Sourcing Agent Cost Guide (PDF)

Free PDF · No credit card · Instant download Sourcing Agent Cost Guide (PDF) What a China sourcing agent really costs — the three fee models, what a transparent 5–8% commission covers, the hidden markups that eat your margin, and the 5 questions to ask before you hire. Get the Free Cost Guide What's inside Know what you'll pay — before you sign Built from 12 years of real order files, not marketing fluff. Download this guide and compare any quote you receive. The 3 Fee Models Transparent commission vs. flat per-order fee vs. hidden factory markup — and which one you can actually trust. What 5–8% Covers The exact services usually inside the commission — and the test fees, freight and duties that are not. Hidden Costs & 5 Questions The markups and fees that quietly eat your margin, plus the 5 questions that flush them out of a quote. Download the free cost guide Enter your details and the PDF will download automatically. We only use your email to send sourcing resources — no spam. Thanks! Your cost guide is on its way. Want a transparent, written quote for your own order — with the factory price shown and commission stated? Get a free quote on WhatsApp Contact us Already have an order? Send your product & quantity for a clear fee plan. Prefer to talk? Chat on WhatsApp — reply within 12 h. Free quote Get a quote for your next order Your figures are ready to send — reply within 12 hours with a factory price and a freight estimate. No obligation. Your numbers Get my quote Get factory prices on WhatsApp Sourcing agent cost FAQ How much does a China sourcing agent cost? Most transparent sourcing agents charge a commission of 5-8% of the factory order value. Some charge a flat per-order fee of roughly $150-800, and some hide their cost as a markup on the factory price (often +10-30%). Always ask for the factory price and the fee shown separately. Is 5-8% commission normal? Yes. A transparent 5-8% commission is the common range for a full-service sourcing agent that finds factories, negotiates, inspects, follows up production and coordinates shipping. Some do it cheaper but include less; some charge more but add extra services. What is NOT included in the 5-8%? Third-party lab test fees, freight and customs duties, the product cost itself, and in rare cases a special inspection add-on. Confirm the full fee schedule in writing before you commit, and clarify who pays bank transfer charges. How do I avoid hidden fees when hiring an agent? Ask five things: what's your commission as a %, will you share the factory's original quote, what exactly is included, what's NOT included, and can you give two client references. A transparent agent answers all five clearly. Do sourcing agents charge before I order? Some charge a small deposit or retainer before starting, while others are paid at the end. Avoid paying the full commission before the job is done — a common fair structure is a small onboarding or first-order deposit, with the balance on completion. How do I compare quotes from different agents? Compare on the same basis: commission % (and whether it caps), what's included (QC, inspection, logistics), what's not, the factory price, and references. Use the comparison table and checklist inside the guide so every quote is apples-to-apples.