Before you pay any deposit to a supplier in China, you need proof that they are a legitimate, registered business.
Many payment agents in Nigeria advertise a simple deal: pay them in naira, and they will send you a bank receipt showing the supplier received the money. But a receipt only proves that money moved. It tells you nothing about who received it, whether the factory exists, or if your goods will ever ship. Real verification has to happen before anyone sends a kobo.
Whether you’re buying machinery, electronics, or vehicle parts, here are the seven checks you should run on official government registries before sending your deposit.
Why verification must come before payment
One of the first questions clients ask when they contact us is: “How do I know this supplier is real before I send a deposit?”
Following these steps in order is what keeps your money safe: verify the supplier first, inspect the goods before paying the balance, and release final payment only when you are satisfied. We cover this end-to-end process in our China-to-Nigeria import guide and our step-by-step walkthrough.
These seven checks use official Chinese government records, so you don’t have to take the supplier’s word for it.
Here is what that looks like in practice. A customer recently came to us after finding an online supplier offering a popular electronic gadget at a steep discount. It looked like a great deal, but when our team cross-checked the model and serial numbers against the manufacturer’s official database, we discovered the units were refurbished stock repackaged in counterfeit boxes. Catching that in China saved the customer from paying brand-new prices for second-hand goods.
Check 1: Search the business licence on China’s official registry (gsxt.gov.cn)
Check 1 answers a simple question: does this company exist, as a registered Chinese business?
You can look up any registered business on China’s official enterprise registry (GSXT). The site is in Chinese, but using your browser’s auto-translate will let you read the key fields. If language is an obstacle, our Guangzhou team runs this check for you.
Ask the supplier for a copy of their business licence, enter their official Chinese name into the registry search bar, and check these five details:
- Registered name: the Chinese name on the licence. Check it against the English trading name too, because a mismatch between the two often means an agent is using someone else’s business licence.
- Unified social credit code: the business code, 18 characters. This is the company’s official registration code. You will need it to cross-check every other document.
- Status: the record should show a company that is currently registered and operating. A record that shows it deregistered, revoked or dormant fails this check.
- Registered address and legal representative: save both. You will compare them against the supplier’s bank account and contract later.
- Business scope: what the licence says the company may deal in. Compare the approved business scope with what they claim to sell. If a supplier offering electronics has a licence that only allows selling textiles, you are dealing with an unauthorized middleman or a scam.
If the registry returns no record, or displays a completely different company name, stop all communication immediately.
Check 2: Confirm their export qualification on China Customs (origin.customs.gov.cn)
A business licence only proves a company exists. It does not mean they have legal permission to export goods out of China. That requires an export qualification.
Ask the supplier for a copy of their export qualification or a recent Certificate of Origin. Enter the certificate number into China Customs’ verification portal. The system will display the registered exporter, destination country, and issue date. If the certificate cannot be found or the details do not match, the supplier cannot legally clear your goods for export.
Whether you are importing a vehicle, industrial machinery, or phone accessories, the principle is the same: never pay a final balance until export clearance is verified. If a supplier hesitates or stops replying when you ask for export paperwork, they likely cannot legally export your goods, and you should not send them money.
Checks 3 to 7: Verifying the details all belong to the same business
Once you know the company exists and can export, you must verify that all payment and contract details belong to that exact company.
Every document and payment detail must match the official registry:
| What you check | What must match | Where you read it |
|---|---|---|
| Registered name | The Chinese name on the licence is the name on every document | Gsxt.gov.cn record |
| Business code | The 18-character unified social credit code is the same on licence, invoice and contract | Gsxt.gov.cn record |
| Registered address | The address the supplier gives you is the address on the registry record | Gsxt.gov.cn record |
| Bank account | The bank account is a company account in that registered business’s name | Company paperwork, cross-checked against the record |
| Company chop | The company chop is the red seal of that one registered company | Company paperwork, cross-checked against the record |
| Signatory | The person signing is the legal representative the registry shows | Gsxt.gov.cn record |
For deeper background checks on lawsuits and credit history, Chinese businesses use platforms like Qichacha company credit lookup and Tianyancha company credit lookup. Keep in mind that Tianyancha blocks visitors outside mainland China, and Qichacha redirects overseas users. These commercial sites are helpful for checking dispute history, but the government registry (GSXT) remains the final legal authority.
The most common scam involves an agent showing you a genuine company’s licence, but directing your payment into a private or third-party bank account. Checking every detail prevents this.
The rule is strict: the company name, business code, address, bank account, official stamp (chop), and signatory must all match the government registry. If any detail doesn’t match, do not proceed.
