What We Check (And Where) When Verifying a Chinese Supplier
When we verify a Chinese factory, we do not rely on documents the supplier emails us. Those can be faked, borrowed from another company, expired, or simply irrelevant to what they claim to produce. Instead, we go directly to the official Chinese government databases and registries where this information is actually recorded.
Here are the eight checks we run on every factory — what they tell us, and why they matter.
Business License (营业执照)
The business license tells us whether the company is legally registered, when it was established, who the legal representative is, and what its actual business scope covers. A factory might claim to produce electronics, but if their license only authorises textiles, that is a problem worth knowing about before you send a deposit.
Unified Social Credit Code
Every legally registered Chinese company has a unique 18-digit code that links them to tax records, court filings, and license status. If this code is inactive or belongs to a different entity, the company you are dealing with may not be legally operational at all.
Export License
Not every Chinese company is authorised to export. Without a valid export license, your shipment could get held at customs. Some suppliers do not disclose they are using a third-party exporter until it is already too late.
ISO 9001 Certificate
ISO 9001 is the most commonly cited quality certification, and it is also the most commonly faked. A real certificate has a unique registration number that can be verified directly with the issuing body. We check every single one. It is not uncommon to find a legitimate certificate — issued to a completely different factory with a similar-sounding name.
Product Certifications
CE for Europe, FCC for the US, CCC for China — depending on your product and market, specific certifications may be legally required. Suppliers often show certificates that are self-declared without actual testing, or cover a different product entirely. We verify through the relevant regulatory databases.
Tax Registration
A company's tax status tells us whether they are actively filing and in good standing. Outstanding tax debts or a pattern of non-filing is a serious red flag. Some suppliers also operate under a separate entity for tax purposes — meaning the company you are paying is not the one registered with the authorities.
Patent and Trademark Filings
If a supplier claims proprietary technology or patented designs, we verify those claims through official filings. It is also worth checking whether the factory has a history of IP disputes — which could become your problem if you place an order with them.
1688 Transaction History
1688.com is Alibaba's domestic Chinese platform. While many foreign buyers never check it, it reveals real transaction volume, buyer reviews, how long they have been active, and what they actually sell domestically. Their 1688 profile often tells a very different story from their polished Alibaba export page.
Why This Matters
Any one of these checks can reveal a problem. A revoked business license. An expired ISO certificate. An export license that does not exist. When you are about to send a deposit, these are the details that separate a legitimate factory from a costly mistake.
We run all eight checks on every factory we verify. You get a clear report with what we found, what the red flags are, and a straightforward recommendation. No sourcing pitch, no upsell — just the facts.