Before working with a Chinese freight forwarder, you should verify the company’s legal registration, business history, office information, and payment details. A professional freight forwarder should be able to provide its full company name, business license, registered address, and a company bank account that matches the legal entity.

You can start by checking the company through China’s National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System to confirm that the company is legally registered and that its business status is normal. It is also worth checking how long the company has been operating and whether its registered business scope is related to logistics or freight forwarding.

Next, check whether the company has a real and verifiable office, company website, business email, and staff contact information. Be cautious if a forwarder only communicates through WhatsApp or personal email and refuses to provide formal company documents.

Payment information is another important check. The beneficiary name on the bank account should normally match the legal company name or be properly explained and documented. Be especially careful if you are asked to send a large payment to a personal account or an unrelated overseas company.

You should also ask for a formal quotation that clearly shows the shipping route, service scope, transit time, included charges, and possible additional fees. A legitimate forwarder should be willing to explain how the price is calculated instead of simply offering an unusually cheap rate.

Finally, ask for references or recent shipment experience on your specific trade lane. If possible, start with a small test shipment before moving a large volume of cargo.

In short, don't judge a Chinese freight forwarder only by its website or low shipping rate. Verify the legal company, bank account, physical presence, business history, and actual shipping experience before sending money or cargo.