Four warning signs that should stop your payment
Almost every scam story begins when a buyer pays before verifying the seller. If you notice any of these warning signs, pause immediately and run the checks:
- Suspiciously low prices. If a supplier quotes a price far below everyone else, don’t rush to pay. Scammers use low quotes as bait, knowing you’ll skip verification in your excitement. Verify their business licence and scope before sending anything.
- Refusing a live video call. Before paying a deposit, request a live video call from the factory floor during Chinese business hours. Recorded videos do not count. A legitimate factory will gladly show you around. Scammers will make endless excuses.
- Using someone else’s licence. Some agents display a real factory’s certificates on chat, but invoice you under a different business name. If the invoice name doesn’t match the licence name character for character, do not pay.
- Demands for personal bank accounts. A legitimate Chinese manufacturer will always invoice through a corporate bank account matching their registered name. If they ask you to send money to an individual’s personal account, walk away.
How Yodo verifies suppliers and protects your payments
You can run all of these checks yourself using Chinese registry sites and browser translation. But if you prefer to have an experienced team handle it on the ground, our Guangzhou staff conducts these verifications directly in Chinese before purchasing on your behalf:
- Business licence verification on gsxt.gov.cn
- Export qualification on origin.customs.gov.cn
- Credit and dispute records on Qichacha and Tianyancha
- Corporate identity cross-check: company name, business code, address, corporate bank account, official stamp (chop), and signatory. If any detail doesn’t match, we don’t proceed.
We verify every supplier before purchasing. For large or high-value orders, our Guangzhou team travels directly to the supplier’s city, whether that is Guangzhou, Yiwu, Shenzhen or beyond, to inspect the goods in person.
Here is how payment works with Yodo. You pay in milestones, never all at once. If it is an established supplier we have verified and worked with before, you place an initial deposit so they can prepare your order. But your money is never trapped: if our team arrives and cannot verify the goods, your deposit is refunded in full within a few days. We only pay the supplier after you have reviewed and approved our detailed inspection report.
On-site inspection is a standard part of our general goods import service, ensuring you approve condition reports before any final balance is released.
In one recent order, a client paid us in full for professional camera equipment. Even with funds in hand, our China team inspected the camera in person and verified its condition before releasing payment to the supplier. When verification is done right, nothing goes wrong. That is the result you are paying for.
You pay in naira here in Nigeria, and we confirm the exchange rate with you before converting. For a full breakdown of payment milestones and exchange rates, see our guide on how to pay a Chinese supplier safely from Nigeria.
Frequently asked questions about verifying Chinese suppliers
Is a business licence enough to verify a Chinese supplier?
No. A business licence only proves that a company is registered. It doesn’t guarantee that they have legal permission to export goods, that their bank account matches, or that the person messaging you actually works for that company. A complete verification requires checking export qualifications, matching corporate bank details, and confirming company seals.
Can a fake supplier have a Chinese business licence?
Yes, a scammer can borrow or copy a real licence, or misuse a legitimate company’s registration. What they cannot easily do is pass a complete identity cross-check: a registry record whose name, business code, address, legal representative, company seal, and bank account all describe one and the same business. Always verify the details directly on gsxt.gov.cn rather than trusting a photocopy sent over chat.
What if my supplier refuses a video call?
Ask once for a live walk around the factory floor during Chinese business hours. A recorded tour does not count. One reschedule is normal. A pattern of excuses is a clear warning sign, and it should push you to run the full checks or find a different supplier.
How do I check a Chinese company’s credit and lawsuit history?
Qichacha is accessible to overseas visitors through its international portal, while Tianyancha only works inside mainland China. Both provide lawsuit and credit history, but the government registry (GSXT) remains the official primary record for registration status.
How much does it cost to check a Chinese supplier?
Basic supplier verification is included as part of our sourcing service. We do not charge a separate fee for business licence, customs, and registry checks. The only exception is if your supplier is located outside Guangzhou and you want our team to travel directly to their factory city for an on-site audit. In that case, you only cover our local travel logistics. Message us with the factory location, and we will tell you the exact logistics cost for your trip.
Work with a verified agent on the ground in China
You don’t have to risk your money guessing whether a supplier is legitimate. If you want to handle verification yourself, use the government registries outlined above before sending any funds.
If you’d rather have our team manage the entire process, Yodo and our China-based company, Nazido, handle supplier checks, on-site factory inspections, milestone payments in naira, and door-to-door shipping to Nigeria.
Ready to verify a supplier? Send their company name and the items you want to import to our WhatsApp line at +234 904 190 9777 (Nigeria) or +86 130 4174 1021 (China). We’ll help you confirm they are real before you pay a single naira.