A real factory audit in China — from $398
$398 per man-day inside Guangdong, all-inclusive — the same rate as the largest inspection firms in Asia, with no weekend surcharge. Outside Guangdong, travel is quoted at cost before booking. We already live here. Our own auditors, based in Guangdong, drive to the address on the business licence and spend a full day inside the factory — often within 48 hours of you asking. They count machinery, watch the lines run, review QC records, photograph everything, and hand you a signed audit report, usually within five working days of booking. No sales rep tour, no rented showroom, no agency margin buried in your unit price.
- Independent — we never take commission from the factory
- Chinese-speaking auditors already in Guangdong, no fly-in fees
- Signed, photo-evidenced report you can use as leverage or evidence
Everything a supplier can hide from a video call
A desk verification proves the company legally exists. An audit proves the factory physically works. We run the same checklist on every visit so reports are comparable between suppliers.
Site & legal match
The physical address checked against the business licence and Unified Social Credit Code. Signage, gate, unit number and floor photographed. Whether the entity on the licence is the entity that owns the building or rents a corner of it.
Production capacity
Machinery counted by type and condition, line layout mapped, shift pattern and headcount recorded, and a realistic monthly output estimate for your product — not the number on their brochure.
Quality systems
Incoming material inspection, in-process checks, final QC station, defect logs, rework area, calibration records and whether the ISO 9001 certificate on the wall matches an actual working system.
Your product on the line
Where possible we photograph your product or a close equivalent in production, plus tooling and moulds, and confirm the factory has genuinely made this category before.
Workforce & compliance
Headcount vs claims, working conditions, fire exits, safety equipment, dormitory and canteen if applicable — the basics most social-compliance buyers need before an order.
Interview in Chinese
Our auditor sits with the owner or plant manager in Mandarin. People say things in their own language they never write in an email — and we report exactly what was said.
From booking to signed report in about a week
Tell us the supplier
Company name in Chinese or English, address, and what you're buying. We tell you honestly whether the $129 desk verification is enough — often it is.
Desk work first
Before anyone travels we pull the licence, court records, tax rating and business scope, so the auditor arrives already knowing what to press on.
Full day on site
Announced or semi-announced. Floor walk, machinery count, QC review, owner interview, geo-tagged photos and video throughout.
Signed audit report
A clear PDF: findings, evidence, red flags, a capacity view and a plain recommendation — proceed, proceed with conditions, or walk away.
When the paperwork said one thing and the floor said another
In early 2020 the world was scrambling for masks. Factories were quoting 18-month lead times and refusing to let buyers past the reception desk. We visited mask plants around Guangdong while buyers were wiring deposits for certification documents that looked correct on paper. One partner ignored the warning, sent $3 million, and received masks the factory claimed met US standards — but when the shipment landed and was tested independently, the masks failed. The test reports the factory provided had been prepared to look compliant, not to reflect what was actually coming off the line. A factory audit would have shown the real production conditions, the actual certificates in use, and the gap between the two.
$398 per man-day, all-inclusive — matched to the big inspection firms
Audits are booked directly with us. Choose the level that fits the order and contact us with the supplier details — we confirm scope, date and final price before anything is paid.
- Licence, USCC, court and tax checks
- Factory vs trading company call
- 72-hour turnaround
- No site visit
- Full day on site, one auditor
- Desk verification included
- Machinery, capacity and QC review
- Photos, video and signed report
- Travel and weekends included
- Two auditors or two days
- Product-specific technical checks
- Sub-supplier and material tracing
- Social compliance section
- Follow-up re-audit discounted
$398 per man-day covers factories anywhere in mainland China: weekends and the desk verification are included, and travel is included inside Guangdong. For factories outside Guangdong we quote travel at cost before booking, with no hidden fees. Larger or more technical factories simply need more man-days, which we agree with you before booking. Audits are booked by contacting us directly so we can confirm the factory location and scope first; payment is by invoice or card once the scope is agreed.
Factory audit FAQ
What's the difference between a factory audit and your $129 verification report?
The $129 report is desk-based: business licence, Unified Social Credit Code, court and enforcement records, tax rating, business scope, and whether the company is a manufacturer or a trading company. The audit is physical: someone from our team spends a day inside the building. Most buyers should start with the report — if it passes and the order is significant, the audit is the next step.
How much does a factory audit in China cost?
$398 per man-day, all-inclusive inside Guangdong — the same published rate as the largest inspection firms in Asia. Outside Guangdong travel is quoted at cost. No weekend surcharge, and the $129 desk verification is included with every audit. A trip of your own rarely lands under $3,000 once flights, hotels and an interpreter are counted.
How long does it take?
Typically five working days from booking to signed report, depending on factory availability and travel distance. Urgent audits can often be scheduled within 48 hours in the Pearl River Delta.
Will the factory know it's an audit?
Yes for a standard booked audit — we need access to the floor and to records. We can run semi-announced visits (date agreed, arrival window not) which limits how much can be staged. We never tell the factory who the buyer is unless you ask us to.
Do you audit factories outside Guangdong?
Yes, anywhere in mainland China, at the same $398 per man-day. Travel is included in the rate — we do not add flights, trains or hotels to your invoice.
Can I buy the audit online?
Not directly — every audit is scoped to a specific factory and location, so we confirm details with you first. Send us the supplier information through the form below and we'll come back with a fixed price and a date.
Learn what an audit actually catches
The 42-point factory audit checklist we use
The exact checklist our auditors carry into a Chinese factory — free to copy if you're going yourself.
Pre-shipment inspection vs factory audit
Two different tools, two different moments in the order. Which one you need, and when doing both is a waste.
The 5 types of China factory audit
Document, virtual, third-party, in-person and social compliance — real costs and what each one misses.
Get in touch
Have questions about our verification service? Send us a message and we'll respond within 24 hours. For urgent requests, just mention it in your message.
- Response within 24 hours
Every inquiry gets a real, considered reply. - Completely confidential
Your supplier never learns you ordered a report. - Room 1804, Beverly House
93–107 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong