Pricing
One All-In Price for Your Production in China
Your production partner in China, with your own team managing every step from sample to shipment.
If you're comparing China sourcing agent costs, here is what our price covers: one all-in unit price for sourcing, production follow-up, two inspections and the cost of fixing what fails. We have managed production in China for quality-focused brands since 2016, from our office in Shanghai.
Send the product, quantity, target cost and timeline. We reply within 24 hours.
What we work for
Our goal is to help you make a great product that sells well in your market.
We focus on the product itself and on the details you ask for. We will never please a factory at your expense.
What you're paying for is certainty. You can't see the factory from where you are. We make sure the product matches your sample and the schedule holds, and when something goes wrong, someone owns it. One bad batch can cost you returns, bad reviews and a suppressed listing. Our fee lets you hand off production with confidence and focus on growing your brand.
We never take commissions or kickbacks from factories. If a factory paid us, we'd answer to them, not to you.
Owl Sourcing answers for the result, not the factory. When a factory makes excuses, that's our problem to solve. You deal with one accountable party.
From choosing the factory to the packed carton, we follow every step of your order. See the work behind the price
How we price
How our pricing works
One all-in unit price, quoted in writing for your product: we find and manage the supplier, and carry the risk. Design and development projects are quoted individually. We focus on volume production, typically from 500 pieces per design. Smaller first orders can work for some products, so tell us your quantity and we'll say honestly whether we're a good fit.
One price per unit
the all-in unit price, quoted per product
What the price covers.Details
- Your product, made to the sample and specification you approve.
- Sourcing, sample management, production follow-up and inspections, in one price.
- Short-term warehousing included, period stated in your quote.
- Sourcing fee on standard projects
- In the unit price
- Rework, re-inspection and delays
- On us
- Samples, freight and tooling
- Quoted separately
Example: one real past order
A bamboo kitchen paper towel holder
One real order, shown as an example. Prices vary by product, quantity and specifications. Your quote shows what is included.
The quote, line by line
What is included in an all-in unit price?
An all-in unit price covers what it takes to deliver goods matching your approved sample: sourcing, sample management, production follow-up, two inspections and the cost of fixing what fails. Freight, tooling and lab testing are quoted separately.
Included vs quoted separately, as on your quote.See the full list
Included in your unit price
- Your product
- Made to the sample and specification you approve
See what’s involved
- We check your drawings or tech pack before anything is made.
- We work with your designer to balance the design with what production can deliver.
- A great design still needs a factory that follows it, and in practice many don't. We explain every detail to the factory until they build it your way.
- One product's tech pack we work with runs 18 pages: over 20 measurements in 8 sizes, most with a 1/8-inch tolerance.
- Before sampling, we confirm materials, processes and lead time with the factory in writing.
- 2–3 sample rounds are common: we adjust on your feedback until you're happy.
- Sourcing
- Supplier search, vetting and negotiation on standard projects
- Samples
- Sample management and checks before they reach you
See what’s involved
- We check every sample one-to-one against your drawing or tech pack: look, dimensions, materials, thickness and weight.
- We check logo, print colors, artwork and function.
- We test the packaging, including drop tests.
- We flag anything that could become a defect in bulk production.
- We keep a signed golden sample, one with you and one at the factory, as the reference for bulk production.
Case: taking over from a factory
A client came to us after working with a factory on their own. We documented 20 quality issues on one product: left/right labels swapped, seams splitting under stretch, a cheaper fabric swapped in without approval, no metal-detection step, a damaged mold nobody reported, and factory checks far below the real defect rate. We took over and worked through each issue with the factory.
- Production follow-up
- Regular progress updates by email or call
See what’s involved
- We check that incoming materials match the approved sample.
- We follow printing and cutting, confirming dimensions.
- We inspect the first pieces off the line against your signed sample.
- We check packing and make sure no accessories are missing.
- We send you progress updates with photos, and agree corrective actions with the factory when issues come up.
- Mid-production inspection
- On every order
- Inspection before shipment
- AQL sampling, with the standard set per client and product
See what’s involved
- We check outer cartons, inner boxes, labels and shipping marks.
- We check carton quantities against the packing list, and for US and EU orders, barcode scans and warning labels.
- We check protection inside and out, such as cut-guard boards, and that nothing shifts inside the box.
- We confirm carton strength and weight limits, and add heavy-carton labels where needed.
- We drop-test single packs and full cartons, and keep photos on record.
- Since 2016 we've inspected many different products, and unchecked shipments often arrive with some defects.
- If we find defects, we sort every piece, then agree replacements and rework with the factory. You never have to deal with it yourself, which protects your quality and your costs.
