueprint from day one.

FX risk: A strategic lever, not a back-office afterthought

Currency risk isn't just a finance team concern - it's a strategic variable that can shape your pricing, profitability, and competitive edge. If you're invoicing in foreign currencies, paying international suppliers, or collecting overseas revenue, you're exposed to market volatility that can erode margins and disrupt cash flow.

Yet too often, FX is treated reactively, addressed only after a rate swing impacts a deal or blows a budget. By then, the damage is done.

We believe in flipping that script.

Our role is to help you identify where FX risk lives in your business, quantify its potential impact, and design proactive strategies that not only protect your bottom line but can even unlock opportunity in the right market conditions.

What does that look like in practice?

Expansion is a journey, not a one-off event. And currency exposure can emerge at every stage. That's why we start by asking the right questions:

• Has a firm order been received, crystallising the FX exposure?
• How material is the amount, and how sensitive are your margins to rate fluctuations?
• Is this a one-off transaction or part of a recurring revenue stream?
• Do you have FX benchmarks in place to measure performance?
• Has the market moved since the exposure was created?
• Are there regulatory constraints, like exchange controls, in your target market?

These aren't just technical questions. They're strategic ones. The answers shape your risk profile and inform the right approach; whether that's hedging 100% of your exposure upfront, breaking it into tranches to preserve flexibility, or building in upside participation while protecting against downside risk.

We tailor every strategy to your commercial context, cash flow needs, and risk appetite - because one-size-fits-all doesn't work in global finance.

FX in the bigger picture of international growth

Currency risk is just one piece of the international puzzle. The most successful global businesses think holistically, and we help them do just that.

• Regulatory readiness: From exchange controls to settlement rules, regulatory landscapes vary widely. We help you navigate them with confidence, so compliance never becomes a bottleneck.
• Operational scalability: Managing multi-currency payments, reporting, and reconciliation across borders can be a logistical headache. Our platform simplifies it all - no spreadsheets, no silos.
• Cultural and commercial alignment: Are you quoting in the right currency? Offering market-appropriate payment terms? We bring local insight to global operations, helping you align with customer expectations.
• Payroll and contractor payments: Whether you're hiring remote talent or opening a new entity, cross-border payroll can introduce FX friction. We streamline it with currency accounts and bulk payment capabilities.

From strategy to settlement: We're with you every step

Once your FX strategy is in place, we don't just hand it over; we walk with you through execution. Our team provides real-time market insights, confirms every trade by email, and can handle regulatory reporting on your behalf. When it's time to settle, our London-based support team ensures everything runs smoothly - no surprises, no delays.

With access to a broad panel of global banks, competitive pricing, and a market-leading platform, we're here to support your international ambitions at every stage.

Because global expansion is a bold step - and bold steps need clear thinking.

For founders and finance leaders, FX is more than a technical detail, it’s a strategic tool that influences pricing, margins, and momentum.

That’s where we come in. At Moneycorp, we help startups turn currency complexity into clarity, so you can move faster, make smarter decisions, and stay focused on growth. If international markets are part of your vision, let’s make sure your FX strategy is built to support it from day one.

Graham is Head of Sales for Retail, Wholesale, Industrial, and Logistics at Moneycorp. A seasoned FX risk manager, he brings deep expertise gained from working with a diverse range of corporate clients, asset managers, and insurers throughout his career. Graham now leverages this experience to help businesses navigate market volatility with confidence, delivering tailored FX strategies that are both effective and efficient.

Views expressed in this commentary are those of the author, and may differ from your appointed Moneycorp representative. This commentary does not constitute financial advice. All rates are sourced from Bloomberg and forecasts are taken from Forex Factory. 

Helping global businesses move forward

At Moneycorp, we've helped clients trade over £79 billion across 130+ currencies, and we currently serve more than 11,000 active clients worldwide. Whether you're entering a new region or scaling your global footprint, we bring the tools, insights, and expertise to help you thrive across borders.