Question 1

How does Trade Entrust charge for sourcing services?

Accepted Answer

We use a three-part fee structure: a Project Initiation Fee (PIF) from $300, an operations fee of 1.5–2% per order, and commission of 2–8% on FOB value depending on order size. Unlike commission-only agents, our aligned structure means we earn more when your unit cost goes down.

Question 2

What is the minimum order value?

Accepted Answer

We work with orders from $10,000 FOB and above. For orders exceeding $50,000, the project initiation fee is credited back against your order.

Question 3

How is this different from a commission-only agent?

Accepted Answer

Commission-only agents earn more when your unit cost goes up — their incentive is the opposite of yours. Our blended fee keeps us aligned: a lower unit cost is good for both of us, and the commission percentage decreases as your order grows.

Question 4

Which tier is right for me?

Accepted Answer

Lite suits buyers who know exactly what they want and need execution. Standard fits growing importers who want a dedicated PM and structured QC. Premium is a fractional buying office for buyers running multi-country programs at scale.

Question 5

What do sourcing agents typically charge in China?

Accepted Answer

The industry standard for China sourcing agents is 5–10% commission on FOB value, with a range of 3–15% depending on the agent tier and service level. Budget agents charging under 3% typically offset this with hidden markups in the factory quote. Trade Entrust charges 2–8% with full factory price transparency — you always see the manufacturer invoice.

Question 6

What does a quality control inspection cost?

Accepted Answer

In 2025–2026, a professional QC inspection in China (Zone A: Guangdong, Zhejiang, Fujian) typically costs $299–$309 per man-day. A standard pre-shipment inspection (PSI) of one production batch is usually one man-day. DUPRO (during-production) inspections add a second touchpoint. Trade Entrust includes QC coordination in the Standard and Premium tiers; for Lite, inspections are arranged at cost.

Question 7

How do I know my agent isn't hiding their margin in my unit price?

Accepted Answer

Most sourcing agents operate on a 'service fee' they take directly from the factory — meaning the factory inflates your quote to cover the kickback, and you never see the real price. Trade Entrust's model is the opposite: we share the factory PI (Proforma Invoice) with you directly, and our commission is a declared percentage on that price. Our ImportOS.ai portal records every order value and fee, so your finance team has a complete audit trail.

Question 8

What is the ROI of using a professional sourcing agent?

Accepted Answer

Buyers who switch to Trade Entrust from self-sourcing or low-cost agents typically see 10–25% better unit pricing through professional negotiation and multi-supplier bidding. Avoided quality incidents (recalls, re-shipments, customs holds) save $5,000–$50,000+ per event. A dedicated PM reduces internal sourcing headcount by the equivalent of 0.5–1 FTE. Standard-tier clients report positive ROI within the first two orders.

Question 9

Do you source from Vietnam and India, and how does pricing differ?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our Standard and Premium tiers include Vietnam and India alongside China. The agent fee structure (2–8% commission + operations fee) is identical across all three countries. The main difference is that Vietnam and India manufacturing costs are lower for labor-intensive categories — making them ideal for tariff-sensitive goods or as part of a China+1 diversification strategy. We manage the full supplier vetting and QC process in all three markets.

Question 10

When should I use a monthly retainer vs a per-project fee?

Accepted Answer

A per-project engagement (Lite) works well for one-time or infrequent orders where you know the product and supplier landscape. A monthly retainer (Standard or Premium) makes more sense when you're placing multiple orders per quarter, developing new products, or running a multi-SKU catalog. The retainer gives you a dedicated PM who knows your brand, suppliers, and quality standards — reducing brief time and errors on every new order.

Feature	Lite	StandardPopular	Premium
Supplier sourcing & verification
Sample coordination
ImportOS.ai portal access
Dedicated project manager
Countries covered	China	China + 1	China + Vietnam + India
Quality inspections	Basic PSI	DUPRO + PSI	Full QC (AQL 2.5)
5-Gate Stage-Gate system
New-category development
Financial reconciliation
Dedicated sourcing team			1.5–2 FTE
Commission rate	5–8%	2–8%	2–8%

Sourcing Services — Three Tiers, One Team

A three-part fee, fully transparent

Project Initiation Fee

Operations Fee

Commission

Choose your engagement

Lite

Standard

Premium

What's included in each tier

Pricing FAQ

Not sure which tier fits?