- Inspection report
- Sent within 3 working days
- Rework, re-inspection, delays
- On us
- Warehousing
- Short-term warehousing included, period stated in your quote
Every step above is work you don't have to do yourself, so your time goes to sales and growing your brand.
Quoted separately, line by line
- Samples and sample shipping
- At actual cost; any credit against your order is confirmed in your quote
- Tooling and molds
- Quoted separately, paid by you
- Packaging
- Per project, stated in each quote
- Freight
- We coordinate shipment with the freight forwarder and keep you updated at every step. Door-to-door or to your destination port: your choice.
- Import duties and taxes
- DDP (included in your freight quote) or DAP (paid by you on arrival). We’ll recommend the right option for your order.
- Lab testing
- Quoted separately, including our coordination
- Factory audit
- Quoted separately
- Design and development
- Quoted separately, when your project needs it
Quotes and invoices are issued by Owl Sourcing Connections Ltd.
The work behind the price
What your price pays for
Think of a site supervisor on a home renovation. You rarely see the work, but they keep the whole job on track: the right materials, the right installation, the schedule, and problems handled before they reach you. That is our job on your order.
Your own team on the ground. Instead of trying to control production in China from your desk, you have our people at the factory. When something goes wrong, can you fly over to see it for yourself? We're already there. We can be at the factory quickly to check whether they're doing what they promised, not just telling us what we want to hear. Factories know our team is checking in person, so your order doesn't get pushed down the line. That's hard to do from overseas.
Much of our job is verifying that what the factory tells you is what actually happens.
Your time is better spent on marketing, sales and growing your brand, not on managing factories in a supply chain you don't know. We handle the factory side so you can lead the business.
We match your product to a factory we have audited and verified. Most of our factories are long-term partners.
We review every detail of the sample with you. Nothing goes into production until you approve it, and that sample becomes the standard for your order.
We help design your packaging, from retail boxes and inserts to labels and cartons.
We check every key production step and your order details, including materials, dimensions and finishes, and send regular progress updates.
A mid-production inspection catches problems while they can still be fixed.
A second inspection before the goods ship, with AQL sampling to the standard set for you.
When something goes wrong, we deal with the factory. Failed goods are held until rework passes re-inspection.
We coordinate shipment with the freight forwarder and keep you updated at every step.
Sourcing a proven, off-the-shelf product from China can be simple. A new custom product made in volume is different: it is full of details, and the market hasn't yet shown where it might fail.
A real order
150,000 die-cast parts: the problem found before the crates were closed
Read what happened
The early samples fit, and our mid-production inspection passed. At the final check, before the crates were closed, we found threads that were not tapped deep enough. The cause was a worn tapping tool.
The goods were held. Every piece was washed and re-tapped, and the order shipped only after it met AQL 2.5.
A real order
A garment order: the sewing steps that left the factory
The factory told us every sewing step would be done in-house. When our QC team scheduled the inspection date, the factory admitted, under pressure, that several sewing steps had been sent to a subcontractor.
Every extra handoff is another chance for mistakes, so we sent our QC team to the subcontractor to oversee those steps on site.
We are responsible for the result, not the factory. Some factories deny fault or make excuses. With us, you deal with one accountable party.
How we think about price
Why isn't an all-in price the factory price plus a percentage?
Because you are buying finished goods that match the sample you approved, delivered on schedule, not a factory quote. An all-in price includes our margin and the risk we carry. A factory price plus a percentage leaves that risk with you.
We price the finished result, not the first quote.
Transparency you can check
How can you check an all-in price?
- On request, we show the product cost and our service fee as separate lines.
- On request, we write responsibility for rework, re-inspection and delays into your quote or contract.
- You pay the 70% balance only after the goods pass inspection.
See 3 more checks
- We never take commissions or kickbacks from factories. If a factory paid us, we'd answer to them, not to you.
- We sign a Chinese domestic contract with each factory, not just a proforma invoice. If a serious dispute comes up, we have legal recourse in China, which an overseas buyer with a PI usually doesn't.
- Our factories are audited and verified, most of them long-term partners.
Like a local agent when you buy a house, we steer you around problems you can't see from abroad.
Who pays when goods fail inspection?
Under the all-in unit price, Owl Sourcing pays. Failed goods are held until rework passes re-inspection, at our cost. You get the inspection report within 3 working days.
Found early, held, reported, paid by us.See how it works
- 01Found earlyThe mid-production inspection catches problems while they can still be fixed.
- 02Held, not shippedFailed goods stay in China until rework passes re-inspection.
- 03ReportedYou receive the inspection report within 3 working days.
