The records that can be checked independently, what each one proves, and the gap between a registered company and a capable factory.
Start with the legal entity
Every mainland Chinese company has a business licence carrying an 18-character unified social credit code, which identifies the registered entity, its legal representative, registered capital and approved business scope. Check that the entity you are asked to pay is the entity you have been negotiating with.
- Unified social credit code on the business licence
- Registered business scope covers what you are buying
- Payee entity matches the contracting entity
Separate the trader from the factory
A registered company with a valid licence may still be a trading office rather than a manufacturer. Production address, staff count, equipment and export records tell you more about capability than a licence does, and a factory visit or video walkthrough should show the line running your product type.
- Registered address versus actual production address
- Equipment and capacity matched to your volume
- Evidence of producing your specific product category
Treat platform badges as a starting point
Marketplace membership tiers, verification labels and third-party report summaries are inputs, not conclusions. Read what each one actually certifies and by whom, then confirm the points that matter to your decision through records you can check yourself.
- Know what each badge certifies and who issued it
- Confirm material claims independently
- Record what could not be confirmed
Authoritative references
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