A full-service China sourcing package for a commercial construction project covers everything between an approved specification and materials arriving on site — factory matching, quotation, sample approval, in-factory quality control, and consolidated container shipping — managed under one point of responsibility rather than split across separate factory relationships the project team has to coordinate itself. For a hotel, apartment building, school or office project sourcing multiple product categories from China, this is the difference between one accountable process and a dozen disconnected supplier relationships.
What’s Included in a Full-Service China Sourcing Package
1. Sourcing (Factory Matching or Guided Selection)
Starting from your BOQ, drawings or product list, the sourcing team either matches your specification to appropriate factories, or — where you want to select suppliers yourself — takes you through relevant options and factory visits, since the selection stage is exactly why many clients come to China in person.
2. Quotation (Proforma Invoice)
Once products are finalized, a proforma invoice is issued covering the full order. This step happens after selection is settled, not before, because accurate quoting on a custom order depends on confirmed specifications, finishes and quantities.
3. Deposit and Drawing Communication
A deposit secures production capacity. For custom items — cabinetry, aluminum windows and doors, railings and other made-to-order categories — the factory then produces detailed shop drawings and a materials breakdown, which go back and forth with you until you’re satisfied and sign off, before production starts.
4. Order Follow-Up and Quality Control
Production is tracked against schedule, and inspection is carried out by the sourcing team’s own staff on the factory floor, with a detailed report. Any item that doesn’t pass is reworked or remade and re-inspected until it does — not shipped with a note that it’s “close enough.”
5. Balance Payment
Once goods are ready and freight is confirmed, the proforma invoice is updated to include shipping cost, and the balance is paid before the goods leave China.
6. Shipping and Consolidation
Goods are loaded, a container loading report is produced, and the shipment moves to the destination port. On projects with multiple product categories, this is where consolidation matters most: sometimes a single category fills a container on its own, sometimes several categories from the same project share containers, and sometimes a dozen or more categories from several projects of the same client are combined into a few containers in one batch — always full containers, and for us this is routine, well-practised work.
7. Customs and Delivery
Customs clearance and final delivery at the destination are the client’s responsibility. The sourcing team prepares the shipping documentation needed to move that process along without paperwork gaps.
8. After-Sales Support
If damage or a defect is discovered after arrival, photos and video are sent back and the sourcing team coordinates with the factory on a resolution — the relationship doesn’t end when the container leaves the port.
What This Looks Like on a Timeline
Please plan for about four months between your deposit and shipment on a project involving custom items. The drawing stage usually takes around two months, because custom items go back and forth until you are happy with them, and production takes about another two months. Standard, non-custom product categories can move faster through the sourcing and QC stages, but the overall project timeline is usually set by whichever category on the BOQ involves the most customization.
Sourcing this for a commercial project?
FBM Sourcing works with project owners, developers, main contractors and FF&E contractors on hotel, apartment, school, office and other commercial building projects. Send us your BOQ, drawings or product list — our team will review it and get back to you.
Why This Differs from Sourcing Each Category Separately
| Approach | What the project team manages |
|---|---|
| Sourcing each category directly, factory by factory | A separate relationship, quotation, QC process and shipping schedule for every product category — doors, windows, tile, furniture, lighting — each on its own timeline with no single point of accountability |
| A full-service sourcing package | One point of contact, one set of quotations, invoices and shipping documents, and production schedules coordinated across factories so categories are ready to consolidate into the same shipping window |
FBM Sourcing manages the entire China procurement package for overseas construction projects, working as your sourcing partner across every product category a project needs rather than the buyer negotiating separately with a factory in each one. All quotations, invoices and shipping documents are issued by FBM Sourcing — you deal with us, and we carry the responsibility. For suppliers you nominate, we charge a 5% commission; for products we source for you, we quote a direct price.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a full-service China sourcing package cost?
FBM Sourcing charges a 5% commission for suppliers you nominate, or quotes a direct price on goods sourced on your behalf — all covered under quotations, invoices and shipping documents issued by FBM Sourcing.
Do I need to visit China to use a full-service sourcing package?
No, but many clients choose to, particularly at the selection stage — reviewing factory options and confirming specifications in person is often the most efficient way to finalize a multi-category order.
How long does a full-service sourcing package take from deposit to shipment?
Plan for about four months on projects involving custom items — roughly two months for the drawing and approval stage, and another two months for production, before shipping.
Can a full-service package cover multiple product categories in one project?
Yes — consolidating multiple categories from the same project into full containers, sometimes combined with other projects from the same client, is a routine part of how the service works.
Ready to scope a full-service sourcing package for your project? Send us your BOQ and destination port and our team will review it.
