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Sourcing Agent in China: What They Do and How to Check One

An independent look at the role, the risks and the questions to ask. This site is not an agent and takes no referral fees.

The Supplier legitimacy checker on this page helps you judge whether a China supplier, or a sourcing agent in China, looks like a real business. You answer questions about what you see, and it lists risk signals based on your answers. It runs in your browser, is free, needs no sign-up, and uploads nothing. No website is queried either.

It is a list of signals, not an audit, a guarantee, or a verdict on any company. A trading company is a normal kind of business, so a trading company result does not mean a company is bad. Use the checker alongside the checks below, especially when you compare china sourcing agents or plan a product sourcing china project.

Sourcing agent china example

How to use the Supplier legitimacy checker

  1. Note where you found the supplier, such as a marketplace, trade show or referral.
  2. Select the verification status shown, and whether Trade Assurance is offered.
  3. Enter what the company claims to be, and how wide its product range is.
  4. Answer what a third-party audit report says, if one exists.
  5. Say where the company asks you to pay, and how much before shipping.
  6. Mark any items the supplier refused: a live video of the production floor, a factory audit, its business licence, or a sample.
  7. Say whether the price is far below other quotes.
  8. Optionally, enter the 18-character unified social credit code. The tool checks its check character and decodes the registering department, entity type and region code.
  9. Optionally, paste the business scope in Chinese. The tool shows manufacturing words (生产 / 制造 / 加工) and trade words (批发 / 销售 / 进出口) with English glosses.
  10. Read the result: risk signals marked High, Medium, Reassuring or Note, each with a reason and source links; a “Looks like a manufacturer”, “Looks like a trading company” or “Unclear” card with its evidence; and a list of next checks.

When you finish, press Print checklist to print a one-page check sheet. Answer every question the same way for each supplier so the results can be compared.

What does a sourcing agent in China do?

A sourcing agent in China works for the buyer. It typically finds suppliers, negotiates prices and terms, checks samples, and arranges inspection and shipping. The agent is not the factory, so you pay for its work on your behalf, not for the goods themselves.

Agents can be trading companies too, and some are sourcing businesses with a commercial interest in what they recommend. Epic Sourcing and JingSourcing are sourcing agents that publish blogs, so read their advice knowing they have a commercial interest. Treat any agent’s claims the same way you would treat a supplier’s.

How do I check a sourcing agent?

Check an agent the way you would check a supplier. Ask for its business licence and verify it, because China Checkup says the business licence is always the starting point. Compare the Business Scope (经营范围), which lists the activities the company is officially permitted to offer, with what the agent says it does.

Public registration records can be searched online in Chinese by the registered Chinese name, not the English trade name, so search with the name printed on the licence. Note that China Checkup says some trading companies “blatantly pretend to be a manufacturer”, so a claim to be a factory needs evidence in the scope and the registry. Make sure the company name on the licence matches the name on your contract and invoices.

Then ask two commercial questions. Does the agent earn a commission from factories as well as a fee from you? Will it give you a written fee schedule? Do not rely on fee levels stated in marketing; ask for the figures in writing.

WorldFirst, a payment provider, describes 1688.com as built for domestic Chinese buyers, supporting only Mandarin, pricing in CNY, and expecting Alipay linked to a Chinese bank account, which most international buyers do not have. That is a vendor’s description, not Alibaba’s, and WorldFirst says foreign buyers therefore usually use an intermediary.

Sources read for this page

Opened on the dates shown; notes say where we used a substitute.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a sourcing agent?

It depends on whether you can check suppliers, negotiate, and inspect goods yourself. WorldFirst, a payment provider, says 1688.com is aimed at domestic buyers and that foreign buyers usually use an intermediary. An agent adds a fee and another party to check, so compare that cost with the work you would otherwise do.

What should a sourcing agent contract say?

Put in writing the services included, the fee schedule, who pays for samples and inspections, and the payment terms. Include the agent’s name exactly as it appears on its business licence, and state whether it earns commissions from factories. Keep a copy of every version signed by both sides.

Is a trading company a bad sign?

No. A trading company is a normal kind of business, and the checker treats the result as a classification, not a verdict. What matters is whether the licence and business scope support what the company tells you, since some trading companies pretend to be manufacturers.

Does the checker prove a company is legitimate?

No. It lists risk signals from the answers you enter and is not an audit, a guarantee, or a verdict on any company. Work through its next checks, and verify the company yourself before you pay.

Does this site recommend a sourcing agent?

No. This site is not a sourcing agent, has no referral arrangement with any agent, and does not recommend one.

  • Verify a company: Use this when you want to check a supplier’s verification details on Alibaba.
  • Yiwu market: Use this when you are looking at small-goods suppliers in one of China’s large wholesale markets.
  • Find a manufacturer: Use this when you are searching for a factory before you involve any agent.
  • Factory vs trading company: Use this when you need to understand the difference between a factory and a trading company in a supplier’s scope.