Sourcing Guides
What a Sourcing Agent Does (and When You Don’t Need One)
Sourcing agents can add real value for complex, high-volume programs — but many buyers can manage a direct factory relationship without one.
Published 2026-03-24 · Sourcing Guides
Where Agents Add Value
For buyers sourcing many unrelated product categories simultaneously, or without any existing factory relationships, a sourcing agent’s supplier network and local presence can meaningfully reduce vetting time.
When You Likely Don’t Need One
If you’re sourcing a small number of related product categories from one or two manufacturers you’ve already vetted directly, an agent’s fee (typically 3-10% of order value) is often avoidable overhead rather than value-added service.
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