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.