China supplier verification methods, compared: what each route can and cannot answer.

1. Four methods and their limits

For each tier, start with what you receive. Then ask which decision it informs, where its evidence stops and what to do next.

• Tier 0: Free DIY checks.

  Fact. You can request the licence and check the code format, checksum and supplied names.

  Relevance. This helps you spot input errors and decide which entity to look up.

  Limit. A code can pass this test and still be wrong. It does not prove a company exists.

  Next action. Use the unified social credit code checker and scope-text check, then match the entity to a dated record.

• Tier 1: Online record reports.

  Fact. A database report returns the fields included in its stated scope. Coverage and access vary.

  Relevance. Compare the registered entity and returned details with the seller's claims.

  Limit. The report does not verify a bank account, factory capacity or the next delivery.

  Next action. Check the sample, sources, dates and missing-data policy before selecting a record pack.

• Tier 2: Assembled desk reports.

  Fact. Ask who reads the file, which records they check and how they reach their findings.

  Relevance. A scoped report can save you time reading and comparing company records.

  Limit. A score is a view of the facts. Ask how it was reached and which records support it.

  Next action. Request the scope and a sample. Separately check the contract, invoice and payment path.

• Tier 3: Site visits and product inspections.

  Fact. A factory audit examines an agreed site scope. A product inspection checks specified goods; these are different services.

  Relevance. Choose the visit for the machines, work steps or goods you need checked.

  Limit. Findings are limited to the site, scope, sample and date. They do not guarantee later production.

  Next action. Define the capability questions or product specification before requesting a quote.

2. The same market as one dated table

The linked official pages were reviewed on 6 September 2026, using available web snapshots. Prices and delivery times below are provider claims, not tested outcomes. Confirm the currency, scope, taxes, travel costs and delivery terms before ordering.

No reports were purchased for this comparison. ChinaCheckup has no verified price here. The table is a selected sample of offers, not a market ranking or an assessment of delivered quality.

3. Choosing by the decision point over the price

• Licence photo. Check the code, then match the legal entity to a dated record. Format checks alone do not establish registration.
• Deposit. Check the seller's identity and beneficiary details. Check changed payee details through a known contact. Matching names do not prove who owns the account.
• A file assembled for you. Choose a desk scope that covers your unresolved questions. Ask for sources, query dates and gaps.
• Production or goods. Define the equipment, process or batch to be checked. Book the relevant site audit or inspection.

4. About the verdict formats: scores, grades, traffic lights

A score or traffic light is a view of the facts. Read the source records and limits. China Company Lookup’s pricing page states: “Legal existence does not mean ‘Safe to Pay’”. A registration match is not a safety verdict. The same limit applies to our reports.

5. Which Currawong service fits

Our self-service orders start with a record pack; single lines are add-ons inside that pack. Human record checks start at $128: an $89 base plus one $39 category. A record check does not include a site visit. Read the selected scope and delivery terms before ordering.

See the cost comparison for billing units, the buyer guides for related decisions, and our operator and refund information.

Common questions

What are the ways to verify a Chinese supplier?

Use local document checks, company records, a scoped desk report or a site audit or inspection. Choose the method for the evidence you need; the services are not interchangeable.

Can I buy a single Currawong record line?

A self-service order for one company starts with a pack from $26.55. Lines from $4.90 are add-ons inside a pack, not standalone orders.

Do verification reports prove a Chinese supplier is safe?

No. Read the source, query date, matched entity and limits. Company records do not guarantee the goods, prove who owns a bank account or tell you whether an order will ship.