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China Sourcing Agent Fees

Published standard fees of 3–8%, with no minimum sourcing fee. The tier rate applies to the entire order. Larger projects and established repeat orders can be reviewed for a tailored rate, confirmed in writing before you approve.

Fee Calculator

Calculate Your Sourcing Fee

Enter the goods purchase value to estimate your service fee. Add an original supplier quote only if you want to compare savings. Freight, tax and other external costs are not calculated here.

ⓘ How is my fee calculated?

Your sourcing fee is determined by the total purchase value of each order. Once your order reaches a pricing tier, that rate applies to the entire order.

Fee Calculator Live
$500 $200,000
Your Tier Business
Sourcing Fee 6%
Service Fee $1,500
Estimated Net Saving
Original quote → negotiated price —
Sourcing fee —
Net saving —
Tier Pricing

Six Tiers, Published Standard Rates

Use these rates to budget a standard order. Any agreed project discount is shown separately in your quotation.

Starter Under $5,000 8%
Growth $5,000 to under $10,000 7%
Business $10,000 to under $30,000 6%
Professional $30,000 to under $50,000 5%
Enterprise $50,000 to under $100,000 4%
Enterprise Plus $100,000 and above 3%
Volume & Repeat Orders

A Tailored Rate for an Established Buying Plan

Larger orders and predictable repeat purchases may qualify for a lower service rate. We review the work involved as well as the goods value.

Medium & Large Projects

Send your planned order value, supplier count, SKU list and shipment schedule. A clearly defined scope helps us assess whether a project discount is practical.

Established Repeat Orders

The same supplier, approved specifications, a limited SKU range and no new product development can reduce sourcing work. Share your reorder frequency and expected quantities for a tailored quote.

Discounts are not automatic or cumulative. Your written quote states the agreed rate, covered orders, inspection scope and external costs. Changes to suppliers, specifications or delivery arrangements may require a revised quote for your approval.

Request a Volume or Reorder Quote
Scope

What Your Sourcing Fee Covers

Included in the Fee

  • Supplier sourcing & verification
  • Price and terms negotiation
  • Sample management & consolidation
  • Production follow-up & progress reports
  • Pre-shipment quality inspection
  • Consolidation, warehousing & logistics coordination
  • Centralized order tracking dashboard
  • Document management & compliance support

Passed Through at Cost

Billed exactly as paid, with receipts — we earn nothing on these:

  • Sample costs & sample shipping
  • Third-party inspection fees (if requested)
  • Freight, customs & shipping documents
  • Payment transfer fees
  • Certification & testing costs
  • Storage beyond 30 days & re-packing
Understand Your Quote

Service Fee vs. Total Purchasing Cost

Your sourcing fee is based on the purchase value of goods, with the applicable tier applied to the whole order. It is not a percentage of your savings. The final fee is reconciled against shipped goods as set out in your project agreement.

Product costs, our service fee and external charges should appear as separate lines. Freight, import charges and separately billed third-party services are not part of the goods value used in the example below.

What happens at a tier boundary?

This is whole-order pricing, not progressive pricing: once an order reaches a new tier, its rate applies to the entire goods value. For example, $9,999 at 7% gives a $699.93 fee; $10,000 at 6% gives a $600 fee. The total service fee can therefore fall at a threshold. Your quote confirms the order grouping and applicable rate.

Multiple suppliers and SKUs

Ask us to identify which supplier orders and SKUs belong to the quoted project, the combined goods value used for the tier, and any separately scheduled shipments. Do not assume unrelated orders or later purchases are automatically pooled into a lower fee tier.

Custom packaging, tooling and samples

Packaging included in a supplier's unit price is part of that product quotation. Separate molds, tooling, artwork, samples and testing should be identified individually, including whether each item enters the fee calculation. Confirm ownership and any sample-credit terms before approval.

Small orders and repeat purchases

There is no minimum sourcing fee, but supplier MOQs still apply. Sample delivery and freight can make a small order expensive per unit. For reorders, request a fresh quote confirming quantity, specifications, supplier price, the applicable fee tier and any work required for changes.

