Most sourcing problems start before the first order is placed. A supplier who looks reliable online may have no registered business, no factory, or no record of shipping to your market. A short, repeatable check removes most of that risk.
Confirm the business is registered
Ask for the business registration number and match the company name, address and registration date against the official register in the supplier's country. The name on the registration should match the name on the invoice and the bank account.
- Registered company name and number
- Registered address and year of establishment
- Export licence, where the product requires one
Check the premises
A video call from the production floor shows more than a brochure. Ask the supplier to show the machines, the stock and the packing area, and to hold up something with today's date on it. For larger orders, a third-party inspection is worth the cost.
Ask for the same thing two ways. If the answers about capacity or lead time change, ask again.
Call two references
Request contacts for two recent buyers in a similar market. Ask what was ordered, whether it shipped on time, and how problems were handled. A supplier who hesitates to share any reference is giving you information too.
Start with a trial order
Place a small order before committing to volume. Use it to test sample quality, packaging, documents and communication, and agree payment terms that protect both sides, such as a deposit with the balance paid against shipping documents.
