China Sourcing Agent for Importers and Amazon Sellers
Reviewed by Hasan Olwan · Last updated: September 24, 2026
OLWAN Sourcing is a China sourcing agent based in Yiwu since 2009. We find products and suppliers for you, negotiate prices in Chinese, follow production, and check quality before you pay the balance. We work with importers, wholesalers and Amazon sellers worldwide, from the US and Canada to the UK and Australia, and we accept small orders. Our fee is 4% of the order value on orders up to $50,000, with a $150 minimum.
- Trading since 2007
- 4,000+ containers shipped
- 2 containers to Canada every month
- Small orders welcome
What is a sourcing agent in China?
A sourcing agent in China is a local company that buys on your behalf. It finds suppliers, compares their prices and terms, negotiates in Chinese, and follows your order through production. A good agent works for you, the buyer. The supplier doesn’t pay it to push their products.
Here’s the thing most buyers don’t see from abroad: the same product can come from a factory, a trading company or a market booth, at very different prices and quality levels. Our job is to tell you which one you’re dealing with, and whether it’s the right fit for your order.
What's included
When you hire us as your China sourcing agent, you get:
- Product and supplier search. We search Yiwu International Trade City (the world’s largest small-commodity wholesale market) and factories all over China.
- Trade fairs. Our team covers a large number of specialized trade fairs across China. We meet factories there in person and see new products before most buyers abroad do.
- Supplier comparison. You get a side-by-side comparison of at least three suppliers, often more: price, MOQ (minimum order quantity), lead time and payment terms.
- Price negotiation in Chinese. Our team negotiates directly with the supplier, in their language.
- Samples. We collect samples, check them, and send them to you for approval.
- Order and production follow-up. We place the order and track production until the goods are ready.
- Supplier payments. We can pay suppliers for you, so you have one invoice and one currency. The transfer fee is 2%.
- Quality inspection and shipping. Available as add-ons: quality inspection and DDP shipping.
What do sourcing agents do, step by step?
- You send a request. Product, photos or links, quantity, target price and your country.
- We search and shortlist. We find suppliers and check that they exist and can make your product.
- You compare and choose. We send you the comparison with our recommendation and the reasons behind it.
- Samples. You approve the sample before any bulk order.
- Order and production. We place the order, pay the deposit if you want us to, and follow production.
- Inspection. We check the goods before you pay the balance.
- Consolidation and shipping. We combine goods from all your suppliers in our Yiwu warehouse and ship them to you.
How much does a China sourcing agent cost?
Our commission depends on the order value. The rate drops as your order grows.
| Order value | Commission |
|---|---|
| Up to $50,000 | 4% ($150 minimum per order) |
| Over $50,000 | 3–4%, agreed with you |
A product search on its own costs $150, and we deduct it from your commission when you place the order. Quality inspection, factory verification and shipping are priced separately.
Is a sourcing agent worth it for a small business?
For most small businesses buying from China for the first time, yes. The fee buys you supplier checks, negotiation and an inspection before you pay, and those are the three places where new importers lose money. The exception is a very small order: under about $3,750, our $150 minimum fee is more than 4% of your order.
To be completely transparent: if you’re buying one product from one supplier you already trust, and you can arrange an inspection yourself, you may not need us.
Sourcing for Amazon sellers
If you sell on Amazon, we source the product and prepare it for FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) in China. That means FNSKU labels (Amazon’s barcode for your stock), poly bags, carton rules, and shipping straight to an Amazon warehouse.
Proof from real orders
Mexico, cost reduction. The buyer had no supplier contacts in China. We verified suppliers and negotiated prices, and the buyer’s cost came down by 20%. Read more
What we can't guarantee
- We don’t control the factory. We choose suppliers carefully and follow production closely, but a factory can still miss a deadline or change a material.
- Inspection reduces defects. It doesn’t remove them. An inspection checks a sample of your goods against agreed standards, so a small number of defects can still get through.
- We don’t offer credit or deferred payment. You pay for the goods and our commission together, by bank transfer.
How to find a reliable sourcing agent in China
Ask any agent these four questions before you hire them:
- Where are you based? An agent in Yiwu can visit the market and factories the same day. A remote agent can’t.
- How do you charge? A published commission is easier to check than a hidden markup on the supplier’s price.
- Can I see a real inspection report? A real report has photos, measurements and a pass or fail result. Ours is in our proof library.
- Who pays you? Your agent should work for you, not take a commission from the supplier.
FAQ
Do you work with small orders?
Yes. We accept orders of any size. Orders up to $50,000 pay a 4% commission, with a $150 minimum per order.
Do you only source from Yiwu?
No. We buy in Yiwu market, from factories all over China, and at specialized trade fairs. We go where your product is made.
Can you work with a supplier I already found?
Yes. We can verify that supplier, follow production, inspect your goods and handle shipping. The fee depends on the services you need and where the supplier is located, often around 3% of the order value. We agree on it before we start.
Do you take commission from suppliers?
No. We charge you a published commission, so a lower supplier price is good for you and costs us nothing.
Get your free quote
Tell us what you want to source. We’ll reply with supplier options, a realistic price range and our fee.
Related: Supplier verification · Quality inspection · Pricing · Case studies