GCB’s basic China sourcing fees are $99 for a remote check of one supplier, $299 for a manufacturer search, and $350 per person-day for an on-site factory visit. Each covers a defined task. Samples, travel and other third-party costs are separate unless your written quotation includes them.
If you are comparing sourcing agent fees, begin with what you want to know or get done. A company check, a factory search and production coordination are different services. Their prices only become comparable when the scope is visible.
The prices below are in US dollars and reflect GCB’s published basic standards checked on October 20, 2026. You can choose one task; there is no requirement to purchase a full sourcing package.
GCB’s basic sourcing service prices
| Task | Base fee | Included scope | Separate or outside scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remote supplier check | $99 | One company: available identity and registration information, supplied documents, gaps and written findings. | No physical visit, production-capacity confirmation, lab test or order guarantee. |
| Manufacturer search | $299 | One product brief and one search round; comparison of up to three responsive, initially suitable candidates, with contacts, notes and open questions. | On-site visits, samples and continuing order management. Fewer candidates may fit; limitations are reported. |
| On-site factory visit | $350 per person-day | One person visiting one factory for up to one working day; agreed checks, permitted photos and a findings report. | Travel expenses and additional travel-day charges, agreed beforehand; certification audits and laboratory testing. |
The first introductory conversation is free. Before paid work begins, GCB confirms the task, output and fee. The current published GCB pricing and payment terms are the reference for the service you select.
Which task should you pay for first?
If you already have a supplier: a $99 remote check may be the appropriate first step when your question concerns the company’s identity or supplied documents. It does not answer every question about the workshop or the goods.
If you need manufacturing candidates: the $299 search addresses one product brief. Your quantity, materials, customization and destination should be clear enough to assess initial fit. A search is not a promise that three acceptable factories exist for every brief.
If the question requires a physical visit: discuss the $350 per person-day option. Agree the site, agenda, access and travel arrangements first. Product-specific tests or a formal certification audit need their own scope.
You do not automatically need all three. If the supplier is already known and the remaining issue is a sample revision, a new search may add little value. GCB quotes sample and ongoing coordination work separately according to the task.
Keep the service fee separate from the order budget
A sourcing fee pays for agreed work. It does not buy the product, fund tooling or settle import charges. Put these costs into separate lines so you can see where your money goes.
| Budget line | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| GCB service | The task, output, included round or day, payment and completion terms. |
| Samples and tooling | Supplier charges, revision rounds, ownership and any conditional credits. |
| Travel and site access | Travel expenses, chargeable travel days and arrangements if the factory changes the appointment. |
| Testing or specialist inspection | Method, provider, product version, report and any retest charges. |
| Goods and delivery | Quantity, specification, packing, freight, insurance where applicable and destination charges. |
For freight comparisons, state the trade term and named place. The ICC’s official Incoterms® rules overview explains their role in allocating delivery responsibilities, costs and risks. A service fee and a product quotation using a trade term remain different parts of your budget.
Two examples of choosing a scope
Example A: you have one supplier to review. You commission the $99 remote check. If the findings answer your immediate question, you can stop there. If a later factory visit is useful, it is a separate decision with an agreed agenda and travel cost.
Example B: you have a defined product but no manufacturer. You commission the $299 search. If you subsequently choose an additional $99 check of one candidate, those two separately commissioned fees total $398. That figure is not a bundle and excludes samples, visits, goods and logistics.
These are illustrative choices, not client cases. Their purpose is to show how to buy the next useful step without treating every service as compulsory.
How should you compare a fixed fee with a commission?
A fixed task fee can be straightforward when the assignment has a clear end. A percentage model needs a defined calculation base: ask whether it applies to goods only, tooling, freight, repeat orders or supplier payments. Also ask whether there is a minimum charge.
GCB does not automatically add a purchase commission to the basic tasks shown here. Broader sourcing or coordination work is quoted for its agreed stages. Do not assume that one fee includes unlimited supplier discussions, sample revisions or production follow-up.
When reviewing proposals, request an explicit answer to four questions: what will be delivered, what ends the assignment, what can add a charge, and what requires your approval. This comparison is more useful than a fee percentage on its own.
Questions buyers often ask
Can I choose only the $99 supplier check?
Yes. You can discuss a remote review of one company as a standalone task. Its findings have the limits of a remote check; an on-site visit is separate.
Does $299 guarantee three suitable manufacturers?
No. The search compares up to three responsive, initially suitable candidates for one brief and one search round. If fewer fit, GCB reports the limitation rather than filling the list with unsuitable names.
Does the $350 factory visit include travel?
No. Travel expenses and any additional travel-day charges are agreed separately before the visit. The base covers one person at one factory for up to one working day.
Are samples or product tests included in these fees?
Only if the written quotation explicitly includes them. Supplier samples, tooling, courier delivery and laboratory tests should have their own cost lines.
Bryan’s Perspective
A buyer should be able to see the starting price and decide whether the work is useful. I would rather begin with one clearly priced question than ask you to commit to a large, unclear arrangement. If the answer gives you enough confidence to take the next step yourself, that first task has done its job.
Global China Bridge supports overseas entrepreneurs and small businesses with focused work in China. If you need to find a manufacturer in China for your product, send the brief and we can confirm whether the $299 search fits. If you already have a supplier, tell us what you need checked instead.
Updated: October 20, 2026