How does LIFA's business model work?
LIFA is compensated transparently by the client. The standard sourcing commission is 5% of the approved order value unless another written fee arrangement is agreed before work begins. LIFA does not accept hidden factory commissions, undisclosed kickbacks, rebates, referral incentives, or supplier payments that could influence recommendations.
Transparent compensation
LIFA's fee is disclosed to the buyer. Any special arrangement or project-specific charge is agreed in writing before that work starts.
View Fees👥Buyer-first supplier recommendations
Recommendations are based on supplier capability, product quality, pricing, communication, reliability, documentation, production suitability, and buyer requirements.
Discuss This🧭No undisclosed LIFA compensation
LIFA does not secretly earn from factory referrals, rebates, or incentives that could distort supplier selection.
Discuss ThisWhat LIFA charges and what stays separate.
A clear sourcing fee is different from the total landed cost of an import project. LIFA's compensation is disclosed separately from supplier product costs, freight, inspections, testing, customs, taxes, and destination-market costs.
Standard 5% sourcing commission
The standard commission is 5% of the approved order value, unless another written fee arrangement is agreed with the client before work begins.
Discuss This 💡Negotiable for larger projects
Large order values, recurring procurement, high-value purchases, or special project structures can be discussed and confirmed in writing before work begins.
Discuss This 🗂️Disclosed service charges
Project-specific service charges, such as special visits or added coordination scope, must be disclosed and approved before the relevant work begins.
Discuss This 💰Third-party costs separate
Supplier costs, samples, inspections, laboratory testing, freight, insurance, duties, taxes, port fees, and destination delivery are separate unless agreed otherwise in writing.
Discuss ThisSupplier selection should not be influenced by hidden incentives.
LIFA's recommendations are based on the buyer's project requirements. The goal is not to push the factory that pays the most. The goal is to identify suppliers that fit the product, order size, documentation needs, production requirements, pricing expectations, delivery timeline, and risk profile.
- Supplier capability, product quality, and production suitability.
- Pricing competitiveness, MOQ, lead time, and payment terms.
- Communication reliability, documentation quality, and delivery ability.
- Fit with the buyer's specifications, target market, and risk tolerance.
Client-approved payments, documented supplier procedures.
LIFA helps clients organize transparent international payment procedures. LIFA is not a bank, lender, insurer, escrow provider, guarantor, or licensed financial institution; the role is to coordinate China-side documentation and supplier communication so buyer-approved payments are better organized.
Terms reviewed before release
LIFA can review supplier payment terms, deposit and balance milestones, invoices, beneficiary details where possible, and agreed Incoterms before client-authorized funds are released.
Discuss This 💳Contracts and invoices
LIFA can prepare written purchase contracts with suppliers in China and coordinate invoice-documented supplier payments through lawful procedures after client authorization.
Read the Guide 🔬Inspection before final payment
Where agreed, inspection or quality-control checkpoints can be coordinated before balance payment decisions, helping buyers avoid avoidable payment and shipment mistakes.
Read the GuideFee structure can adapt to project scale.
LIFA can evaluate sourcing projects ranging from smaller initial orders to complex, high-value procurement programs. The fee arrangement, reporting depth, supplier research, verification level, quality planning, and logistics coordination can be adapted to the scale and risk profile of each project.
Initial test orders
Smaller commercial orders can use a clear scope and standard fee structure so buyers understand the cost before starting.
Discuss This 🔗E-commerce inventory
Packaging, labeling, inspection timing, and shipment preparation can be coordinated around platform and inventory needs.
View Service 👥Wholesale and distributor orders
Recurring orders, multiple suppliers, and larger quantities may justify expanded reporting and negotiated fee arrangements.
Discuss This ⭐High-value procurement
Industrial equipment, container orders, and complex purchasing programs can receive deeper verification, documentation, and logistics planning.
Discuss ThisCompetitive logistics options are compared separately from LIFA compensation.
LIFA can compare available logistics options to help buyers select freight solutions based on cost, transit time, cargo type, destination, and project priorities. When a project involves several suppliers, goods can be collected through warehouse handling and shipped together under one coordinated shipment and invoice where appropriate.
- Sea, air, rail, express, FCL, LCL, and multimodal options where available.
- Freight quote comparison, packing details, documents, and milestone planning.
- Cargo insurance coordination where requested.
- No promise of cheapest shipping, fastest delivery, customs-clearance outcome, or delay-free operations.
Open to Transparent Buyer Feedback
LIFA Global Trade welcomes honest customer reviews on Trustpilot. Real feedback helps buyers evaluate our China sourcing support, communication, and coordination services with transparency.
Your honest feedback helps us improve our sourcing support and helps other buyers make informed decisions.
Business model and fee questions.
These answers explain how LIFA earns revenue, how supplier recommendations stay buyer-first, and which costs are separate from LIFA compensation.
LIFA is compensated transparently by the client. The standard sourcing commission is 5% of the approved order value unless another written fee arrangement is agreed before work begins.
No. LIFA does not accept hidden factory commissions, undisclosed kickbacks, rebates, referral incentives, or supplier payments that could influence supplier recommendations.
The commission covers LIFA's sourcing coordination work for the agreed scope, such as supplier communication, quotation organization, comparison support, production follow-up, documentation coordination, and project reporting. Exact scope is confirmed with the buyer before work begins.
No. Supplier product costs, samples, third-party inspections, laboratory testing, freight, insurance, customs duties, taxes, port fees, destination delivery, and government charges are separate third-party or project costs unless a written agreement says otherwise.
Yes. The standard commission can be discussed for large order values, high-value projects, recurring procurement, or special written arrangements agreed before work begins.
Supplier recommendations are based on capability, quality, pricing competitiveness, communication, reliability, documentation, production suitability, delivery ability, and the buyer's requirements rather than hidden supplier payments.
LIFA helps clients organize transparent payment procedures by reviewing supplier terms, beneficiary information where possible, payment milestones, invoices, documents, inspections, and agreed Incoterms before client-authorized funds are released.
No. LIFA follows structured verification, documentation, quality-control, and logistics procedures designed to reduce avoidable risks, but no sourcing process can remove every customs, certification, legal, deadline, or regulatory risk.
Related next steps.
Review the operating model, process, and request page before starting a sourcing project.
How LIFA Works
See how LIFA manages China-side execution while buyers approve important commercial decisions.
View process💡About LIFA
Review how LIFA operates as a China-side sourcing support company for international buyers.
About LIFA⚖️Request Quote
Share product details, supplier links, quantity, destination, and the support you need.
Start requestSend the product details and LIFA will clarify the fee before work begins.
Share the product, quantity, destination, timeline, supplier links if available, and the support you need. LIFA will explain the sourcing scope, standard commission, and any project-specific charges before starting.
