On-site factory audit · China

A real factory audit in China — from $749

Our own auditors, based in Zhuhai, drive to the address on the business licence and spend a full day inside the factory. 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.

What the audit covers

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.

How it works

From booking to signed report in about a week

01

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.

02

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.

03

Full day on site

Announced or semi-announced. Floor walk, machinery count, QC review, owner interview, geo-tagged photos and video throughout.

04

Signed audit report

A clear PDF: findings, evidence, red flags, a capacity view and a plain recommendation — proceed, proceed with conditions, or walk away.

Pricing

Honest, flat pricing — third-party firms charge $1,200–$2,500 for the same day

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.

Desk verification$129
  • Licence, USCC, court and tax checks
  • Factory vs trading company call
  • 72-hour turnaround
  • No site visit
Order online
Technical / extended audit$1,249
  • Two auditors or two days
  • Product-specific technical checks
  • Sub-supplier and material tracing
  • Social compliance section
  • Follow-up re-audit discounted
Discuss scope

The $749 flat rate covers factories anywhere in Guangdong. Outside Guangdong we pass travel through at cost with receipts — no markup — and multi-day audits add an extra man-day plus the auditor's overnight stay. 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.

Questions

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?

Ours start at $749 for a full day on site anywhere in Guangdong, including the desk verification. Outside Guangdong, travel is added at cost, and audits that need more than one day add a second man-day plus overnight accommodation. Large third-party inspection firms typically charge $1,200–$2,500 for a comparable man-day, and an in-person 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. Guangdong is flat rate because our team is based in Zhuhai; elsewhere we quote transparent travel on top, plus overnight costs if the audit runs beyond a single day.

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.

Keep reading

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.

Contact

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

We typically respond within 24 hours. For urgent requests, mention it in your message.