LIFA finds your supplier
No separate sourcing commission. Sourcing costs are included in the quoted product price. We do not add the standard 5% own-supplier coordination fee.
See Managed SourcingTwo ways to work with LIFA
Your supplier starting point determines the fee
Need us to find a supplier, or already have one? We confirm the applicable pricing model, deliverables and separate charges in writing before paid work begins.
You bring your own supplier
5% standard coordination commission. The fee is based on approved order value unless agreed otherwise in writing. Keep your supplier and choose the China-side support you need.
See Supplier ManagementSupplier recommendations follow your product requirements, capability, quality, price, communication and documentation needs. LIFA does not accept undisclosed factory referrals, rebates or incentives that could distort supplier selection. Read our procurement ethics policy.
Before you approve
Know what your quotation covers
Read the product specification and the service scope together. A useful quotation makes the fee basis, payment steps and separate costs clear before you commit.
- Product and sourcing scope
- Confirm the material, quantity, approved sample, packaging and included coordination. When LIFA finds your supplier, sourcing costs sit within the quoted product price.
- Payment and additional costs
- Agree the deposit and balance milestones, any separate coordination fee, inspection charges and freight assumptions. Changes or extra work need your approval.
LIFA service packages
Choose the support your order needs
Need a supplier, help with an existing order, or one specific task? Choose a starting package. We confirm the work, deliverables and fee with you before paid work begins.
You need a supplier and order support
Managed Sourcing
Start with a product brief. We coordinate supplier search, quotations, samples and the agreed order through shipment preparation.
No separate commission
LIFA finds the supplier. Sourcing costs are included in the quoted product price; no added 5% commission.
- Supplier shortlist and quotation comparison
- Verification and sample coordination
- Production, quality and shipping follow-up
Your project recordA supplier comparison, sample approval record and order tracker for the agreed scope.
Source my productYou already have a supplier
Supplier Management
Keep your supplier and get China-side help following the order, quality checks and shipment preparation.
5% standard
For your own supplier, based on approved order value unless agreed otherwise in writing.
- Order requirements and milestone follow-up
- Sample and quality-check coordination
- Shipping and document preparation
Your project recordAn order tracker with supplier updates, issues and decisions for your approval.
Manage my supplierOne task, clearly defined
Focused Support
Get help with a supplier check, quote comparison, sample, inspection arrangement or factory visit.
Quoted by scope
A written fee for the task you choose.
- A clear brief and agreed deliverable
- Coordination of your selected task
- Findings, open issues and next steps
Your project recordA task summary with the available evidence and outstanding questions.
Discuss one taskComplex orders or ongoing purchasing
Procurement Plus
Build a procurement program for multiple suppliers, custom products, repeat orders or equipment with detailed requirements.
Custom written quote
No added 5% on LIFA-found suppliers. Agree any additional program work separately.
- Supplier and SKU milestone planning
- Specification changes and quality checkpoints
- Consolidation and reorder coordination
Your project recordAn agreed reporting pack covering order status, cost changes, exceptions and upcoming approvals.
Plan my procurementWhat does the package price cover?
When LIFA finds your supplier, sourcing costs are included in the quoted product price with no separate 5% commission. For your own supplier, the standard coordination commission is 5% of approved order value unless agreed otherwise in writing. Product costs, samples, tooling, factory visits, inspections, laboratory testing, storage, freight, insurance, duties and destination charges are separate unless your written quote includes them. Supplier count, product complexity and reporting requirements can change the scope.
Compare all package inclusions
What is included in each package?
Read each item as coordination within the agreed scope. The provider's inspection, test, transport or storage charges remain separate. Any different commission or additional task is agreed in writing.
On small screens, each feature lists the four packages underneath.
| Scope | Managed Sourcing | Supplier Management | Focused Support | Procurement Plus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supplier starting point | A new supplier search | Your existing supplier | Your chosen task | New and existing suppliers |
| Supplier search and quote comparison | In the agreed sourcing scope | Add by written agreement | If this is your task | Across the agreed products and suppliers |
| Order and production follow-up | For the agreed order | For the agreed order | If this is your task | Across agreed orders and milestones |
| Verification, samples and inspections | Agreed checkpoints | Agreed checkpoints | Selected checks only | Product-specific checkpoints and issue tracking |
| Packaging and customization | Add by written agreement | Add by written agreement | Selected task | Build into the agreed program |
| Shipping and consolidation | Shipment preparation | Shipment preparation | Selected task | Multi-supplier collection and shipment planning |
| Progress and reporting | Supplier comparison and order updates | Order updates and open issues | Task findings | Agreed reporting cadence, cost changes and exceptions |
| Fee basis | Sourcing costs in product price; no added 5% | Standard 5% of approved order value with your supplier | Written task quote | Fee follows supplier origin; extra program work quoted |
What makes Procurement Plus different?
