How it works · Full transparency

From your first message to your warehouse door — mapped

No mystery, no "trust me". Here is exactly what happens at every stage, what you receive, what it costs and when money moves. A typical first order runs 30–60 days from inquiry to shipment.

Start step one — free See the full timeline
SourcChina agent coordinating with a factory manager on the production floor

The six steps

Every step, documented

Scroll through the process. Each step lists what you receive in writing — so you always know what "done" means.

  1. Tell us what you need

    Timeline: same day

    Send a product idea, a spec sheet, a photo, or just a link to something similar. We translate it into a written requirement summary — materials, dimensions, certifications, target price, destination market — and you confirm it before anything else happens. No vague assumptions, no lost-in-translation specs.

    Written requirement summary

    Feasibility & rough cost range

    NDA signed on request

    Named agent assigned

  2. Factory matching & vetting

    Timeline: 2–5 days

    We shortlist 3–5 factories from our verified network and industry clusters — matched to your product, volume and target price, never paid placements. Each candidate passes the 4-gate check: license, on-site audit, capability test and export records.

    3–5 vetted factory options

    Audit summary per factory

    True manufacturer confirmed

    Red flags flagged — honestly

    How we verify suppliers

  3. Quotes & negotiation

    Timeline: 3–7 days

    You receive one comparison sheet: unit price, MOQ, tooling, lead time, payment terms — itemized, in the same currency, easy to compare. Then we negotiate in Chinese, on your side: price breaks, better payment terms, realistic lead times, quality guarantees in the contract.

    Side-by-side quote sheet

    Full cost breakdown — no hidden margin

    Negotiated terms in writing

    You approve before any deposit

    Sourcing agent and factory owner concluding a price negotiation
  4. Approved product samples and packaging prototypes

    Sample approval

    Timeline: 5–15 days

    The factory makes the sample; we collect it, evaluate it against your spec, and courier it to you. Not right yet? We run the loop again with precise change notes. Production starts only after your written sign-off — and the approved sample is locked as the golden benchmark for QC.

    Physical sample couriered to you

    Independent evaluation report

    Iteration until you sign off

    Golden sample archived

  5. Production with 3-stage QC

    Timeline: per product

    While the factory produces, we watch: raw-material checks before the run, in-line inspections mid-run, and a full AQL pre-shipment inspection with photo & video evidence at the end. You get weekly written progress reports — and the balance payment is only due after inspection passes.

    Weekly progress reports

    Photo & video inspection evidence

    Defects fixed before shipping

    Balance due only after QC pass

    Inspector performing pre-shipment quality checks on production batch
  6. Export containers being loaded at port for overseas delivery

    Ship & deliver

    Timeline: per route

    Your goods consolidate at our warehouse, freight options are compared and booked, customs paperwork is prepared for your destination, and you track the shipment until it lands — at your warehouse or direct into Amazon FBA.

    Freight options compared

    FBA labeling & prep China-side

    Customs docs handled

    Tracking until delivery

Money & communication

Where your money sits, and when

Your payment never goes straight to the factory. It sits in a supervised escrow account and is released in stages, each tied to a verified milestone — the structure that keeps factories honest and your downside small.

Agent reporting production progress to an overseas buyer on a video call
Your weekly report call — photos, numbers, next steps.

Deposit — 30%

After sample approval

Held in escrow, released only when you've approved the golden sample and the negotiated terms. We confirm the factory's verified bank account matches its business license — the #1 defense against payment fraud. A formal Chinese purchase contract, with your bilingual spec sheet as annex, is signed before any funds move.

Balance — 70%

After inspection passes

Released only after pre-shipment inspection passes your AQL standard and you've seen the photo/video evidence — all of it documented as legal-grade proof should a dispute ever arise. If defects are found, the money stays in escrow and the fix is negotiated first; when negotiation fails, we pursue the supplier through Chinese legal channels on your behalf.

Service fee — transparent

Known before you commit

Commission (typically 5–10%, lower at volume) or a flat project fee — stated in your first quote, encouraged to be compared. We win on real price, not hidden margin.

Reports — weekly, written

During production

Every week: photos from the line, completed vs. planned quantity, issues found and fixed, and next milestones. Your named agent replies within 24h on business days.

Get started

Step one costs nothing

Send your product requirements and get a matched-factory quote within 48 hours. If we can't help you source better, we'll say so — that's cheaper for both of us.

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