CHINA SOURCING / BUYER GUIDE
Sourcing from China on a small budget
For an order below US$5,000, product fit, minimum fees and shipping can matter as much as the unit price. Start by comparing the total cost of a usable order.
By TMD Sourcing · Updated October 1, 2026
Start with one clear purchase decision.
A small order can be a sensible way to test a product, but a vague brief can consume the budget before goods are ready to ship. Begin with one product or a small set of clearly defined variants. State the estimated quantity, destination and the purpose of the purchase: evaluating a sample, testing demand or replenishing an existing item.
Decide which requirements are essential and which can change. A standard material or existing pack may be more practical than new tooling or complex customization at low quantities. Ask suppliers to quote the same brief so the comparison is meaningful.
Build the budget beyond the product price.
| Cost item | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Products | Quantity × agreed unit price, including the specification and packaging basis. |
| Sourcing support | The percentage or minimum fee and the work it covers. |
| Samples & development | Sample charges, courier costs and any tooling or revisions. |
| Inspection & preparation | Any separately agreed checks, labels, bundles or packing work. |
| Freight & destination charges | Quote inclusions and the delivery responsibilities for the actual route. |
Treat an incomplete quote as a list of questions. Do not assume an absent line means the service is free. Use the same quantity, packaging and delivery scope when comparing options.
Understand the effect of a minimum sourcing fee.
TMD’s standard sourcing fee is 8% of product value, with a minimum of US$100 per project. For an unchanged repeat order from the same supplier previously managed by TMD, the fee is 5%, with the same minimum. Additional services are quoted separately.
| Illustrative product value | Standard sourcing fee | Simple repeat-order fee |
|---|---|---|
| US$800 | US$100 minimum | US$100 minimum |
| US$2,000 | US$160 | US$100 |
| US$4,000 | US$320 | US$200 |
These are fee calculations only, not total project quotations. Products, samples, inspections, packaging and transport may create additional costs. For the current service description, see our pricing page.
Ask about MOQ at the right level.
A supplier may state a minimum per product, per color, per size or per packaging design. Ask which minimum applies to the exact order. Ten variants can turn an apparently small total quantity into many separate minimums. Check whether available stock or an existing design fits the test you want to run.
If the quoted minimum is too high, revisit the number of variants, customization and packaging before simply asking for a lower price. A smaller scope may provide a more useful test while reducing setup work. Supplier willingness and available options must still be confirmed.
Use a simple go / clarify / pause review.
Go
The specification is clear, the sample meets the agreed requirements, and the full budget fits the intended use.
Clarify
Packaging, material, delivery charges or acceptance criteria are missing. Request the detail before comparing prices.
Pause
The order only works if unconfirmed assumptions come true, or there is no budget left for essential checks and delivery.
Prepare a useful enquiry in five lines.
- Product: a link, reference image or concise description.
- Quantity: the estimated total and number of variants.
- Destination: country and city.
- Customization: logo, material, packaging or none.
- Priority: your main cost, timing or quality concern.
If you already have a supplier, add its contact details and explain the support needed. You may only need supplier management, quality control or a shipping assessment, rather than a new supplier search.
Apply this to your project.
Share your product reference, approximate quantity and destination. Tell us which decision you need help with so we can discuss a practical scope.