What is a sourcing agent agreement?
If you buy products from overseas factories, a sourcing agent can be the difference between a good first order and an expensive lesson. They find and vet suppliers, chase samples, negotiate, check goods before they ship and keep you informed. The weak spot in many of these arrangements is money: an agent quietly paid by the factory as well as by you has every reason to look the other way.
This template appoints the agent for named products, optionally in a set region and on an exclusive basis, and lists the services you expect, from supplier checks to pre-shipment inspection reports with photos. It sets a commission on the supplier invoice value, an optional inspection fee and a tail period for repeat orders, and it bans hidden rebates from suppliers outright. Confidentiality of your designs and pricing, ownership of samples and tooling, and a notice period round it off.
- Best for
- Brands and retailers buying from overseas manufacturers
- Signed by
- The buyer and the sourcing agent
- Payment
- Commission on supplier invoices, plus optional inspection fees
- Length
- About 3 pages, initialled on every page
When to use a sourcing agent agreement
- An online shop appointing an agent in Asia to find a factory for its own-brand range
- A furniture importer using a local agent to inspect each container before it leaves
- A start-up hardware company paying an agent to source components and packaging
- A retailer moving production to a new country and needing someone to vet suppliers
- Putting an existing informal arrangement with a sourcing contact on a proper footing
What you fill in
15 blanks, then the name and email of each person who signs: buyer, sourcing agent.
1 The parties
- Date of this agreement*
- Buyer (company or person)*
- Buyer address
- Agent (company or person)*
- Agent address
2 The work
- Products to source*
- Where the agent sources from
- Is the agent the only one for these products?* No · Yes
- Inspection before shipment* a pre-shipment inspection of every order · an inspection during production and before shipment of every order · inspections only when the Buyer asks for one
3 Commission
- Currency*
- Commission (% of the supplier invoice value)*
- Fee per inspection (if charged separately)
- Commission on repeat orders after the end (months)*
4 Term and law
- Notice to end the agreement (days)*
- Governing law*
5 Who signs
- Buyer signature and date, job title, initials on every page · The business that wants products sourced.
- Sourcing agent signature and date, job title, initials on every page · The person or firm that finds suppliers and manages orders.
What the sourcing agent agreement covers
- Appointment
- The Agent's services
- Commission
- No secret profits
- Confidentiality
- Term and ending
- General
Using the sourcing agent agreement, step by step
1 Describe the products and region
List what you want sourced and, if relevant, the countries the agent should look in. Choose whether the appointment is exclusive.
2 Choose the inspection level
Pick a pre-shipment check on every order, a check during production too, or inspections only on request. Add a fee per inspection if it is charged on top.
3 Set the commission
Enter the percentage of the supplier's invoice value and how many months after the end the agent still earns on repeat orders with suppliers they introduced.
4 Agree notice and sign
Set the notice period and governing law, then send it for signature. Both parties initial every page, and the signed copy is stored in your vault.
Tips before you send it
- Ask the agent to name every supplier in writing as they introduce it. That list settles later arguments about who found whom.
- Pay deposits and balances to the supplier yourself rather than through the agent, unless you have a strong reason not to.
- Ask for inspection reports with dated photos and measurements before you release the final payment to the factory.
- Register your designs or trademarks in the manufacturing country where you can. A contract alone does not stop copying by a third party.
Sign it online in minutes
- Fill in the blanks. Names, dates and amounts go straight into the agreement — the preview shows exactly where.
- Name who signs. Tick “This is me” for your own part. FileIt builds the PDF with every signature, date and initials box on the right line, and you can check or move anything before sending.
- Send it. Each signer gets a secure link and signs from any device — no account needed. The signed PDF, with an audit trail and a Certificate of Completion, is filed in your vault and emailed to everyone.
Sourcing agent agreement: frequently asked questions
What is a secret profit in sourcing?
A commission, rebate or gift the agent takes from a supplier on your orders without telling you. The template bans it, makes the agent hold any such payment for you, and lets you end the agreement immediately if it happens.
Can the agent place orders for me?
Only orders you have approved in writing. The agreement says the agent cannot commit you to anything on its own.
Does inspection make the agent responsible for defects?
No. The agent must inspect with reasonable care and report honestly, but the supplier remains responsible for the quality of what it makes.
What if I keep buying from a supplier after the agent leaves?
The agent still earns commission on orders with suppliers it introduced for the tail period you choose. After that, no commission is due.