On what the platform does. GetSourceDirect publishes listings and routes inquiries. It does not process payments, hold buyer funds, arrange shipping or adjudicate disputes, and a reviewed profile is not a certification or an audit. See sourcing safety for where the line falls.
China is the world's largest manufacturing base, and for most product categories it is the first place buyers look. Sourcing from China can give you lower unit prices, a wide choice of factories and deep supply chains for materials and components. It also brings real risks: unclear specifications, quality drift, misunderstood terms and suppliers who are not who they say they are. This guide walks through the process buyers use to source products from China successfully, step by step.
Step 1: Define the product and your target landed cost
Before contacting any China manufacturer, write down exactly what you want: materials, dimensions, colours, finish, packaging, any certifications your market requires, and the quantity you expect to order. The clearer the specification, the more comparable the quotations you get back.
Work out your target landed cost — the unit price plus freight, insurance, import duty and taxes — not just the factory price. A low ex-works price can still be uncompetitive once shipping and duties are added.
Step 2: Find China manufacturers and suppliers
Buyers typically find Chinese suppliers through four routes:
- B2B marketplaces and directories — search by product, compare published prices and MOQs, and contact suppliers directly. You can browse China manufacturers and wholesale suppliers on GetSourceDirect.
- Trade fairs — events such as the Canton Fair in Guangzhou and the large trade shows in Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hong Kong let you meet many factories in one visit.
- Industry clusters — many products are concentrated in specific cities, for example electronics around Shenzhen, small commodities around Yiwu and textiles around Shaoxing. Knowing the cluster for your product helps you find specialist factories.
- Referrals — freight forwarders, inspection companies and other importers often know reliable suppliers.
Shortlist five to ten suppliers that already make your product, rather than factories that say they can make anything.
Step 3: Manufacturer or trading company?
Many Chinese suppliers are trading companies that buy from factories and resell. A trading company can be useful for small orders or mixed products, but a direct manufacturer can usually offer lower unit prices, accurate lead times and genuine customisation.
Signs you are dealing with a factory: a business licence whose scope includes manufacturing, a specific product range rather than everything, photos and video of their own production lines, and willingness to arrange a factory visit or video call from the shop floor.
Step 4: Send a request for quotation
Send each shortlisted supplier the same request for quotation (RFQ): product and specification, quantity, branding and packaging, required certificates, destination and trade term, target delivery date and the payment terms you can offer. Identical RFQs make the quotations directly comparable.
When the quotations arrive, compare more than the unit price:
| What to compare | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Unit price and trade term | EXW, FOB and CIF prices include different costs |
| MOQ | Determines your minimum cash commitment |
| Tooling, mould or sample fees | One-off costs that change the real price |
| Production lead time | Affects stock planning and cash flow |
| Payment terms | Determines how much you pay before seeing goods |
Step 5: Order samples and lock the specification
Always order samples before a bulk order, ideally from two or three suppliers. Test them properly, and once you approve one, keep a signed golden sample that the production run must match. Put the specification, tolerances and packaging requirements in writing as part of the order.
Step 6: Agree payment terms
A common arrangement with Chinese manufacturers is a bank transfer (T/T) with a deposit before production and the balance before shipment, often 30% and 70%. Letters of credit add bank protection for larger orders. Avoid paying the full amount upfront to a supplier you have not worked with, and always pay the company account named on the contract — never a personal account or one changed by email at the last minute.
Step 7: Inspect before shipment
For any meaningful order, arrange an independent pre-shipment inspection while the goods are still at the factory and before you pay the balance. Third-party inspection companies check quantity, workmanship, packaging and specification against your golden sample and report back with photos. It costs far less than receiving a container of defective goods.
Step 8: Shipping, Incoterms and import
Agree the Incoterm in your contract. EXW means you collect from the factory; FOB means the supplier delivers onto the vessel at the Chinese port; CIF includes sea freight and insurance to your port; DDP means the supplier delivers duties paid. Most importers use a freight forwarder to book shipping and handle customs, and should check their country's import duties and product rules before ordering.
Do you need a China sourcing agent?
A China sourcing agent (often searched as "sourcing agent China") is a person or company based in China who finds suppliers, negotiates, follows production and arranges inspections on your behalf. Agents commonly charge a percentage of the order value or a fixed service fee.
A sourcing agent can be worth it when: you need factory visits you cannot make yourself, your product is complex or needs close production follow-up, or you are consolidating goods from several factories.
You may not need one when: the product is standard, suppliers publish clear prices and MOQs, and you can handle samples, inspection and shipping through specialist companies. Many buyers now contact China manufacturers directly and hire inspection and freight companies only for the steps that need someone on the ground.
If you do hire an agent, ask how they are paid, whether they take commissions from factories, and insist on seeing supplier names and factory quotations directly — hidden supplier-side commissions are the most common problem with sourcing agents. Agents and other sourcing service providers also list on GetSourceDirect under sourcing and business services.
Checklist: buying wholesale from China
- Written specification, quantity and target landed cost
- Five to ten shortlisted suppliers that already make the product
- Manufacturer status checked against the business licence
- Identical RFQs sent and quotations compared like for like
- Samples tested and a golden sample approved
- Contract with specification, Incoterm, lead time and payment terms
- Deposit paid to the company account only
- Independent pre-shipment inspection before the balance
- Freight forwarder, duties and import rules confirmed
How GetSourceDirect helps
GetSourceDirect is a B2B marketplace where manufacturers and wholesale suppliers — in China and other countries — publish their own products, unit prices and MOQs, and buyers contact them directly at no cost. Every business is reviewed before it is listed. We do not process payments, inspect goods or arrange shipping, so the checks above remain yours to make. Start with China manufacturers, browse wholesale products, or find OEM and private label manufacturers for products under your own brand.