Yes. FBM Sourcing’s client guide answers this directly: you keep your supplier, and FBM Sourcing manages the order for a 5% commission. The guide calls this its second way of working, “suppliers you nominate”, and sets it beside the first, “products we source”, where FBM Sourcing finds the factory itself. For products it sources, FBM Sourcing quotes a direct price.
This article sets out what the guide says the 5% covers, what it does not include, who talks to the supplier during the order, and who issues the documents. Everything attributed to the guide is as read on 10 November 2026. The guide itself says that where it and the proforma invoice (PI) for an order differ, the PI applies.
Two Ways to Work: Where a Supplier You Bring Fits
The guide says every order runs one of two ways, “and you always know which applies”. In outline:
- Products we source. FBM Sourcing finds the supplier, which the guide describes as “the factory that runs the production line for your product”, and quotes a direct price.
- Suppliers you nominate. You bring the supplier, and FBM Sourcing manages the order for a 5% commission.
The guide’s answer to the question “We already have suppliers in China. Can you manage those orders — and what does the 5% cover?” begins: “Yes — that is our second model. You keep your supplier; we manage the order for 5%.” The public Sourcing Guide lists the same arrangement under “Suppliers you nominate”, with the line: “For suppliers you nominate, we help coordinate.”
What the 5% Covers
According to the client guide, the 5% covers six things:
- specification and PI check;
- drawing coordination;
- production follow-up;
- quality control;
- consolidation into full containers;
- loading and export documents.
The guide adds that there are no separate charges for QC, consolidation or loading, and no warehousing. One item sits outside the 5%: the supplier’s charge for delivering the goods from its premises to the loading point is added to your order at cost.
On quality control, the guide describes FBM Sourcing’s inspection in general terms as one carried out by its own QC team before shipment, checking quantities, dimensions, finish, hardware and packing against the signed-off specification, with your own project team welcome to attend. On consolidation, see how goods from several factories are combined into one container. For the fee model across both ways, see how much a China sourcing agent costs and what the fee covers.
What the 5% Does Not Include
The guide is explicit that after-sales is not part of this way of working. Its words: “After-sales is not included: claims fall under the supplier’s own warranty, and we can help you coordinate.” The same point is made in its warranty answer: for a supplier you nominated, FBM Sourcing does not provide after-sales support, any claim falls under the supplier’s own warranty, and FBM Sourcing can help you coordinate it.
The guide sets this against the other way: every product FBM Sourcing sources carries a warranty period stated on the PI, and within that period FBM Sourcing replaces or compensates, so that you deal with FBM Sourcing and not the manufacturer.
Who Talks to the Supplier During the Order
The guide’s summary of the arrangement is one line: “They are your relationships; during the order, communication runs through us.” Its answer to “Can we contact the factories directly?” depends on who found the factory. For suppliers you nominated yourself it says “of course”, because they are your relationships and FBM Sourcing manages the order. For factories FBM Sourcing sources, it says no: all communication runs through FBM Sourcing.
Our reading, not a quotation from the guide: the supplier stays your relationship, and while FBM Sourcing is managing the order it is the channel for communication about that order. The guide does not go further than these statements; as noted above, where the guide and the PI for an order differ, the PI applies.
On visibility, the guide says that for factories FBM Sourcing sources itself, names, contacts, quotations and invoices stay with FBM Sourcing. For packages where “open-book matters”, it points to the nominated way: “you nominate the supplier and we manage the order for 5%.”
Sourcing this for a commercial project?
FBM Sourcing manages the entire China procurement package for overseas construction projects. We work with Developers · General Contractors · Builders · Commercial Project Owners · Interior Design & Construction Companies · FF&E Solution Providers. Send your BOQ, drawings or product schedule for review.
Who Issues the Documents
The guide says that in both ways all quotations, invoices and shipping documents are issued by FBM Sourcing. That applies to an order at a supplier you brought as it does to products FBM Sourcing sources.
How to Start
According to the guide, the most efficient order is to introduce your project and send the drawings first, then a video call, then the details. It asks for drawings, a product list or BOQ with quantities, reference photos, links or a finish schedule, and the location of your project, so that the certifications your market requires are checked. See how to send a BOQ or drawings to a China sourcing agent and what happens after you accept a quotation.
For who the service is built for, see which clients FBM Sourcing works with.
What This Article Does Not Cover
- The terms of any particular order. This article reports what the guide says, and the PI for an order applies where the two differ.
- Prices, lead times and payment percentages.
- How other sourcing agents charge for managing orders at a supplier the client already has.
- Every statement attributed to the guide is as read on 10 November 2026.
Questions About Bringing Your Own Factory
Can a sourcing agent manage an order with a factory I already have?
According to FBM Sourcing’s client guide, yes. The guide calls it the second model: you keep your supplier and FBM Sourcing manages the order for 5%.
What does the 5% cover?
The guide lists specification and PI check, drawing coordination, production follow-up, quality control, consolidation into full containers, and loading and export documents. There are no separate charges for QC, consolidation or loading, and no warehousing.
Is after-sales included when I bring my own supplier?
No. The guide says after-sales is not included for suppliers you nominate: claims fall under the supplier’s own warranty, and FBM Sourcing can help you coordinate.
Who talks to the supplier during the order?
The guide says “They are your relationships; during the order, communication runs through us.” Asked whether you can contact the factories directly, it says that for suppliers you nominated yourself, of course, and that for factories FBM Sourcing sources, all communication runs through FBM Sourcing.
Who issues the documents when I bring my own supplier?
The guide says that in both ways all quotations, invoices and shipping documents are issued by FBM Sourcing.
Is the supplier’s delivery to the loading point included in the 5%?
No. The guide says the supplier’s charge for delivering the goods from its premises to the loading point is added to your order at cost.
How does FBM Sourcing charge for this?
For suppliers you nominate, we charge a 5% commission; for products we source for you, we quote a direct price. Our own team performs one inspection after bulk production is complete and before shipment, and the client’s project team is welcome to attend.
FBM Sourcing manages the entire China procurement package for overseas construction projects. We work with Developers · General Contractors · Builders · Commercial Project Owners · Interior Design & Construction Companies · FF&E Solution Providers.
