The single biggest sourcing decision most importers make isn't which factory to use — it's which agent decides that for them. A good agent's factory network, inspection standards and fee structure shape every order that follows, so it's worth more scrutiny than most buyers give it.
Factory network is the real differentiator
The strongest agents work with tens of thousands of vetted factories across the major manufacturing hubs, which matters less for the raw number than for what it implies: an agent with that breadth can walk away from a factory that's cutting corners and place the order elsewhere without missing a delivery date. An agent tied to a handful of relationships has far less leverage to do that.
What "full service" should actually include
A comprehensive agent manages supplier identification, negotiation, sampling, production monitoring, quality inspection and shipping coordination as one accountable process — not a referral to a factory followed by silence until the container ships. Ask specifically who inspects the goods, at what stage, and what happens when an inspection fails; the answer separates a sourcing partner from a middleman collecting a markup.
What it costs, and what that should buy
Agent fees typically run 5–15% of order value, and that range should track directly with what's included — a fee at the low end that excludes inspection or production monitoring isn't actually cheaper once a bad shipment is factored in. The right question isn't "what's your commission," it's "what does your commission cover, order to order."
The agents worth hiring are the ones who can answer every question above specifically, with named factories and a documented process — not with reassurance.