Sourcing & business guides

A step-by-step guide for overseas buyers who need to plan inspections, freight, documents, and delivery from China without losing control of the order.

A practical breakdown of product cost, freight, duties, broker fees, inspections, and the fees most buyers miss, with realistic ranges and a worked example.

A practical walkthrough of the decisions small importers face when moving goods from a Chinese supplier to a US address — shipping methods, Incoterms, documents, duties, inspection and realistic timelines, with the numbers that matter.

Both terms get used for the same person, but a sourcing agent and a buying agent usually do different jobs in China. Here is how to tell them apart and pick the right setup.

A practical walkthrough for overseas buyers who need to move goods from a Chinese supplier to their door, covering Incoterms, freight modes, documents, and common mistakes.

Direct importing and sourcing agents solve different problems. Here is what each one actually costs, where each fails, and how to pick based on your order size, product type and risk tolerance.

A step-by-step look at inspecting goods in China before they ship: which inspection to book and when, how to set AQL limits, what to put in the checklist, and the tricks that cost buyers the most money.

A practical checklist for overseas buyers: how to check a Chinese supplier's business license, work out whether they really own the factory, confirm certificates, and make sure your deposit lands in the right bank account.

Most first orders from China go wrong at the delivery stage, not the factory. Here is the order of decisions — freight mode, Incoterm, HS code, paperwork, customs — that keeps your landed cost predictable.

Most small buyers lose money in China because they never verify who they are actually talking to. This guide walks through the real process: where to search, how to check a business license, what to ask before price, and how to protect your first order.