How Cosmo Sourcing works.
From your first product brief to direct factory introductions, every step runs on one principle: full transparency, original pricing, and a factory relationship you own. No commissions, no markups, no middleman games.
The process
Four steps, from brief to a factory you own.
Here is exactly what happens once you start a sourcing project with us. Every project runs as one of two engagements, a fixed-fee Simple Sourcing project or an ongoing Dedicated Sourcing Office, and the steps are the same either way. At the end, the factory relationship is in your name, not ours.
Tell us what you need
Every project starts with a conversation. You tell us what you need manufactured, and we help you turn your product details into a clear spec sheet and request for quote, so factories can price accurately from day one. Every project is tariff-aware, so customs exposure is factored in before you commit.
What happens hereSource and vet the right factories
We research and pre-qualify manufacturers against your specific requirements, drawing on our own teams in Vietnam (since 2014) and Mexico (since 2023), plus sourcing reach across China, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, the Philippines, and beyond. We do not blast your RFQ to a generic list. Every shortlist is custom-built for your product, your requirements, and your target market, and we vet factories in person.
What we doGet your sourcing report
You receive a comprehensive sourcing report: 2 to 6 original, unaltered factory quotes, supplier profiles, capability and certification assessments, and our honest read on each option. We never mark up pricing or hide factory identities. You see exactly what each factory quoted and where the trade-offs sit.
What you receiveDirect introductions, then the handoff
We introduce you directly to the factories you choose. This is the handoff: from here, you order samples directly from the factory and pay the factory for them, and we stay on hand to support you through sampling at no extra cost while you take the lead. The relationship is yours, with full contact details and everything you need to move forward independently.
Prefer that we keep the wheel? If you want us to take the lead managing and evaluating samples and overseeing production, that runs through our Beyond Sourcing services, covered below.
Included, at no extra cost
How to engage us
Two ways to put this process to work.
Everything above runs as one of two engagements. Book a fixed-fee Simple Sourcing project, priced by how many countries you want to cover, or bring on a Dedicated Sourcing Office for ongoing production across many products. Either way you get original quotes with no markups, full contact details, and a relationship you own. Full pricing lives on the services page.
1 Simple Sourcing · one fixed fee per project
Single Country Sourcing
One country, one product category. Best when you have a specific product to source from a region you have already chosen.
Compare regionsDual Country Sourcing
Two countries, one product category. Compare factories across markets side by side before you commit.
DiversifyAnywhere But China Sourcing
Multiple countries, excluding China, one product category. For companies actively diversifying their supply chain.
Full coverageGlobal Sourcing
Any country in the world, including China, one product category. The widest net for the best factory match.
2 Dedicated Sourcing Office · monthly retainer
Your own overseas sourcing team
One team, one monthly fee, your entire overseas supply chain handled. For companies sourcing many products, complex multi-component products, or managing ongoing production across multiple factories. The same process, run continuously as your product line grows.
Why it works
What makes this different from sourcing it yourself.
Vetted in person
We visit factories on your shortlist in person before recommending them. No desk research, no marketplace listings, no anonymous introductions. Eyes on the production floor.
Original quotes, no markups
You see exactly what each factory quoted. No commissions, no markups, no hidden fees. The quote you see is the price you negotiate from.
Contacts yours to keep
Names, emails, phone numbers, addresses. Once we introduce you, the relationship is yours. No lock-in, no ongoing commissions, no middleman to pay forever.
After introductions
Take it from here, or keep us on the team.
Once introductions are made, you choose how to move forward. Take it in house and work directly with the factory at no extra cost, or keep our team on. Beyond Sourcing services are billed as you need them, available to clients who have completed a sourcing project.
Hourly support
Sample management and evaluation, contract negotiation, production oversight, quality assurance, and shipping coordination. Billed hourly, so you pay only for what you need.
Factory visits
We send a representative to the factory for visual inspections and relationship building. For deeper audits, we bring in trusted third-party experts. Travel and meal expenses billed separately.
Third-party services
Spec sheets and tech packs, factory and product inspections, lab testing, and certifications such as REACH, CPSC, UL, BSCI, and FSC, through our partner network.
On the ground
More than a decade on the factory floor.
How we work FAQ
Questions about the process.
Yes. The process on this page runs under one of two engagements: a fixed-fee Simple Sourcing project, for one or a few products, or a Dedicated Sourcing Office, a monthly retainer for ongoing production across many products. You pick the one that fits your project, and we take it from there. There is no separate charge for the process itself, it is what the engagement covers.
If none of the initial factories are the right fit, tell us. We go back and source additional options within the scope of your project. Our goal is to find you the right manufacturer, not just any manufacturer, so we would rather take a little longer than push you toward a supplier that is not right.
Products involving multiple materials, components from different factories, or specialized manufacturing processes, like footwear, precision-engineered items, children's products, or medical-grade goods, may require additional sourcing effort. We offer a Complex Products add-on for these projects, and a Dedicated Sourcing Office can manage multi-component products across several factories under one team.
Yes. We provide as much contact information as possible for every vetted manufacturer, including factory names, emails, phone numbers, and addresses, along with a direct introduction. You can communicate with the factory independently at any time. This is core to how Cosmo works, and one of the biggest differences between us and commission-based sourcing agents who keep factory details hidden.
Sourcing agents typically work on commission, usually 5 to 15% of your order value, mark up factory pricing, and do not share factory contacts because their revenue depends on staying in the middle. Cosmo Sourcing is a sourcing company that charges a fixed fee regardless of your order size. You see original factory quotes, you get full contact details, and you own the relationship. Our incentive is to find you the best factory, not the one that pays us the highest commission.
We have our own teams in Vietnam, since 2014, and Mexico, since 2023, and we source from China, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, the Philippines, and beyond. The right country depends on your product type, order volume, target market, and whether trade agreements or tariff considerations apply.
A typical sourcing project takes around 4 to 6 weeks from your initial brief to factory introductions, though the exact timeline depends on your product. A Rush add-on is available for expedited sourcing in under four weeks, given priority scheduling.
Yes. We arrange guided factory visits with bilingual guides, transportation, and a custom itinerary built around your products. Many clients visit to meet the factory team in person, inspect production, and build the relationship before placing an order.
You choose. After introductions you order samples directly from the factory and we support you through sampling at no extra cost, while you take the lead. From there you can work directly with the factory at no additional cost, or keep our team on. If you want us to take the lead, managing and evaluating samples, negotiating contracts, overseeing production, running inspections, and coordinating shipping, our Beyond Sourcing services are billed hourly.
Ready to find the right factory?
Tell us what you need made. We will map the countries, the factories, and the timeline, and send you a fixed-fee quote for the project, with no obligation to move forward.
The call is free, with no obligation, and everything we find is yours to keep.