How to Verify a Chinese Supplier: a 7-Step Checklist
Business licence, export rights, factory audit and samples — what to check before the first payment.
Working with an unverified supplier is the main cause of losses when sourcing from China. Here is a basic checklist.
1. Business licence
Request a scan of the licence and match the registration number against the state registry.
2. Export rights
Make sure the company can export directly rather than through an intermediary.
3. Factory audit
Order an on-site check: real production, capacity, working conditions.
4. Samples
Always order samples before placing the main order.
5. References
Ask for contacts of current clients, ideally from your region.
6. Payment terms
Start with 30/70: 30% upfront, 70% after inspection of the finished batch.
7. Pre-shipment inspection
An independent quality check of the batch is a mandatory final step.
SinoBridge performs all these checks for you: every supplier on the platform is verified.