How to Find and Vet Overseas Suppliers Before You Pay

The scariest moment in importing is the first wire transfer. You are sending real money to a factory on the other side of the world, often one you found online, and hoping a pallet of your product shows up weeks later. Here’s how to vet a supplier before sending a single dollar — a checklist that works for any product business.

Start with More Than One

Never fall in love with the first supplier who replies. Reach out to at least five for anything worth taking seriously. It is not just about price — the way they communicate tells you everything. The ones who ask smart questions, respond quickly, and are honest about what they can and cannot do are usually the ones worth keeping.

Verify They Are Real

Before anything else, confirm the company exists and does what they claim. Ask for their business license and registration. Ask how long they have been operating and what else they produce. On bigger platforms, look for verified-supplier status and trade history. A real factory is proud to show you their work; a middleman gets vague fast.

Always, Always Sample First

Order a sample and pay for it yourself before you commit to a bulk order. A sample tells you three things a photo never will: the real quality, whether they can actually produce what they showed you, and how they handle a small paying customer. If the sample is wrong or late, that is your answer. It is the cheapest insurance you will ever buy.

Get the Details in Writing

Before you pay, pin down the specifics: exact materials and dimensions, price per unit at your real quantity, lead time, packaging, and what happens if a batch is defective. Vague agreements are where importing goes wrong. Get the boring details spelled out while everyone is still being nice.

Protect the Payment

Never send the full amount upfront to a new supplier. A common structure is a deposit with the balance before shipping. And pay in a way that keeps fees low and leaves a trail — the tools for international payments are in the Resources.

Know Your True Cost Before You Commit

A cheap unit price means nothing until you add shipping, duty, and taxes. Before placing an order, run the numbers through the landed cost calculator to find the real per-unit cost landed in Canada — and whether there’s actually a margin left. More than once, that calculator has killed a "great deal."

This is general educational information, not professional or legal advice. Do your own due diligence, and when the numbers get big, get a customs broker and an accountant in your corner.