China Sourcing FAQ
Straight answers to the questions procurement teams and buyers ask when sourcing from China — from finding a reliable manufacturer to managing quality and protecting your supply chain.
Buyer's Guide: China Sourcing
How do I find a reliable manufacturer in China?
Finding a reliable manufacturer starts with verification, not just price comparison. The most common mistake is selecting a supplier based on Alibaba listings or trade show introductions without conducting due diligence. A proper process includes: (1) background checks on business registration and export history; (2) an in-person factory audit covering production capacity, infrastructure, and compliance; (3) reference checks with existing buyers; and (4) a controlled sample approval process before placing production orders. Soley B2B maintains a pre-vetted network of 500+ suppliers across six industries and conducts all verification steps on-ground in China on behalf of our clients.
How can I tell if a Chinese supplier is legitimate?
Key indicators of supplier legitimacy include: a valid business license with registered export authority, a verifiable physical manufacturing facility (not just a trading office), consistent production references from overseas buyers, and willingness to submit to an independent factory audit. Red flags include requests for payment to personal accounts, inability to provide business registration documents, unwillingness to allow factory visits, and prices dramatically below market rate. Soley B2B conducts structured supplier verification that checks all of these criteria before any client engagement begins.
What is a China factory audit and what does it cover?
A factory audit is an in-person assessment of a manufacturing facility conducted by a qualified inspector. It evaluates: production capacity and equipment capability, worker count and labor conditions, raw material handling and storage, quality management systems, safety compliance, and relevant certifications (ISO, CE, FDA, etc.). Audit findings are documented in a structured report with photographic evidence. This report is used by procurement teams to make sourcing decisions and by compliance departments to meet supplier due diligence requirements. Soley B2B conducts factory audits as a standalone service or as part of a full sourcing program.
What is the difference between a sourcing agent and a China procurement company?
Traditional sourcing agents earn commissions from suppliers — meaning their financial incentive is to close deals, not to protect your interests. They typically work informally, communicating via WhatsApp or WeChat, with no structured documentation or accountability. A procurement management company like Soley B2B is retained directly by the client, charged at a fixed or scoped fee, and has no supplier-side financial relationship. Every engagement is documented, tracked on a structured platform, and delivers a full audit trail. The difference matters most when there is a problem — an agent has little incentive to escalate; a retained procurement partner does.
Can I source from China without speaking Mandarin?
Yes. The language barrier is a practical challenge, not a fundamental obstacle — provided you work with the right partner. Soley B2B handles all Chinese-language communication with suppliers, factory contacts, and logistics providers. All documentation is translated and delivered to clients in English. You do not need a Mandarin speaker on your team to run an effective China sourcing operation when working with an on-ground management partner.
What is a pre-shipment inspection and do I always need one?
A pre-shipment inspection (PSI) is a quality check conducted after production is complete but before goods leave the factory. An inspector verifies quantity, product specifications, packaging, and labeling against your purchase order. PSIs catch defects before they are containerized and shipped — a point at which correction is far cheaper than a return or rework dispute after arrival. We recommend a PSI for any first-time order with a supplier and for orders above your defect-cost tolerance. For repeat orders with audited suppliers, you can calibrate frequency based on risk.
What do I do if my Chinese supplier delivers poor quality products?
Your leverage depends entirely on documentation collected before and during production. If you have an approved sample, a detailed specification sheet, in-process inspection reports, and a pre-shipment inspection report showing acceptance, you have a documented basis for dispute. Without this trail, suppliers can — and often do — claim the goods match the order. Soley B2B structures every engagement to build this documentation from the start: sample approval records, in-process visit reports, and final inspection findings. If defects are found during our QC process, we escalate directly with the factory before goods ship.
What are the biggest mistakes companies make when sourcing from China for the first time?
The most costly mistakes include: (1) choosing a supplier based on price alone without a factory audit; (2) approving a sample and assuming the production run will match it without in-process inspection; (3) paying 100% upfront before inspection; (4) not documenting product specifications precisely, leaving room for substitution; (5) relying on a supplier-referred inspector for quality control (a clear conflict of interest); and (6) using informal payment channels that provide no recourse. Each of these is avoidable with a structured procurement process — which is exactly what Soley B2B provides.
About Soley B2B
What does Soley B2B do?
Soley B2B is an on-ground China procurement and sourcing management partner for U.S. enterprise supply chain teams. We operate on behalf of your business in China — verifying suppliers, conducting factory audits, managing production quality, and coordinating shipments. Every engagement is tracked, documented, and accessible through our structured platform.
Who is Soley B2B built for?
