Complete List: 50 Best Sourcing Agent in China
Are you a start-up business looking to import only small quantities to begin with? Are you too small for most of the major China sourcing agents, you’ve found advertising on Google?
There is a ‘Dictionary’ of the best sourcing agent in China you can make inquiries from. Remember, each sourcing agent is good at different areas, you only need to pick out the ones that can provide good service for your products.
Table of Contents
Sourcing Agent in China 2.0
It’s time to Sourcing Agent 2.0. Sourcing agents 2.0 are ideal for small, medium, and other E-commerce businesses like eBay, Shopify, and Amazon FBA Sellers. And also, some buyers need some extra service for e-commerce products sourcing. This is where a China sourcing agent 2.0 comes into play.
What Does a China Sourcing Agent?
A China sourcing agent is a company’s full-time specialist or freelancer who helps foreign people in business import goods from China. Modern China sourcing agent/company is not just about helping you find cheap products, but also helping you ensure the legality and stability of your supply chain.
Here’s what, the best sourcing agent in China can do for your business:
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A typical role of a sourcing agent is to help client companies find the suppliers and products they need.
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Sourcing agents bring value to client companies through their network of manufacturers and contacts in China.
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They use these contacts to connect buyers and sellers.
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A sourcing agent can work with one client or multiple clients.
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Most sourcing agents will specialize in a specific industry or sector.
How Much Do Sourcing Agents Charge in China?
As there is no exact standard for how much for China sourcing agent fee, usually you will pay the sourcing commission rate between 5%-10% of the order cost.
However, the percentage will depend on the amount of the order and also the type of product.
- If your order is bigger, You can negotiate with the sourcing agent about the sourcing fee.
- If you think their rate expensive, you can negotiate to choose only one of their services list, which is totally feasible.
- Traditionally sourcing agents work on a commission-only basis.
- However, international and established sourcing firms may also charge a monthly fee according to their services.
- It would help if you enquired what additional services a sourcing agent will offer to provide guarantee.
- More and more sourcing agent brings in a range of extra China supply chain services such as purchase contracts, export licenses, market research, and logistics.
What Require from Sourcing Agent in China?
A good China sourcing agent may need you to provide a product specification sheet, which is a detailed, concise document that clearly describes all your product specifications.
Basic include:
- Product name, MOQ, target price,
- description, reference pictures or link,
Product Range of China Sourcing Agent
By the way, a China sourcing agent can only help source common products. If you need to import industry products, most China sourcing agents cannot provide help. You have to find suppliers by yourself or travel to China to visit desirable suppliers.
The Standard China Sourcing Agent Work Process:
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Approval of specifications and certificate requirements
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Supplier search
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Initial price request, order samples, and selection of qualified suppliers
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Price negotiations
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Audit of qualified suppliers
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Final supplier selection
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Conclusion of a sales contract
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Product manufacturing and quality control
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Arrange shipping
Some companies claim to help you find any product, how is this possible？ Each company buys a different product line, so don’t limit yourself to working with just one company.
Engage in deeper conversations with company leaders, and you’ll gain a deeper understanding of each company’s philosophy. Some companies focus on cheap goods, while others focus on services. It’s really hard to strike a balance between the two.
When Do You Need a Sourcing Agent?
If you are new to importing from China and have many various products to import, you need a China sourcing agent to help you reach so many works like sourcing different suppliers, factory audit, cut-price, product inspection, and shipping, etc.
If you only have a few products, you can buy directly from the factory, no need to hire a China sourcing agent to increase your cost.
4 Options for Sourcing Your Products from China
Let us further analyze which cooperation model is suitable for you when you find a way to source from China.
1. Buy from Factory Directly
That’s what 82% of importers are trying to do. They want to control the process and avoid paying commissions to any intermediary or sourcing agent.
2. Use a China Sourcing Agent
There are thousands of people in China trying to make a living by providing this service. If they come from the right industry, you can use their network and save a lot of time. They can also act as your Chinese representative。
3. Buy from a Trading Company
This is a good choice buy from a trade company if you can’t meet the MOQ, perhaps as a start-up or an entrepreneur who has been an early target.
4. Use the Service Company
Some Chinese purchasing agents (or Freelancers) provide sourcing services and charge one-time fees($200-$500).
