One question we get more than any other: "Should I just do this myself?" The answer isn't simple โ€” it depends on your situation.

When DIY Sourcing Makes Sense

  • Your order is under $2,000 โ€” agent fees may not justify
  • You speak Chinese and can visit factories yourself
  • Your product is simple โ€” no electronics, no custom tooling, no complex materials
  • You're ordering from a supplier you've worked with before
  • You have time to manage the process yourself

When an Agent Pays for Themselves

  • Orders over $5,000 โ€” an agent's 5-10% fee is often recovered through better factory pricing alone
  • Complex products โ€” electronics, textiles with custom dyes, anything with regulatory requirements
  • First-time sourcing from a new factory โ€” an agent's factory visit catches problems before they become expensive
  • You don't speak Chinese โ€” language barriers in pricing, specifications, and QC are real risks
  • You value your time โ€” managing a sourcing project takes 20-40 hours over 4-8 weeks

The Real Cost of DIY

We've seen DIY sourcers lose $5,000-50,000 on bad orders. A 5% agent fee on a $10,000 order is $500. A single quality problem caught before shipment can save 10x that. The math works.