Soley B2B is designed for enterprise procurement teams at Fortune 500 companies, mid-market manufacturers, distributors, and private label brands that source products from China. Our system is built to meet the compliance, transparency, and audit requirements that large procurement organizations demand.
Where is Soley B2B based?
Our operational office is in Ningbo, China — we are not a remote-only intermediary. Our team conducts in-person factory visits, audits, and quality inspections across China. We serve clients in the United States and globally.
How is Soley B2B different from a traditional sourcing agent?
Traditional sourcing agents operate informally — often through personal relationships, WhatsApp, and informal fee structures. Soley B2B operates as a structured, platform-based partner: every request, quote, and delivery milestone is tracked and auditable. We are compensated directly by clients, not by supplier commissions, which eliminates conflicts of interest. Our documentation is built to meet enterprise compliance and audit standards.
Services
What specific services does Soley B2B provide?
Our modular service portfolio covers: (1) Supplier Verification — background checks, license verification, capability assessments; (2) Factory Audit — in-person facility visits, compliance and infrastructure review; (3) Quality Control Inspection — pre-production, in-process, and pre-shipment inspections; (4) Production Management — milestone tracking, issue escalation, delivery oversight; (5) Shipment Coordination — export documentation, customs management, logistics coordination.
Can we engage individual service modules or do we need a full program?
You can engage individual service modules based on your specific needs. If you already have a supplier but need quality inspection only, we can scope that independently. If you need end-to-end support from supplier identification through shipment, we can structure a full program. Scope is defined per engagement at the quote stage.
Which industries does Soley B2B serve?
We currently serve six industry verticals: Construction & Industrial Equipment, Furniture & Interior Products, Electrical & Energy Products, Consumer Goods & Private Label, Machinery & Manufacturing Components, and Medical Supplies. Each industry has sector-specific verification criteria and compliance requirements built into our service delivery.
Does Soley B2B help with private label manufacturing?
Yes. We assist with private label sourcing including supplier identification, specification documentation, sample management, production oversight, and pre-shipment inspection. Our platform tracks the full private label development cycle with documented approvals at each stage.
Process & Timelines
How do I start a sourcing or verification request?
Create an account on our platform and submit a structured request describing your product, industry, specifications, quantity, and budget range. Our team reviews all requests within 24 hours and delivers an itemized quote within 48 hours. Approval of the quote and payment initiates execution.
How long does the full sourcing process take?
Timeline varies by scope and product complexity. Supplier verification alone typically takes 5–10 business days. A full program including supplier identification, audit, sample approval, production oversight, and shipment can range from 4 to 16 weeks depending on production lead times, supplier responsiveness, and product complexity. All timelines are documented in the quote.
What are your response time commitments?
We maintain defined SLA windows: new service requests are acknowledged within 24 hours; detailed quotes are delivered within 48 hours; active client support inquiries receive a response within 4 business hours (Monday–Friday, 9AM–6PM CST).
Compliance & Documentation
What documentation does Soley B2B provide with each engagement?
All engagements produce a documented audit trail including: supplier verification reports, factory audit reports with photographic evidence, sample inspection records, in-process and final QC inspection reports, export documentation, and delivery confirmation. All documents are archived in your client portal dashboard and downloadable at any time.
Is our sourcing information kept confidential?
Yes. All client information, product specifications, supplier relationships, and sourcing details are treated as confidential. NDAs are available for enterprise engagements. We do not share client sourcing data between engagements or with suppliers beyond what is necessary for execution.
Can Soley B2B's documentation support our internal compliance or audit requirements?
Yes. Our documentation structure is specifically designed to support enterprise compliance processes. Reports include timestamped findings, photographic evidence, named auditors, and clear pass/fail criteria. The platform maintains a full chronological record of all activities for each engagement, accessible to authorized users on your team.
Pricing & Payments
How does pricing work?
All pricing is scoped per engagement. After reviewing your request, we deliver an itemized quote breaking down services, timelines, and costs. There are no hidden fees or supplier commissions. Payment is processed through Stripe via invoice — no informal payment channels.
Are there any upfront fees or retainers?
No retainer is required to submit a request or receive a quote. Payment is initiated at the time of quote approval, which triggers execution. Specific payment terms are outlined in each engagement quote.
How do I reach billing or finance for payment questions?
Contact our billing team directly at billing@soleyb2b.com for invoice questions, payment status, or financial documentation requests. For new service requests, contact operations@soleyb2b.com.
Have a question not covered here?
Contact our enterprise team or submit a request directly. We respond to all inquiries within 24 hours.