It adds coordination across orders. Agree which of these working records you need, who maintains them and how often you receive updates.
One view of your orders
Track suppliers, SKUs, quantities, ready dates and collection dependencies in an agreed order report.
Controlled product changes
Record the specification, approved sample and packaging version. Review a proposed change before it affects production.
Quality decisions with evidence
Set checks for each product, record findings and corrective actions, and identify the buyer who approves release.
Costs and repeat-order planning
Review revised quotations, separate freight and other charges, and plan reorder timing against your inventory needs.
How do I start?
- Send your brief. Choose a package and share the product, quantity, destination, supplier details and deadline.
- Review the written scope. Agree deliverables, fee basis, separate costs, payment milestones and approval responsibilities.
- Approve each key step. You decide on the supplier, sample, commercial terms, payments and shipment release.
Package selection is an inquiry, not a purchase or payment authorization. Ask us to recommend a package.
Separate the service fee from the full order cost
How much does a China sourcing agent cost?
At LIFA, the fee follows the supplier starting point: sourcing is included in the product quote when we find the supplier; the standard coordination fee is 5% of approved order value when you bring your own supplier, unless agreed otherwise in writing. Product-inclusive pricing includes sourcing costs in the selling price. It does not mean the service has no cost.
- Goods and development
- Confirm the product price, quantity, samples, tooling, customization and approved packaging. A change in material, specification or quantity can change the quotation.
- Checks and extra tasks
- Agree the inspection provider, laboratory tests, factory visits and any additional coordination before booking them. Project-specific charges need your approval; they are separate unless expressly included.
- Freight and destination charges
- Compare collection, storage, freight, insurance, customs brokerage, duties, taxes, port charges and destination delivery. Identify the currency, trade term, quote validity and party responsible for each charge.
- Larger or recurring projects
- Reporting depth, supplier count and project complexity can change the scope. Any negotiated rate or additional program work must be confirmed in writing before that work begins.
Compare like-for-like quotations
Use the same product specification, quantity, sample standard, packaging and delivery basis for each offer. A $10,000 own-supplier order plus a $500 coordination fee and a $10,000 LIFA-found supplier quote are different pricing illustrations, not equivalent product offers. Compare the full scope and exclusions before deciding.
Download the quotation comparison worksheet
Worked fee examples
How is the fee calculated for your own supplier?
For your own supplier, multiply the approved order value by 0.05 when the agreed coordination rate is 5%. A $10,000 order then has a $500 coordination fee. A LIFA-found supplier has sourcing costs included in the product quote with no added 5% commission. The written quote confirms the applicable model and any separate costs.
| Approved order value | Standard calculation | Sourcing commission | Order value plus commission |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | 5% × $10,000 | $500 | $10,500 |
| $50,000 | 5% × $50,000 | $2,500 | $52,500 |
| $100,000 | 5% × $100,000 | $5,000 | $105,000 |
Not included: supplier product adjustments, samples, inspection, laboratory testing, freight, insurance, duties, taxes, port charges, destination delivery, or other third-party costs. Larger, recurring, high-value, or specially structured projects may use a different fee only when confirmed in writing.
Supplier recommendations
Choose the factory that fits your requirements
Compare supplier capability, product quality and commercial terms against the same brief. LIFA does not accept hidden factory commissions, undisclosed rebates or referral incentives that could influence a recommendation.
- Product suitability, production capability and available evidence.
- Price, minimum order quantity, lead time and payment terms.
- Communication, documentation and delivery readiness.
- Fit with your specification, destination and agreed quality checks.
Approve payments against agreed milestones
LIFA coordinates supplier communication, contracts and payment documentation in China. You approve the commercial terms and payment decisions. LIFA does not provide banking, lending, escrow, insurance or a payment guarantee.
Confirm the payee and terms
Review the purchase contract, invoice, supplier beneficiary details where available, agreed trade term, deposit and balance milestones. Resolve discrepancies before authorizing payment.
Prepare the purchase agreementSet the checks before the balance
Agree sample approval, production updates and any inspection checkpoint in advance. Inspection findings inform your release decision; record open issues and the supplier’s proposed correction.
Review payment checksAuthorize and keep the record
After your authorization, LIFA can coordinate invoice-documented supplier payments through the agreed procedures. Keep approvals, receipts and specification changes with the same order record.
Compare payment methods and terms
Choose the scope that fits your order
Start with the work you need now. Product complexity, supplier count, quality risks and reporting needs determine the coordination scope; the supplier-origin fee rule still applies.
- First commercial order
- Agree a clear product brief, sample and initial quantity before scaling the commitment. Confirm the task scope and fee before starting.
- Ecommerce inventory
- Coordinate packaging, labels, inspection timing and shipment preparation around the platform and inventory requirements you provide.
- Wholesale and multiple suppliers
- Bring supplier updates, quantities and collection dates into one plan. Recurring orders may need deeper reporting and a negotiated written arrangement.
