How to Verify a Supplier's "Factory" Claim — 4 Evidence Points

A supplier says they are a factory. Their Alibaba profile says "verified manufacturer." Their website shows a clean production line. How do you know they are telling the truth? You do not need to fly to China. Four evidence points are enough to separate real factories from traders posing as manufacturers.

Evidence 1: Business license

Ask for a copy of their business license (营业执照). Check three things: the registered address, the business scope, and the year of establishment. A real factory is registered in an industrial zone — typically a city-level industrial park or a development zone — with "manufacturing," "production," or "processing" written in the business scope. A trader is registered in an office building, often in a trade-heavy district, with "trading," "import and export," or "sales" in the scope. The year of establishment also matters: a company registered two years ago claiming to be a ten-year factory is worth questioning.

Evidence 2: Live video walk-through

Photos can be staged. A 20-minute live video walk-through cannot. Ask them to walk you through the production line, the warehouse, and the testing lab in real time. Watch for four things: workers in uniform, production actually running, equipment with brand names visible, and products with your spec on the line. If they hesitate, offer, or only show a clean office, that is a signal.

Evidence 3: Reference customers in your market

Ask for two to three reference customers in your country or region. A real factory has exported to your market before and is willing to share that reference. A trader will either give you generic references ("we export to Europe") or refuse outright. If they do give a reference, take 15 minutes to ask that customer about the supplier's communication, product quality, and after-sales support.

Evidence 4: MOQ and production capacity

A real factory has a minimum order quantity. If their MOQ is one unit, they are almost certainly a trader with stock. Ask about their monthly production capacity. A real factory knows this number off the top of their head — for example, "500 cabinets per month" or "20 MWh per month." A trader will give you a vague answer or change the subject.

The rule

Verify before you pay. Business license, live video walk-through, reference customers in your market, and MOQ and capacity. If two or more of these signals are weak, treat the supplier as a trader until proven otherwise.

The strongest evidence is not a certificate on a wall — it is a live tour, a verifiable license, and a reference customer in your market.

Use this as a procurement framework, not as engineering, legal or tax advice. Always confirm supplier identity, product specs and payment terms in writing.