Made here
We saw the product or its parts being made at this factory and took proof photos of the work in progress. Only one factory can hold this label for a given design.
How it works
From your brief to your door, with proof at every step.
We visit Guangdong furniture factories in person, photograph what we see, and only show you products we've actually inspected. Here's what happens along the way, who does what, and when your money moves.
- factories visited in person
- 0
- verified proof photos
- 0
- ID-verified inspectors
- 0
The journey
Your journey
Seven steps from a rough idea to furniture at your door. Two of them are money gates, where nothing moves until the right things have happened.
- 01You
Describe what you need
Tell us in words, share inspiration photos, a style guide or a floor plan, and add the quantity, budget and delivery postcode if you know them.
- 02You
Check what we understood
We turn your brief into simple tags like category, style, materials, colours and sizes, and you're welcome to edit them.
- 03FactoryProof
See verified matches
You'll only see published products from factories we've visited, ranked by how well they match and their verification score. Nobody pays to rank higher.
- 04You and FactoryProof
Build a project and get a quote
Add products, then choose a destination port and forwarder. We'll confirm the price and terms with the factory and show you a landed-cost estimate.
- 05 · Money gate
Fund escrow
Your goods money goes to a licensed payments partner, so it doesn't sit with us or go straight to the factory.
Payments partner
- 06 · Money gate
Production and QC
Our inspector runs a pre-shipment inspection with proof photos. Then you can approve it or ask for rework.
Our inspector
- 07Your forwarder
Ship and deliver
Once that's done, the factory is paid the balance, the goods go to your forwarder, and you can track the shipment all the way to your door.
On the factory floor
What our inspectors check
Before we list a factory, an ID-verified inspector visits in person. We check the online records first and then walk the site.
Before the visit, on paper
Registration and licence
We look up the business licence on the national registry and check that its scope covers manufacturing, not just trading.
Real headcount
We compare the number of employees on social insurance with what we actually see on the floor.
Credit record
We check whether the company is on the court list of unpaid debtors.
On the day, on the floor
Production line
Whatever lines they say they run, like cutting, framing, sewing or spraying, we make sure they're running.
Materials and work in progress
We look for raw stock and part-built goods that match what they sell.
Every product, 7 photos
We shoot the front, side, back, underside, a joint, a material close-up and the label, with a tape measure in frame.
Every photo is verified genuine, time-stamped and geolocated the moment it's taken, so it can't be faked. You can also check any photo yourself on our Verify page.
Try the Verify pageThe 7-shot protocol
Every product, seven photos, with a tape measure in frame.
Our inspectors shoot every product the same way, so you can compare like with like and see the parts that sellers usually leave out.
The drawings are illustrations, and the real photos are below.
- 01 / 07
Front
The whole piece, square on, with the tape measure showing its width.
- 02 / 07
Side
The profile, so you can see its depth and how the back is raked.
- 03 / 07
Back
Often the most telling shot, since it shows how carefully the unseen parts are finished.
- 04 / 07
Underside
Frame, webbing, glue blocks and feet. This is where shortcuts hide.
- 05 / 07
Joint close-up
How the frame is joined, whether that's dowels, mortise and tenon, or just staples.
- 06 / 07
Material close-up
Fabric weave, timber grain or stitching, close enough to judge the quality.
- 07 / 07
Label and model number
The factory's own label, so the photos tie back to one exact model.
Every photo is verified genuine, time-stamped and geolocated the moment it's taken, so it can't be faked. You can also check any photo yourself on our Verify page.
Who really makes it
Provenance: who really makes it
Lots of factories sell the same design, so every product carries one of three labels. That way you know exactly what we saw.
Sample inspected
We inspected a finished sample in the factory's showroom, but we didn't see it being made.
Partner factory
The factory openly told us it gets this item from another factory.
Your money, protected
The factory gets paid when you get what you ordered.
Your goods money is held by a licensed payments partner (it's never on our balance sheet) and released to the factory in two steps.
Held by a licensed payments partnerNever on FactoryProof's balance sheet
You
You pay the goods money into escrow.
