Understand how the requirements fit together and in what order, run a sequence audit before you commit to a date, and know exactly which official source owns each answer — because those are the ones that are current.
For travel purposes the chip generally has to come first. Get it backwards and you're revaccinating and restarting any waiting period — and people find out months in, when the dates get checked.
Where a rabies antibody test is required, it usually has to come from a laboratory on an approved list, after the vaccination. A test at the wrong lab means repeating it, and the waiting period starts again.
Cargo capacity is limited, seasonal temperature embargoes close routes, and some breeds are refused outright — snub-nosed dogs in particular, because of documented risk in transit. Confirm before booking, not after.
Certificates are typically valid for a short period and then need official endorsement, which is often handled by a government authority rather than your vet and isn't always same-day.