The 7 checks — run them in order
1. Legal existenceBusiness registration, tax ID and legal status verified in the supplier's own country registry.
2. Physical address & realityAddress mapped and consistent with the claimed factory size. A "5,000 m² factory" on a small street = investigate.
3. Capacity vs claimsMachine list, dated production-floor photos and headcount match the volumes they claim to produce.
4. History & referencesYears actually operating; 2–3 client references in your market or category — contacted, not just listed.
5. Sample testSample ordered and tested like your customer would — functionally, against your spec. Mass-production process confirmed in writing.
6. Third-party check on the groundProfessional on-site visit and audit for large, regulated or first-time orders — by people on the ground, not the supplier's sales team.
7. Payment structure that protects youMilestones with real verification gates: deposit → sample approval → production progress → inspection pass → balance. Never 100% upfront.
Red flags — one is a warning, two or more is a stop
☐ Price far below market (20–30%+)
☐ Refuses video calls or factory visits
☐ Pressure to pay fast
☐ Vague or unverifiable address
☐ Stock photos / same photos on other sites
☐ Untraceable payment methods only
☐ No written paper trail
Rule of thumb: if two or more red flags appear, verify everything before a single dollar moves — or walk away.
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