How much a China sourcing agent costs on a 300-unit order

Short answer. On a first order of 300 caps worth EUR 1,950, a China sourcing agent typically costs about EUR 156 to 195 at 8 to 10 percent, or about EUR 269 to 719 as a flat fee of USD 300 to 800, because many agents use flat fees below about USD 5,000 of goods. A check of the goods before shipping is often extra, about EUR 241 per inspector day at one inspection company's listed price. Through Equilinq the service on the same order costs EUR 234 (our 10 percent fee plus 2 percent China purchasing and handling), with the check at our warehouse in China included.

This page is general information and not legal advice.

How do sourcing agents charge?

A sourcing agent is a person or company in China who finds a factory for you, negotiates, follows production and arranges shipping. Agents publish four common ways of charging, according to fee guides from agencies in 2025 and 2026 (Goodcan, HiSourcing, Youna Global, Dragon Sourcing):

• A percentage of the order. Typically 3 to 10 percent of the goods value, falling as orders grow. Below about USD 5,000 (US dollars) of goods, agents commonly ask 8 to 10 percent or switch to a flat fee.
• A flat fee per project. Commonly USD 300 to 800 for a small single order, more for a full product project.
• A monthly retainer. Commonly several hundred US dollars a month, for brands that order every month. Rarely worth it on a first order.
• A margin hidden in the unit price. Some agents and trading companies charge no visible fee and add their margin to the factory price instead. One guide puts trading company mark-ups at commonly 15 to 30 percent (HiSourcing).

These are the agencies' own figures, not an independent survey. Treat them as a range to ask about, not a price list. A pre-shipment inspection, a check of the finished goods before they leave China, is commonly charged on top (Dragon Sourcing).

What does each option cost on 300 units?

We take one order and price it every way. It is the order from our landed cost example: 300 caps at EUR 6.50 each, so EUR 1,950 of goods. At the European Central Bank reference rate of 28 October 2026, USD 1.1133 to the euro (ECB), that is about USD 2,170. Freight, customs duty and import value added tax (VAT) are left out, because you pay them on every route. Samples are left out too: every route charges for them separately.

Route	What you pay for the service	Check before shipping	What you still do yourself
Buy direct from the factory	Nothing	Optional, about EUR 241 per inspector day	Find and check the factory, negotiate, pay it, book the check, arrange freight
Agent at 8 to 10 percent	About EUR 156 to 195	Often extra, about EUR 241	Brief the agent, check their work, often arrange freight
Agent on a flat fee (USD 300 to 800)	About EUR 269 to 719	Often extra, about EUR 241	Brief the agent, check their work, often arrange freight
Inspection company only	About EUR 241 per inspector day	Included, that is the service	Everything else, as when buying direct
Equilinq	EUR 234: 10 percent fee (EUR 195) plus China purchasing and handling at 2 percent (EUR 39)	Included, every order checked with photos at our warehouse in China	Approve the quote and the sample photos; pay duty and import VAT as importer

How the numbers are worked out:

• Agent percentage: 8 percent of EUR 1,950 is EUR 156; 10 percent is EUR 195.
• Agent flat fee: USD 300 is about EUR 269 and USD 800 about EUR 719 at the rate above.
• Inspection: one inspection company lists a pre-shipment inspection at USD 268 per inspector day, travel included (V-Trust), about EUR 241. We assume one day is enough for 300 caps; agency guides typically quote USD 200 to 400 per day (Goodcan).
• Equilinq: the fees on our pricing page today: 10 percent on the first EUR 10,000 of goods, minimum fee EUR 150 per shipment, plus 2 percent China purchasing and handling. The EUR 49 request fee is due when you send your request and is credited in full if you order within 90 days, so it is not a cost on top.

On this order an agent at 8 to 10 percent is cheaper than us before any check. Once you add a separate check before shipping, an agent at a percentage comes to about EUR 397 to 436, and an agent on a flat fee to about EUR 510 to 960.

What do you still do yourself?

The fee is only half the cost. The other half is your time and the risk of a mistake. On every route someone has to check that the factory is real, approve a golden sample, check the goods before they leave China, book freight and make sure the import paperwork is in your name.

When you buy direct, all of that is yours. Our factory verification page shows the supplier checks to run before you pay anyone. With an agent, you still write the brief and check what comes back, and freight and European paperwork are commonly left to you. With an inspection company, you get the check and nothing else.

Why does a hidden margin cost more than it looks?

A margin inside the unit price is hard to compare and it raises your customs duty. EU duty is charged on the customs value, which starts from the price you pay for the goods, as set out in import VAT and duty on a first order. A mark-up in the unit price becomes part of that price.

A fee you pay your own agent for buying on your behalf, called a buying commission, is treated differently. Customs guidance states it can be left out of the customs value when it is shown separately from the price of the goods and backed by a real agency agreement (Union Customs Code, Article 71, as published on legislation.gov.uk, UK customs guidance). Ask your customs broker how your country treats it before you sign.

Two questions to ask any agent: is your fee shown on its own line, and do you also take commission from the factory? Ask for the factory's own invoice if the answer is unclear.

Do I need a sourcing agent at all?

Not always. If the product is simple, you have bought from China before and you are happy to check the factory and handle customs, buying direct is cheapest. If it is your first run of 100 to 1,000 units under your own name, the extra cost is usually smaller than one failed order. Our comparison of five ways to buy from China sets the options side by side.

Further reading

Read how to read a China quote before you compare offers, and what 300 units from China really cost delivered to the Netherlands for the full landed cost with duty and VAT. To have the factory found, checked and quoted to your door, see Source.