Find and verify a Chinese supplier before you send them money
Most people searching for a supplier outside China cannot tell a factory from a trading company, or a real business from a website built last week. We find candidates, check them against the evidence that matters, and quote alongside.
Factory or trade company
Determined from the business licence, registered capital, the scope of business on the licence, and the production facility itself. Both can be legitimate; the difference is cost and communication, and you should know which you are buying from.
Business licence and legal existence
Every Chinese company has a unified social credit code that can be verified. We check it exists, is active, and matches the entity on the contract and the invoice.
Real production capability
Equipment, capacity, workforce, in-house processes versus subcontracted ones, and what their export experience actually is — not what the profile page says.
Sample and test before volume
A paid sample plus measurement is the cheapest possible supplier audit. We arrange it, and we compare the sample against the quoted specification rather than against a photo.
Audit visits where it matters
For significant orders we or an independent agency visit the facility, photograph the line and report on what is actually there.
Alternatives, not a single answer
You normally receive three or more quotes with the trade-offs spelled out — cheapest, fastest, most capable — instead of one supplier presented as the only option.
Specific questions, specific answers
How can I tell if a supplier is a real factory?
Check the business licence scope, the registered address against any production address, whether they can show the specific process you need in-house, and whether a video call can actually walk the floor. Factories rarely have polished English sales teams; trading companies almost always do. Neither fact by itself proves anything, but together they are informative.
Is it safe to pay a Chinese supplier directly?
Pay the legal entity named on the contract and the invoice, to a corporate account, never a personal one. Use a contract with an agreed specification and an inspection clause. For first orders, keeping the order size modest and paying in stages against inspection evidence is the practical protection.
Can you audit a supplier I already found?
Yes. We can verify the entity, visit the facility, review the quoted specification for anything obviously impractical, and act as your eyes on the ground during production and inspection — without replacing the supplier relationship you already have.
What does verification cost?
Entity checks are part of the sourcing work and carry no separate fee. A physical audit visit or third-party inspection is quoted per day, typically USD 100–350 depending on the location and scope, passed through at cost.
Send us the details
Describe the item, the quantity you want and where it must land. A human replies within 24 hours with options and a delivered price.