Transparent Pricing

Sourcing agent fees, in plain numbers

Ace Global Trade charges a one-off engagement fee from £499 — fully credited against commission on your first order — plus commission of 8%, 6% or 5% that steps down as your order value grows. That's the whole price. No factory kickbacks, no hidden markups: you see the factory's original invoice, and our fee is invoiced separately from the goods.

View the tiers How commission works

UK-registered company · Companies House 14737317 · Written scope on every engagement

Engagement fees

One-off engagement fees — credited in full

Pick the tier that matches your stage. Every tier's fee is credited against the commission of your first order, so it is a deposit, not a sunk cost.

Light

£499 one-off
For a first product or a single order.
  • Needs analysis & supplier brief
  • Shortlist of 3 vetted suppliers
  • 1 round of price negotiation
  • Quote comparison table
Credited in full against your first order's commission.
Most popular

Standard

£999 one-off
For brands starting an ongoing production line.
  • Everything in Light
  • Supplier verification — licence, export record, capacity
  • Sampling coordination & review
  • Negotiation across 2+ factories
  • Sourcing plan with landed-cost estimate
Credited in full against your first order's commission.

Premium

£1,999 one-off
For complex, regulated or high-value products.
  • Everything in Standard
  • On-site factory audit with photo report
  • Up to 3 sample iterations
  • 90 days of post-order support
  • Dedicated account manager
Credited in full against your first order's commission.
Commission

Commission that steps down as you grow

Commission is calculated on the FOB order value in the supplier contract. The rate, the base and any caps are written into the agreement before you commit — never applied after the fact.

Order value (per order, FOB)CommissionTypical client
Up to $30,0008%First orders and product trials
$30,000 – $100,0006%Regular repeat orders
Over $100,0005%Established programmes (caps negotiable)

Worked example — $50,000 first order on Standard

Commission at 6% = $3,000. Your £999 engagement fee is credited in full, so the total fee for the first order is roughly $1,750 — about 3.5% of order value. From the second order onward, commission alone applies at the tier rate.

Our promise

No factory kickbacks. Open book. Ever.

Industry surveys estimate that "free" or low-fee agents typically recover 15–20% of order value through hidden factory-side kickbacks baked into the unit price. Our structure makes that impossible — and verifiable.

Original factory invoices You see the factory's own quotation and VAT invoice — not a marked-up version. Our negotiation records are open to you.
Fees separated from goods Our commission is invoiced separately and never hidden inside the unit price. You always know what we earn on an order.
Written scope, fixed fees Every engagement starts with a written scope of work. Scope changes are quoted in writing before they happen — no surprises.
On a $50,000 order, a hidden 15–20% factory markup costs you $7,500–$10,000 — more than our entire engagement fee and commission combined. Transparency is not a marketing line; it is the cheaper option.
Standalone services

QC & audits — available on their own

Every managed order already includes 100% pre-shipment inspection with photo evidence. Need us for inspection only? These are priced per visit.

ServicePriceIncludes
Factory audit (on-site)£249Facility walk-through, capacity & compliance check, photo report
Pre-shipment inspection (PSI, AQL 2.5)£150–£250Random sampling to AQL 2.5, functional check, photo evidence
During-production check (DUPRO)£180Early defect detection mid-run, corrective action report
Container loading supervision£180Quantities, carton condition and loading process witnessed
Pricing FAQ

Frequently asked — answered with numbers

How much does a UK sourcing agent cost?
A typical UK sourcing agent charges either 3–10% commission on order value or a fixed project fee. Ace Global Trade uses a hybrid: a one-off engagement fee from £499 plus commission of 8%, 6% or 5% tiered by order value. The engagement fee is fully credited against commission on your first order, so most first orders cost roughly 3.5–5.5% all-in.
What does the engagement fee include?
The £499 Light tier covers supplier research, a shortlist of three vetted factories and one round of price negotiation. The £999 Standard tier adds supplier verification, sampling coordination and a landed-cost sourcing plan. The £1,999 Premium tier adds an on-site factory audit with photo report and 90 days of post-order support.
What commission do you charge?
Commission is 8% on orders up to $30,000, 6% on $30,000–$100,000 and 5% above $100,000, calculated on the FOB order value stated in the supplier contract. The rate, base and any caps are written into the contract before you commit — never applied as a surprise.
Do you take kickbacks from factories?
Never. Our only income is the fee published on this page. Industry surveys estimate that "free" or low-fee agents typically recover 15–20% of order value through hidden factory-side kickbacks baked into the unit price. Our model is structured so we earn more when your project succeeds — not when your unit price is higher.
Can I see the factory's invoice?
Yes. We operate open book: you see the factory's original quotation and VAT invoice, our negotiation records, and our commission invoiced separately from the goods. There is no black box between you and the factory.
How does the engagement fee credit work?
The engagement fee is credited in full against the commission of your first order. Example: on a $50,000 first order at the Standard tier, commission at 6% is $3,000; after the £999 credit you pay roughly $1,750 in total — about 3.5% of order value.
Are there other costs I should expect?
Third-party costs are passed through at cost with receipts: samples and courier fees, standalone inspections (£150–£250 per visit) and freight. Our fees are the engagement fee plus commission — nothing else. Any scope change is quoted in writing before it happens.
Do you work with small first orders?
Yes — most of our clients started with a single £499 Light engagement and a small trial order. We match suppliers whose MOQ fits your stage, from small batches to container volumes.
Will you tell me which factory makes my products?
Yes. The supplier's legal name and original invoice are disclosed after your first deposit, and we can arrange accompanied factory visits. Direct factory contact for ongoing orders is available on the Premium tier. Either way, the factory's price and our commission are always shown separately — and the relationship is covered by a standard mutual non-circumvention agreement, protecting your designs as much as our introductions.

Start with Standard — credit the fee against your first order

Tell us what you're sourcing. You'll get a shortlist, a plan and a fixed price for the work — within one working day.

Request a Quote WhatsApp us