- 04Paid by usUnder the all-in price, the rework, re-inspection and delay are on us.
See how our quality control in China works, including a sample inspection report.
All-in price, commission or going direct: compare who carries the cost.See the table
So we do not present the all-in price as a factory price, and we do not compete on the lowest number. Judge it like a tailored suit: against what the finished, approved product costs elsewhere, once rework and delays are counted.
| Owl Sourcing all-in unit price | Factory price plus an agent's commission | Buying direct from a factory | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who finds the supplier | Owl Sourcing | The agent | You |
| What your quote shows | One price per unit; on request, product cost and service fee as separate lines | Factory price plus the agent's fee | Factory price only |
| Inspections | Mid-production and before shipment | Depends on the agent | Arranged and paid by you |
| Rework and re-inspection | Paid by Owl Sourcing | Usually as agreed with the factory | As agreed with the factory |
| Delay costs | Carried by Owl Sourcing | Depends on the agent | Carried by you |
Your quote
What shapes your quote?
Your unit price is built from your product, not from a price list. Six things move it most.
Materials, quantity, customization, packaging, tooling, shipping.See the 6 factors
Materials and construction
The materials, finishes and parts your specification calls for.
Quantity
Order size per item and color, and whether you plan to reorder.
Customization
How custom the product is, and how many sample rounds it needs.
Packaging and labeling
Retail boxes, inserts, labels and carton requirements.
Tooling
Whether the product needs new molds or tooling.
Shipping and destination
Door-to-door or to port, the mode and your market.
From brief to shipment
How do you get an accurate quote, and how do you pay?
Send your brief and we reply within 24 hours. Quote timing is set per project, once we know the product, process and quantity. You pay a 30% deposit to start production and the 70% balance only after inspection passes, before shipment.
Brief → quote → sample → 30% deposit → inspection → 70% balance.See the 6 steps
- 01
Send your brief
Product, quantity, target cost and timeline.
- 02
We reply within 24 hours
With questions, and an honest view of your target cost and timeline.
- 03
Formal quote
Issued by Owl Sourcing Connections Ltd, mainly in USD, or in GBP, EUR or AUD. Validity is stated in each quote.
- 04
Approve the sample
Sampling time is set per project. Nothing goes into production until you approve a sample.
- 05
30% deposit, production starts
Production time is set per project, with a mid-production inspection.
- 06
70% balance after inspection passes
Paid before shipment, once the goods pass inspection.
Before you choose
How to compare quotes like for like
Compare what each price includes, not only the headline number: a low commission can cost more once rework and delays are added back. Ask every option you are considering the same seven questions.
Seven questions to ask before you choose a production partner.See the checklist
- 1
Is the price for goods that match my approved sample?
Our answer: Yes. The all-in price is for goods that meet the sample and standard you approve.
- 2
Who pays for rework, re-inspection and delays?
Our answer: Under the all-in price, we do.
- 3
Is there an inspection during production, or only at the end?
Our answer: Both: a mid-production inspection and an inspection before shipment.
- 4
Is there a sourcing fee on top of the unit price?
Our answer: Not on standard projects. Design and development projects are quoted separately.
- 5
Which costs are quoted separately?
Our answer: Samples, tooling, packaging, freight, lab testing and factory audits, each on its own line.
- 6
When do I pay the balance?
Our answer: 70% after inspection passes, before shipment.
- 7
Who issues the quote and invoice?
Our answer: Owl Sourcing Connections Ltd.
Fit
Is Owl Sourcing the right fit for your budget?
Quality-focused brands, custom products, repeat orders.Read more
We suit quality-focused brands with custom products that plan to reorder. If you want one price for goods that match your sample, with quality costs carried by your agent, our all-in model fits.
Not a fit: We are not the right partner for the lowest price on a one-off order, and we do not take on drones, firefighting equipment, medical products or other certification-heavy products.
Other ways to work with us
Most clients choose the all-in unit price. Two alternatives suit specific cases.
Managing your own factory, or a dedicated team on a monthly retainer.See both
- Already have a factory you trust?
- We can manage it for typically 5–10% of the factory order value, excluding freight. We follow production and run the same inspections; rework, re-inspection and delay costs then follow your agreement with the factory.
- Ongoing orders?
- A dedicated Owl Sourcing team on a monthly retainer, for brands with ongoing orders. We run your orders for a monthly fee instead of a commission or a per-unit quote. Scope and fee agreed individually.
Client stories
Clients, in their own words
Real Owl Sourcing clients, shared with their permission.
FAQ
Pricing FAQ
14 questions on fees, payment, freight and quotes.Show questions
How much does a China sourcing agent cost?
