How to Verify a Chinese Manufacturer Before You Order

Verifying a supplier takes an afternoon and can save a season. Start with the business licence: ask for the scanned original and check the registered scope actually covers manufacturing, not just trading. Registered capital and founding date tell you how established the company is. Next, request photos or a video walkthrough of the production line, ideally with the current date visible. For orders above a few thousand dollars, a third-party inspection is inexpensive relative to the risk. Finally, never skip the golden sample. Approve a physical sample, keep one yourself, and make it the contractual reference for mass production quality.