Verification
Chinese Supplier Verification Checklist
A reusable checklist for reviewing registration, contacts, supply evidence, product fit, and risk before you shortlist a supplier.
The short answer
A useful supplier checklist separates facts you can verify from claims you still need to test. Start with the legal entity and business contact, then review supply evidence appropriate to the supplier type. Finish with product, MOQ, sample, export, and payment questions before moving a supplier into an active buying process.
Printable verification checklist
- Legal Chinese company name confirmed
- Unified Social Credit Code recorded
- Registered address checked
- Contract entity matches the quotation
- Bank beneficiary reviewed
- Supplier type and supply model confirmed
- Business contact independently checked
- Supply evidence matches the claimed supplier type
- MOQ, sample, lead time, and export fit recorded
- Open questions marked pending or unresolved
Identity and registration
- Registered Chinese name and consistent English name.
- Unified social credit code or equivalent registration reference.
- Registered address and operating location explained if they differ.
- Legal representative and contracting entity identified.
- Invoice, contract, quotation, and beneficiary names compared.
Business contact
- At least one working business contact verified.
- Contact person and role recorded.
- Company domain, email, phone, and messaging details compared.
- A callback or independent contact check completed.
- Unusual changes in identity or payment instructions documented.
Supply evidence by supplier type
- Manufacturer: factory evidence such as a site, process, equipment, or production relationship.
- Authorized distributor: authorization evidence that identifies the principal, scope, and validity.
- First-tier agent: authorization or supplier relationship evidence.
- Trading company: supply-chain evidence and a clear explanation of the actual maker.
- Exporter: export evidence, destination-market experience, or fulfillment capability.
- Wholesaler: inventory or fulfillment evidence that supports the claimed availability.
Product and order fit
- Product specifications and materials confirmed.
- MOQ level and small-batch or sample support recorded.
- Customization/private-label capability confirmed rather than assumed.
- Lead time, packaging, shipping terms, and destination market discussed.
- Certifications and test reports checked for the exact product and market.
How to use the checklist
Keep a dated record of each check and label it verified, pending, not applicable, or unresolved. A supplier should not become 'approved' simply because it answered quickly. Use unresolved items to shape your next question, sample order, inspection plan, and payment controls.
What verification does not prove
The checklist reduces avoidable uncertainty; it does not guarantee quality, delivery, pricing, or transaction outcomes. Re-check time-sensitive facts before every meaningful order.
Use this with FactoryRoster
FactoryRoster is a research directory, not a transaction intermediary. Use supplier profiles to compare public business details and verification checks, then confirm current product, commercial, compliance, and payment details directly with the supplier.
Next steps
- Search verified China suppliers by industry and supplier type.
- Review the verification checks and evidence notes on the profile.
- Use the Verification page to understand what each check does and does not prove.