Agree the service scope before work starts

Your quote should identify the covered suppliers and SKUs, sample revisions, inspection location and depth, and shipment plan. Extra factory visits, repeated design changes or expanded inspection requirements need an agreed scope and any applicable charges before that work begins. A low order value does not remove supplier MOQs or external costs.

Calculator range: $500–$200,000. It estimates the published standard fee and does not apply negotiated discounts. This interface range is not an order minimum or maximum; request a quotation for values outside it.

Illustrative Budget · USD

What a $12,000 Goods Order Might Cost

A budgeting illustration for a UK buyer, not a customer case, current freight quote or landed-cost estimate. Assume one order and separately billed external costs.

Goods purchase value$12,000
Sourcing fee · $12,000 × 6%$720
Samples and sample delivery · assumed$180
Independent testing · assumed$250
Freight · assumed$900
Subtotal of listed costs$14,050

Not included: import duty, VAT, clearance, destination handling, final delivery or any unlisted charges. Actual amounts depend on the goods, shipment size, route and agreed delivery terms. Ask which costs are included in the freight quotation and who pays the remainder.

Pay the supplier directly or through us as agreed. Our service fee is invoiced separately; external charges are supported by receipts. Identify the payee, currency and payment milestone for each line before transferring funds.

Payment

How to Pay

Plain methods, itemised invoices, nothing bundled into one opaque number.

What You Can Pay With

  • Sourcing fee & project milestones — T/T bank transfer or Wise, in USD
  • Samples & small amounts — PayPal or Alipay accepted
  • Supplier payments — direct to the factory, or through us
  • We never ask for card details

How Billing Runs

  • Itemised at each approved milestone — never one lump sum
  • Every pass-through cost carries its original receipt
  • Invoices payable within 7 days; production starts on cleared funds
  • Cancellation charges depend on the reason, completed work and approved project milestones
Pricing Examples

Five Orders, Five Fees

Worked Examples Rate applies to the entire order
Order $4,500 · Starter tier 8% → $360
Order $12,000 · Business tier 6% → $720
Order $45,000 · Professional tier 5% → $2,250
Order $80,000 · Enterprise tier 4% → $3,200
Order $120,000 · Enterprise Plus tier 3% → $3,600
The bigger the order, the lower the rate 8% → 3%
Pricing FAQ

Fee Questions, Answered

How is the sourcing fee calculated?
By the total purchase value of each order: 8% below $5,000; 7% from $5,000; 6% from $10,000; 5% from $30,000; 4% from $50,000; and 3% from $100,000. The tier rate applies to the entire order — no stacking, no surprises.
What is included in the sourcing fee?
Sourcing, verification, negotiation, sample management, production follow-up, pre-shipment QC, consolidation coordination, tracking and documents.
What happens if products fail inspection?
We stop the shipment and renegotiate with the factory — rework, discount or replacement. No sourcing fee is charged on goods that don't ship.
Can I see the original supplier quotation?
Always. The supplier's original quotation is shared with you, untouched, on every order.
When do I pay the sourcing fee?
Itemised with your order milestones and invoiced transparently. Deposits follow the supplier's standard terms — typically 30% to start production.
Is there a minimum order value or minimum fee?
There is no minimum sourcing fee. At the standard Starter rate, a $1,000 goods order has an $80 service fee. Supplier MOQs and external costs still apply, and the service scope is confirmed in your quotation.
Can I get a lower rate for a large order or a reorder?
Yes, you can request a rate review. We consider order value, supplier and SKU count, development work, inspection requirements and reorder frequency. Any lower rate is confirmed in your written quote; the public calculator continues to show standard pricing. See the volume and reorder conditions.
What happens to costs if I cancel?
A voluntary cancellation and goods cancelled after an unresolved quality failure are different situations. Completed work may remain payable under approved milestones, and sample, freight or testing costs already incurred may not be recoverable. Check the refund policy and your written project agreement for the applicable treatment.
What should I confirm before paying a deposit?
Confirm the goods specification, fee base and rate, external-cost estimates, quote validity, currency conversion basis, payees and payment milestones. Record how quantity changes, split shipments, rework and cancellation affect costs in the project agreement.
Know Your Cost First

Get an Itemised Quote

Send your product requirements and receive a concrete quote — suppliers, factory prices and your sourcing fee.

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