- Industrial or high-value procurement
- Share the RFQ, BOM, drawings, revisions, part references, materials, tolerances and required standards where relevant. Compare technical conformity and documented deviations before price, then agree verification and logistics planning.
Freight preparation
Compare shipping on the same delivery basis
We compare available options against cargo size, destination, timing and your priorities. For multiple suppliers, agreed warehouse handling and consolidation can bring goods into one coordinated shipment, with the appropriate invoices and documents.
- Sea, air, express, rail and multimodal options where available, including full or shared containers.
- Packing details, collection dates, documents and shipment milestones.
- Separate freight, storage, insurance and destination charges.
- Confirmed routing and responsibilities; transit estimates and customs outcomes depend on the shipment and providers.
Commercial decisions backed by working records
A supplier comparison that improved the negotiation
A trucking group faced an 18% supplier price increase. LIFA benchmarked five alternatives, negotiated a blended arrangement and qualified a second source for eight critical references.
The recorded result: the net increase was held at 4.2% after rebate, with a 24-month pricing agreement. The project shows how technical alternatives and commercial evidence can support a decision; its result is specific to that order.
Read the supplier negotiation projectPrepare a comparable brief
The written project quote records the fee basis, included work, separate charges, payment milestones and buyer approvals. Keep that quote with the product requirement and the supplier comparison.
- Download the sourcing brief (CSV)
Define the product, quantity, specification, destination and support you need.
- Download the quotation comparison (CSV)
Compare scope, trade terms, exclusions, landed cost and unresolved risks.
- Review the general terms
Confirm project-specific written terms before the work begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Business model and fee questions
These answers explain how LifaSourcing.com earns revenue, how supplier recommendations stay buyer-first, and which costs are separate from LifaSourcing.com compensation.
When LIFA finds the supplier, we earn through the quoted product price, which includes the agreed sourcing costs; there is no separate 5% commission. With your own supplier, our standard coordination commission is 5% of approved order value unless agreed otherwise in writing. Fees for additional tasks or program work are disclosed in the written quote.
An agent may include sourcing costs in the product price or charge a separate commission or task fee. LIFA uses product-inclusive pricing when we find your supplier, with no added 5% commission. For your own supplier, the standard coordination fee is 5% unless agreed otherwise in writing. Compare the total quote and its exclusions, not just the headline fee.
No. LifaSourcing.com does not accept hidden factory commissions, undisclosed kickbacks, rebates, referral incentives, or supplier payments that could influence supplier recommendations.
For buyers using their own supplier, the commission covers agreed coordination such as supplier communication, quotation comparison, production follow-up, documentation and reporting. When LIFA finds the supplier, the agreed sourcing costs are included in the quoted product price with no separate 5% commission.
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. For your own supplier, the standard 5% coordination commission can be discussed for large, high-value or recurring orders before work begins. LIFA-found suppliers have no separate 5% commission; sourcing costs are included in the quoted product price.
Yes. Agree the support for each supplier or product in the written scope. LIFA-found suppliers have sourcing costs included in the product quote, while your own suppliers use the agreed coordination fee. Identify any additional program work separately so the same task is not charged twice.
Start with the product, quantity and destination. Add your target timing, existing supplier link and the support you need. For custom or industrial products, include the available specification, drawing revision, BOM or part reference. We clarify missing details before confirming the scope and fee.
Continue with the decision you need to make
Compare costs and buying models
- China sourcing agent fees
Compare commissions, product-price models and the scope behind each offer.
- Sourcing agent or trading company
Understand where the margin sits and what to confirm in the quote.
- Discuss landed cost with LIFA AI
Organize product, coordination, freight and destination cost assumptions. Confirm rates and transaction details before ordering.
See how the work is managed
- Follow the sourcing process
See the checks, records and buyer approvals from brief to shipment preparation.
- Meet your China-side sourcing team
Understand LIFA’s role and how our Hangzhou team supports international buyers.
- Choose a sourcing service
Find complete sourcing or modular support for an existing supplier.
Resolve your next question
- Supplier incentives and buyer control
Read how supplier recommendations and disclosed compensation are handled.
- More sourcing questions
Find answers about samples, order quantities, supplier checks and shipping.
- Request your written scope and fee
Start with your product, quantity and destination; add supplier links and files when useful.
Ready to review the scope?
Get a written scope and fee for your project
Share the product, quantity, destination, timeline, supplier links if available, and the support you need. We will confirm the package, pricing model and any separate charges before starting.
Discuss your brief with our Hangzhou team in English, Arabic or French.
- 01SendProduct brief, quantity, target market, supplier links, quotations, and payment questions.
- 02OrganizeComparable supplier facts, capability signals, samples, terms, and unresolved risks.
- 03ApproveSupplier choice, commercial basis, verification scope, payment, and next commitment.
