Sourcing & business guides

A step-by-step look at what actually happens between your supplier's factory and your warehouse — Incoterms, freight options, paperwork, duties, and the mistakes that cost buyers the most.

An audit checks the company, an inspection checks the goods. Here's how to tell which one your order needs, what each costs in China, and when booking both is worth it.

A practical sequence of checks that actually protects your deposit — the legal entity, the bank account name, public registries, factory audits, and payment terms that limit what you can lose.

Real numbers for small importers: commission rates, flat fees, audit and inspection prices, plus the first-order costs that surprise people. No vague ranges without context.

You don't need Mandarin to source from China safely, but you do need a paper trail. Here's how to verify suppliers, tell factories from trading companies, inspect goods, and structure payment before anything ships.