The moment money leaves your account, your leverage drops sharply. Everything on this list is easier to check before payment than to fix after it. Work through it in order — the first checks eliminate the worst risks fastest.

1. The legal company name matches the bank account

Get the supplier’s registered Chinese company name and compare it character by character with the beneficiary name on the bank account they gave you. Different names — a personal account, a “related company”, a third-party account — is the single most common fraud pattern in China trade. Pay only to the account of the company you verified.

2. The company is registered and active

Check the registration record: status active, not revoked or deregistered. This takes minutes and eliminates a surprising number of “suppliers”.

3. The business scope matches what they’re selling

A registered manufacturer will have manufacturing in its business scope. A pure trading scope isn’t automatically disqualifying — but a “factory” that is legally a trading company should be honest about it, and you should price accordingly.

4. The person you’re talking to belongs to the company

Company email domain, consistent signature, reachable phone numbers. A legitimate salesperson at a real factory is easy to verify; someone using a free email account with an urgent story is not.

5. The quotation is specific, not vague

A price without stated currency, unit, Incoterm, validity period, payment terms, packaging and lead time is not a quotation — it’s an opening for later surprises. Get it in writing before paying anything.

6. Samples match the specification

For anything beyond commodity goods, pay for samples and check them against the written specification. The deposit conversation goes very differently when the sample is already approved.

7. Payment structure is milestone-based

Standard practice is a deposit plus balance against production status or inspection — not 100% up front. If a supplier demands full payment in advance, treat that as a risk decision, not a norm you have to accept.

8. You have a written, signed (or at least emailed and confirmed) agreement

Specifications, quantities, prices, packaging, lead time, quality standards, remedies. A PI (proforma invoice) with specifics beats a chat history every time.

9. The factory address has been checked

At minimum, confirm the factory address exists and is consistent with the company. For meaningful orders, a physical check — on-site or by a third party — before the deposit is one of the best money you’ll spend.

10. Someone independent has looked at the whole picture

When you’ve been negotiating with a supplier for weeks, you lose objectivity. A fresh pair of eyes — a colleague, or a China-side partner like Charmmy — reviewing the company, the contract and the payment plan catches what familiarity hides.

None of this guarantees a problem-free order. It converts “I hope this works out” into “I know these specific facts before I pay.”

Want a professional check before your next deposit? See Supplier Verification or submit a request.