Licensed payments partner
It holds your money, and we never do.
The factory
It's paid in two steps, as each gate is passed.
Deposit
Released when
The factory confirms your order and the signed contract is uploaded.
Balance
Released when
QC passes and you approve the report, or automatically after 3 days if we don't hear back from you.
If QC fails and the factory doesn't fix it, we'll review what happened, and the unreleased balance can be refunded under your contract.
Landed cost
Landed cost, before you commit
Your project shows an estimate of everything it'll cost to get the goods to your door, and every line is clearly labelled as an estimate.
You're the importer of record. We'll help you organise the shipment, but we don't import on your behalf, so please confirm duty and GST with a licensed customs broker.
Read the importing guideYour landed-cost estimate
Estimate- 01GoodsThe factory price converted to AUD at the current indicative rate
- 02FreightOrigin charges, ocean freight (shared or full container) and destination charges
- 03Marine insurance
- 04Customs dutyOften 0% with a valid ChAFTA certificate of origin, and otherwise usually 5% for most furniture
- 05GST10% of the value of the taxable importation
- 06Customs brokerage and door delivery
- 07Biosecurity flags for solid timber, bamboo, rattan and wooden packaging
Compare
Four ways to buy from China
Here's how we compare with a sourcing agent, buying online direct, and flying over yourself. Every way can work. The difference is who checks, who pays whom, and what you can prove.
What you pay
Factory Proof
A fixed, published fee per product.
- Sourcing agent
- Usually 5 to 10% of the order.
- Online marketplace, buying direct
- No fee to buy. Inspections are extra.
- Going there yourself
- Flights, hotels, an interpreter and a week off work. About A$2,500 to A$4,000 a trip.
Who else pays them
Factory Proof
Nobody. Factories list free and pay us nothing.
- Sourcing agent
- Some agents are also paid by the factory. Ask yours.
- Online marketplace, buying direct
- Sellers pay the marketplace for ads and ranking.
- Going there yourself
- Nobody.
Is it a real factory?
Factory Proof
Our inspector visited in person and checked the licence, the production line and the headcount.
- Sourcing agent
- Depends on the agent.
- Online marketplace, buying direct
- Many sellers are trading companies. It can be hard to tell.
- Going there yourself
- You'll see it yourself, if you know what to look for.
The photos you see
Factory Proof
Taken by our inspector at the factory. Each one has a digital fingerprint you can check.
- Sourcing agent
- Usually the agent's or the factory's photos.
- Online marketplace, buying direct
- Often the seller's catalogue photos. Some are borrowed.
- Going there yourself
- Your own.
Check before you pay the balance
Factory Proof
Included. Our inspector checks your goods before the balance is paid.
- Sourcing agent
- Often included, or extra.
- Online marketplace, buying direct
- Book and pay an inspection firm yourself. About US$190 to US$310 a day.
- Going there yourself
- Fly back, or hire an inspector.
Where your money sits
Factory Proof
A licensed escrow provider will hold your money. We're setting this up now.
- Sourcing agent
- Often paid to the agent or the factory up front.
- Online marketplace, buying direct
- Some marketplaces offer buyer protection. Check its terms.
- Going there yourself
- Usually a bank transfer, often a 30% deposit up front.
Cost to your door
Factory Proof
A landed-cost estimate with freight, duty, GST and biosecurity.
- Sourcing agent
- Some agents give one.
- Online marketplace, buying direct
- Up to you.
- Going there yourself
- Up to you.
Talking to the factory
Factory Proof
In-app chat, translated both ways.
- Sourcing agent
- The agent talks for you.
- Online marketplace, buying direct
- Chat with the seller. English varies.
- Going there yourself
- Through an interpreter.
Time
Factory Proof
From your desk.
- Sourcing agent
- From your desk.
- Online marketplace, buying direct
- From your desk.
- Going there yourself
- About a week away, often more than one trip.
Costs are estimates as at October 2026. Agent fees and inspection rates are typical published prices. Your costs will vary.
Ready to get started?
Tell us what you're after, and we'll show you verified products from factories we've stood inside.