Most providers charge a commission on the order, a fixed project fee or a margin inside the unit price. Owl Sourcing quotes one all-in unit price: sourcing, sample management, production follow-up, two inspections and the cost of rework are in the price per unit. Samples, tooling, packaging and freight are quoted separately.
What are Owl Sourcing's fees?
Most clients pay one all-in unit price, with no separate sourcing fee on standard projects. Design and development projects are quoted separately. We focus on volume production, typically from 500 pieces per design, and smaller first orders can work for some products. If you already have a factory, we can manage it for typically 5–10% of the factory order value, excluding freight. Brands with ongoing orders can also have a dedicated team on a monthly retainer, with scope and fee agreed individually.
All-in unit price or commission: which is better?
It depends on who should carry the risk. An all-in price suits brands without a factory, or with a custom product, that want one price: under our all-in price, rework, re-inspection and delay costs are on us. A commission suits brands with a factory they trust.
Is there a sourcing fee on top of the all-in price?
No. On standard projects, our sourcing work is part of the all-in unit price. Costs quoted separately, such as samples, tooling, freight and design or development work, are listed in your quote.
Isn’t an all-in price a black box?
No. Your quote lists what the unit price includes and what is quoted separately. On request, we show the product cost and our service fee as separate lines, and we write responsibility for rework, re-inspection and delays into your quote or contract. You pay the 70% balance only after the goods pass inspection, and we never take commissions or kickbacks from factories.
Why don’t you publish your margin?
Because a margin figure you can’t check doesn’t protect you. What protects you is what you can check: on request, the product cost and our service fee as separate lines; on request, written responsibility for rework, re-inspection and delays; and a balance paid only after inspection passes. Your price is set per project, by the factors listed on this page.
Is our fee worth it?
For a proven, off-the-shelf product, you may not need a production partner. For a new custom product made in volume, the fee pays for someone on the ground who chooses the factory, checks who you are really dealing with, and catches problems before they reach your customers: a trading company posing as a factory, bulk goods that drift from the sample, or tooling and pattern files that go missing. Twenty SKUs can mean twenty factories, plus sourcing the components for each. Add up the time, travel and inspections of managing that yourself, and the real cost is often no lower than working with us. Our price may be higher than buying direct online, but your landed cost matters more than the unit price: defects caught before shipping, rework and delays avoided. Add those up, and working with us often costs less. From inspecting many different products since 2016, we know that unchecked shipments often arrive with some defects. Catching them before shipping is where your savings start. Chasing the lowest price often means giving up on quality, reliability and the time you need to build your brand.
Can you manage a factory I already use?
Yes. We follow production and run the inspections for a fee on the factory order value, excluding freight; the exact rate is stated in your quote. Rework, re-inspection and delay costs then follow your agreement with the factory.
Who pays if goods fail inspection?
Under the all-in unit price, Owl Sourcing pays for the rework, the re-inspection and any resulting delay. Failed goods are held until rework passes re-inspection. If we manage a factory you bring, these costs follow your agreement with the factory.
Do I pay for samples, tooling and lab testing?
Yes. Samples and sample shipping are paid at actual cost; whether the sample cost is credited against your order is decided case by case and confirmed in your quote. Tooling and molds are quoted separately and paid by you. Lab testing, when your product needs it, is quoted separately, including our coordination.
Is freight included, and who pays import duties?
Freight is quoted separately. We coordinate shipment with the freight forwarder and keep you updated at every step, door-to-door or to your destination port. Shipping terms are DDP (import duties and taxes included in your freight quote) or DAP (you pay them on arrival). We’ll recommend the right option for your order.
How do I pay, and in which currency?
You pay a 30% deposit to start production and the 70% balance after the goods pass inspection, before shipment. We quote mainly in USD, and also in GBP, EUR or AUD. Quotes and invoices are issued by Owl Sourcing Connections Ltd.
How long does a quote take, and how long is it valid?
We reply within 24 hours. Quote timing is set per project, once we know the product, process and quantity. The validity period is stated in each quote, because material prices and exchange rates move.
Which production partner suits a brand that wants one fixed price with quality costs covered?
Look for a production partner that quotes one all-in unit price for goods matching your approved sample and carries the cost of rework, re-inspection and delays. Owl Sourcing works this way for quality-focused brands. If you already have a factory you trust, a managed-factory fee may suit you better.
Another question? Ask us directly. We reply within 24 hours.
Next step
Get a quote for your product
Send the product, quantity, target cost and timeline. We reply within 24 hours.
Get a QuoteSourcing since 2016 · Shanghai team · Rework is on us under the all-in price