50 Best Sourcing Agent in China
I have sorted out some legal Chinese sourcing agents, some of them are also called Chinese export agents, trade agents, Yiwu agent.,
The size of their company salesmen varies from a few to hundreds. You may need to spend a little time and effort to pick the right one for you, if you can visit China, a site visit is the best ways to start your business. The list of the best Chinese sourcing agents is as follows:
| Company Name | Services | Location |
Supplyia |
A transparent China sourcing agent/product sourcing agent | Yiwu, China & New York |
LeelineSourcing |
China sourcing agent company | Wuhan, China |
Amanda |
Yiwu local agent in Yiwu China | Yiwu, China |
Ruizhi Sourcing |
China sourcing agent factory audit/product engineering | Shenzhen China/ho chin minh Vietnam |
Sourcing Nova |
China sourcing agent | Shenzhen |
Tonysourcing |
wholesale toys China | Yiwu, China |
Skylark |
China sourcing agent | Yiwu, China |
skab-beratung |
Germany sourcing agent | Shenzhen, China |
Nichedropshipping |
Drop shipping sourcing agent | Hangzhou, China |
China Purchasing Agent |
Purchasing agent in China | Shenzhen, China |
Huntersourcing |
Buying Agent Service | Jiaxing, China |
Jing Sourcing |
Commodity sourcing agent | Yiwu, China. |
Sourcing Bro |
China Sourcing Agent Service Guangzhou | Shenzhen, China |
B2c Sourcing |
B2C China sourcing agent | Ningbo, China |
Iris International |
China sourcing agent and supply | Hong Kong, China |
Foshan Sourcing |
China sourcing agent help import Foshan | Foshan, China |
Dragon Sourcing |
Global sourcing company | Worldwide Offices |
Imex Sourcing Services |
Sourcing for the digital age | Guangzhou &HongKong China |
Ejet |
China export agent | Guangzhou & Hangzhou, China |
Qaizen Group |
Asia sourcing firm | Shanghai, China |
Golden shiny |
Yiwu sourcing agent | Yiwu, China |
Source in China |
China Product sourcing agent | Dongguan, China |
Arcadia Sourcing |
China manufacturing companies | Hong Kong, China |
Global Trade Specialists |
Helping buy direct from China | Colorado, Vienna, Austria, China |
Giolong International |
China sourcing-factory audits | Montreal, Canada & Shanghai |
China Performance Group |
Sourcing management company | New Jersey & Beijing, China |
JS Sourcing |
Towards safer sourcing in China | Shanghai, China |
FBA China Sourcing |
Amazon product sourcing agent | Hongkong, China & Europe |
DTL Sourcing |
A leading sourcing company | Hongkong, China |
Maple Sourcing |
Product sourcing, quality inspection | Shenzhen, China |
MatchSourcing |
Made fast, simple and safe | Fuzhou, China |
China 2 West |
Manufacturing in China | China & US, UK |
Nicobar Group |
Supply chain support | Shanghai, China |
Fami Sourcing |
China sourcing company for start-up | Guangzhou, China |
BizShenzhen |
Transparent China sourcing company | Shenzhen, China |
Pinnacle Sourcing |
Global sourcing company | India & Shanghai, China |
Meeno Group |
China product buying agent in Yiwu | Yiwu, China |
Asiaction |
China manufacturing agent | Hongkong and Guangzhou |
Baysource Global |
Accelerate your product launch | US & Shanghai, China |
Linc Sourcing |
China sourcing agent | Europe & China |
Easy Imex |
Chinese import agent | UK & China |
ImportDojo |
Hongkong China sourcing agent | Hongkong, China |
Riwick |
Furniture China sourcing agent | Foshan, Guangdong, China |
Dong Sourcing |
Your sincere agent in China | Ningbo, Zhejiang, China |
ANCO China |
Global sourcing solutions for you | US & China |
Casino Global Sourcing |
Sourcing Services | Hongkong, China |
Tanndy |
Sourcing Agent Guangzhou china | Guangzhou, China |
Chick Sourcing |
Trusted sourcing agent | Shenzhen, China |
Made In China Sourcing |
China sourcing company | China, Australia, UK |
China Division |
Worldwide order fulfilment | Shenzhen, China |
Sourcing Spectrum |
Sourcing agency in China | China |
Peng Light |
The best Led sourcing agent | Shenzhen, China |
China Direct Sourcing |
Managed end-to-end import | Australia |
China import agents |
Agent in Delhi, Mumbai, India | India |
e-heng |
Import and export agency | Shanghai, China |
Manufacturing agent |
China manufacturing agent service | Yiwu, China |
*Please contact us if you are a professional China sourcing agent. I will add you to this form list.
Benefits of Working with China Sourcing Agents
Whether you look for a China sourcing agent or do it yourself, it’s up to you. If you already have your own experience in managing labor-intensive tasks that carry certain risks, then do not hesitate – save money and do it yourself.
