---
title: "What are the enterprises that provide export agency services?"
description: "We are a manufacturing factory without import and export rights. Recently, we received an overseas order and urgently need to find an export agency. However, after searching online, we found that some companies call themselves freight forwarders, others customs brokers, and still others foreign trade comprehensive service enterprises. But which of them are actually qualified to legally handle export agency services? We’re most worried about encountering unreliable companies that could leave us w..."
url: "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/selection-agent-export-enterprise-freight-customs-comprehensive.html"
language: "en"
type: "Q&A"
category: "出口代理"
datePublished: "2026-01-24"
dateModified: "2026-01-24"
brand: "Zhongshen Trading China"
answerCount: 3
---

# What are the enterprises that provide export agency services?

## Question

 We are a production-oriented factory, but we don't have a design department.I recently received an overseas order and urgently need to find an export agency. However, after searching online, I found that some companies call themselves freight forwarders, others customs brokers, and still others have different names.Integrated service enterprises. Which ones are actually qualified to legally handle export agency services? The most worrying thing is encountering unreliable ones, where both money and goods are lost. How can we screen out such companies? 

## Answers
                            
### Answer 1 — Best Answer

Your question is very crucial. Choosing the wrong export agency will indeed pose customs compliance risks. Legitimate export agencies must possess three core qualifications: a business license with a scope of business including "import and export of goods"，a recordation certificate for customs declaration units，and a filing receipt from the foreign exchange management authority. You can directly enter the enterprise name on the "China Customs Enterprise Import and Export Credit Information Publicity Platform" to check its recordation status and credit rating，and prioritize selecting AEO Advanced Certified enterprises. During on-site inspections，ensure to request to view the original copies of these certificates and verify the operating address. It's necessary to be vigilant against three types of risks: first，those who promise "tax-inclusive export" or actively suggest under-declaring prices，which constitutes smuggling，second，those who require payment settlement through personal accounts，which involves foreign exchange control risks，third，those with a registration period of less than one year and a registered capital of less than 1 million yuan，who have weak risk resistance. It is recommended to sign a formal "Export Agency Agreement" before the first cooperation to clearly stipulate terms such as the declaration form header，receipt of payment accounts，and ownership of tax rebates，in order to avoid subsequent disputes.

**status:** accepted
**Author:** Jason Wu
**Date:** 2026-01-24

### Answer 2

From a logistics implementation perspective, the export agency you're looking for must be able to handle the entire process of customs declaration, transportation, and receipt of foreign exchange payments. Foreign trade comprehensive service enterprises (FTCSEs) are the first choice, as they offer "one-stop" services including customs declaration, logistics, tax refunds, and foreign exchange receipt. You only need to provide the goods and relevant documents. After selecting one, the process is as follows: You provide packing lists, invoices, contracts, and declaration elements, and they handle the customs declaration and export procedures. Once the payment is transferred to their account, they convert it into foreign exchange and transfer it to you. Tax refunds are either prepaid by them or assisted in applying for. Regarding fees, the agency fee typically ranges from 0.5% to 2% of the export amount (excluding freight charges). Key points to clarify include: whether they have their own customs brokers (for faster customs clearance), whether they can provide door-to-door services, and their emergency response capabilities (e.g., rapid response to inspections). For first-time collaborations, it's recommended to start with a small container shipment to test their document preparation professionalism and exception handling capabilities, rather than solely focusing on pricing competitiveness.

**status:** suggested
**Author:** Lucas Liu
**Date:** 2026-01-24

### Answer 3

When choosing an export agency, the essence is selecting a financial partner who can work alongside you. Trust matters ten times more than price. During your evaluation, focus on three soft indicators: First, service response speed – high-quality agencies will reply to your inquiries within 2 hours rather than dragging it out. Second, financial transparency – legitimate enterprises will proactively provide account statements with clear and traceable records of every expense. Third, client case studies – require them to provide service certificates in the same industry and randomly check one client for background verification.

During business negotiations, the contract must clearly define four red lines:

- The specific items included in the agency fee

- The payment settlement cycle (suggest transferring funds within 3 working days after T/T receipt)

- The timeframe for advance payment of tax refunds

- Compensation clauses for confiscated goods due to their operational errors

Regarding payment methods, never accept the "full prepayment" requirement. A reasonable model is:

- Pay a 30% deposit upon signing the agreement

- Pay the balance after customs declaration and shipment

Finally, avoid agencies quoting prices 30% lower than market rates, as this often indicates compromised service quality or hidden fees, leading to endless headaches later on.

**status:** suggested
**Author:** Evelyn Li
**Date:** 2026-01-24

## Related Categories
- [Import Agency Q&A](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-import-agency/)
- [Export Tax Rebate Q&A](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-export-tax-rebate/)
- [Customs Declaration Q&A](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-customs-declaration/)
- [Freight Forwarding Q&A](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-freight-forwarding/)
- [Forex Settlement Q&A](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-forex-settlement/)
- [Entrepôt Trade Q&A](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-entrepot-trade/)
- [General Trade Q&A](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-general-trade/)

## Related Resources
- [Trade Services](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/services/)
- [Trade Cases](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/cases/)
- [Trade Wiki](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/wiki/)
- [Trade Class](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/guide/)
- [Global Trade Services](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/country/)

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