Sourcing Agent Fees and Pricing
Reviewed by Hasan Olwan · Last updated: September 27, 2026
Our China sourcing agent fee is a commission on your order value: 4% for orders up to $50,000 (with a $150 minimum per order), and 3–4% above $50,000. Quality inspection, factory verification and shipping have their own prices, listed below. We publish every fee so you can compare us before you ask for a quote.
Sourcing commission
| Order value | Commission |
|---|---|
| Up to $50,000 | 4% ($150 minimum per order) |
| Over $50,000 | 3–4%, agreed with you |
What the commission covers: supplier search and comparison, price negotiation in Chinese, sample collection, order placement, and production follow-up until your goods are ready.
How we calculate it: on the value of the goods only. Shipping, inspection, packaging and other services are not part of the commission base. The rate for your order value applies to the whole order. For example, a $10,000 order pays 4% on the full $10,000, so $400.
How much will I pay? Worked examples
These examples use the commission table above. Shipping, inspection and duties are extra.
| Your order (goods value) | Rate | Commission |
|---|---|---|
| $2,000 | 4%, below minimum | $150 (the minimum applies) |
| $5,000 | 4% | $200 |
| $10,000 | 4% | $400 |
| $30,000 | 4% | $1,200 |
| $80,000 | 3–4% | $2,400 – $3,200, agreed with you |
Small-order note: below $3,750, the $150 minimum is more than 4% of your order. We’ll show you the real percentage in your quote before you commit.
Other services
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Quality inspection | $200 per man-day |
| Factory verification: legal check | $150 |
| Factory verification: on-site visit | $250 |
| Product search | $150, deducted from your commission when you place the order |
| Working with a supplier you already found (verification, follow-up, inspection, shipping) | By agreement, often around 3% of the order value, depending on the services and the supplier’s location |
| Supplier payment transfer | 2% of the amount |
| Amazon FBA prep | Quoted per order |
| Product photography | Quoted per order |
| Custom packaging | Quoted per order |
| Warehouse storage | Free for 10 days, then $1 per cubic meter (CBM) per day |
| Consolidation and repacking | Quoted per order |
| DDP shipping | Quoted per shipment |
What’s a man-day? One inspector working at one location for one day. Most single-product inspections take one man-day.
What is a normal sourcing agent commission rate?
Sourcing agents in China usually charge between 3% and 10% of the order value, and some charge up to 15%. Small orders pay the higher end. Our 4% is at the low end of that range, even for small orders. Some agents charge a flat fee per project or a monthly retainer instead. Others charge nothing up front and add a hidden markup to the supplier’s price.
This is the part most people get wrong: a “0% commission” agent still gets paid, usually through the supplier. Ask any agent to show you the supplier’s original invoice.
For a full breakdown of how agents charge and what to watch for, read our guide: How Much Do Sourcing Agents Charge?
What's not included
- Product cost. You pay suppliers the agreed price, directly or through us.
- Shipping and duties. Quoted separately. With DDP (Delivered Duty Paid), duties and customs clearance are included in one shipping price.
- Samples and sample shipping. Charged at cost.
- Credit or deferred payment. We don’t offer it.
When do I pay?
You pay our commission together with the payment for your goods, by bank transfer. There’s no separate upfront fee, except the $150 product search when you order a search on its own, and we deduct that from your commission when you place the order.
Get your quote
Send your product, quantity and country. We’ll reply with supplier options and your exact fee, before you commit to anything.
Related: How we work · China sourcing agent · Quality inspection