A good sourcing agent will do some combination of the following for you based on your own priorities:
- Find you a manufacturer who can produce your product, or tell you that is not possible.
- Find you a manufacturer who can produce your product to the quality standards you need, or tell you that’s not possible.
- Find you a manufacturer who can produce your product at the price you need, or tell you it’s impossible.
- Not cause you to lose vulnerable IP at any stage of the process. This means that your sourcing agent should not disclose your IP or turn you over to legal counsel to protect it.
- Continue to work with your manufacturer after it has been selected to ensure high quality and even ensure that your product evolves to meet changing technology or needs, etc.
There are many things a good sourcing agent can do in addition to those mentioned above, but this list should be a start. I wish I could give some sort of definitive answer on whether or not to use a sourcing agent, but I can’t. The decision really has to be made on its own merits.
How to Find a Sourcing Agent in China?
However, one must understand that the “best sourcing agent in China” is a very vague name for the profession, and almost anyone can “proclaim” himself the best sourcing agent in China.
So, when choosing this specialist, you need to make informed decisions. Otherwise, you may lose much more than the amount of his commission. Here 7 steps to find sourcing agent in China. You can use this points to identify a suitable and reliable best sourcing agent in China:
1. Collect Potential China Sourcing Agents List
The first step in finding a sourcing agent in China is to compile a list of potential candidates. Then, through further communication, you can eliminate those candidates who are not very capable of providing services. Below some ways you can use to find the China sourcing agent:
- Social Media
- Referrals
- Trade Fair
2. Ask them Professional Product Knowledge and Market Trends:
The import process from China can be completely different, depending on the product. Certain types of goods are very complex, like electronics and auto motives, and many other bulky goods.
It is essential to involve a sourcing agent with the necessary knowledge of the product because this can play a decisive role in whether the delivery turns out to be profitable or failed.
3. Have Good Communication Ability
The best sourcing agent in China must have a strong command of English in writing and language and should be able to communicate easily with you by phone and email.
Also, they must be highly efficient and quick to respond to emails or WeChat because of the time difference between China and other countries.
4. Have a Transparent and Legal Process
Finding a sourcing agent is easy. But to find a qualified best sourcing agent in China, you need an effective and competently implemented strategy.
A right purchasing agent acts transparently and methodically and puts customer requirements for the product and the availability of the necessary certificates in the first place, rather than established relationships with suppliers and the possibility of getting a kickback.
5. Have Professional Import & Export Knowledge and Experience
Any best sourcing agent in China must have a good knowledge of the legality and paperwork related to import and export. This includes the import and export process, the requirements for certificates and documents, licenses, etc.
5.1 Questions ask for a Sourcing Agent:
In addition to having a predefined procurement procedure, the best sourcing agent in China should be able to give a clear answer to the following questions:
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Based on what factors do they classify the supplier as qualified/unskilled?
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Is a purchasing agent expected to pay for the product or directly to the supplier?
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What is his strategy to prevent and combat fraud? (e.g., payment fraud)
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Will he control the procurement process entirely on his own or partially outsource it, and if so, in which part?
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Is the agent ready to deal with potential disputes regarding the quality of the goods during production and upon completion?
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How long has the agent been operating?
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Does he plan to request a product from an “already verified” supplier or to look for new ones?
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Does the agent have customer reviews from your country?
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Willing to sign NNN Agreement?
6. Have a Legally Registered Company
At a minimum, a qualified sourcing agent must be a registered company and have an office in at least one Chinese city, including Hong Kong. A more qualified buying agent is likely to have an office not only in China but also in your country.
Of course, this does not affect the success of your transaction, but this is undoubtedly an indicator of how strong the agent’s position is and confirms its reliability.
7. Do Supply Chain Management without Any Kickbacks
Many China sourcing companies resist rebates in order to preserve their reputation, but their underlying procurement employees are “quietly” doing it. This requires constant audits by the company to prevent this from happening.
I often describe Chinese sourcing agents as “90 percent are crooks or incompetent, and most are a combination of both. But ten percent are worth more than their weight in gold.”
So how do you find a “value for money” sourcing agent? Unfortunately, the best method I know of is word of mouth. I say “unfortunately” because that means you already need someone who knows enough about working with international manufacturing to be able to give you a good referral.
The good news in this regard is that good sourcing agents will not source products they are not familiar with. So if we have a client who needs help sourcing an unusual product and we don’t know a sourcing experience associated with that product, we will go to a good sourcing agent we know and ask them for a recommendation.
The Risks of Working with Sourcing Agent
Be wary of Cooperating with SoHo Sourcing Agents in China.
I’m not saying that you can’t cooperate with the Soho China sourcing agent because they also have many advantages.
For example, they respond promptly, have an enthusiastic attitude, and help you deal with many other things. But you also have to know that they have a lot of potential risks,
- They may change jobs or careers at any time. This is so common, we have answered countless calls saying that their sourcing agent in China is not doing this job anymore, and then they need to cooperate with us.
- They do not have the funds to deal with unexpected situations such as lost goods or quality problems.
- After winning your trust, they may collect the last sum of money from you and then disappear.
So, What are the Problems with Using a Sourcing Agent?
Using a commission-only sourcing agent can become very expensive and risky for many purchasers.
- Buyers usually end up paying a higher price – for example, does the buying agent want 10% commission on a $100,000 order or 10% commission on a $90,000 order?
- Sourcing agents will only get paid when your order ships. However, they may often apply pressure to ship the goods out. This can result in low quality products.
- The sourcing agent is not responsible for any problems that may arise.
- Sourcing agents focus on generating sales to earn commissions, not on providing services to protect you and your company.
The Million Questions: Using a China Sourcing Agent is Worth it?
Whether to use a sourcing agent in China or figure it out for you is up to you. The main question you must ask yourself is whether you can afford to sacrifice your time for money. Finding your own suppliers generally takes more time and effort
that you could be spending on other parts of your business.
If you already have your own experience in managing labor-intensive tasks that carry certain risks, then do not hesitate – save money and do it yourself.
However, you should hire a China sourcing agent only after you made an attempt to find your own factories. Services like Alibaba and global sources have made it extremely easy to find reliable suppliers online.
If you have the means, attending trade shows like the canton fair or global sources are invaluable for meeting suppliers face to face.
Conclusion
What you don’t want is a sourcing agent who writes things down on envelopes and constantly misses the mark. Global sourcing is not easy. There are many moving parts and the unexpected is the only thing you can expect.
Years of experience and the right systems in place can effectively represent your interest in suppliers. If they spend more time trying to flatter or please you than talking about the project management process, then they don’t have the capabilities you need.
My thought: I don’t think we can ever find a perfect best China sourcing agent, we just need to find a capable and trusted sourcing agent. To me, the owners’ personal characters matter the most. At last, if you are looking for a China sourcing agent, just submit a form and we will reply in 24 hours, and Supplyia was there to help us every step of the way.
[…] you can find a sourcing agent to help you find Low Moq Suppliers in China or […]
Hi. I am looking for a reliable sourcing agent ? We are based in California USA. Can someone please direct me to a sourcing agent. My name is Dimitri. Contact 1562-506 4043 whatsapp please.
Hi,
How are you today?
our staff will contact you in next 24 hours. Aslo, you can send email to us directly: support@supplyia.com.
thank you for contacting us, and have a good day.
Outstanding as well as powerful tip by the writer of this blog are really handy to me.
another source that i think interesting is the sourcing freelancers in China
[…] Complete List: 50 Best Sourcing Agent in China […]
[…] Complete List: 50 Best Sourcing Agent in China […]
[…] Complete List: 50 Best Sourcing Agent in China […]
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This is mind blowing, thanks for sharing this precious information with us.
I am looking for Product Sourcing Agent in USA. Can you share a list of that?
Hi Ravi Nayar, I am not very familiar with sourcing agents in the United States. I’m sorry I can’t help you.
Hello all,
Well produced article but you apparently forgot to mention supplyia which is a super-growth sourcing agent. They not even handle only sourcing, they also assist on international transport and 3PL… Do you believe this ?
Thank you for sharing all this
If you need China drop shipping service, you can check this. https://www.supplyia.com/private-label-dropshipping-in-china/
If you need to understand Amazon FBA, you must first understand the procurement process and Shipping From China Amazon
Google
The information and facts talked about inside the report are a number of the most effective accessible.
thank you.
We have achieved overall (but not 100%) good results using sourcing companies with Chinese employees. As suggested, the local presence of the sourcing company could provide a more continuous follow-up, and I think there is a deeper connection to the factory.
I also want China sourcing agent to earn commissions, and that’s what good sourcing companies do. I hope they bring awareness and comfort to Western business practices. Good companies also provide technical supervision. As the saying goes, “You can eliminate the middleman, but you can’t eliminate his function”.
While recognizing that a sourcing company is a different business, for the most part, we treat people in a sourcing company as if they were the sales department of a factory; we respect their relationship and keep prices private discussions, but all other issues are Fair game discussion with the factory.
[…] normal rule in China is that the sourcing agent will charge 5% of the total invoice value. Some may even do the same job for a 3% commission. […]