There is no fixed standard for the time required for the agency of imported products, and it will vary due to various factors.
First is the stage of finding suitable products. If you have a clear target and use professional exhibitions, industry platforms and other channels, you may be able to find the desired products in 1 - 2 months. But if your positioning is vague, it may even take half a year or more.
Then it's about negotiating cooperation with suppliers. If the needs of both sides are clear and the negotiation of terms goes smoothly, an intention to cooperate can be reached and a contract can be signed in 1 - 3 months. If complex issues such as intellectual property rights and profit distribution are involved, it is common for the negotiation to drag on for half a year.
Finally, it's about the subsequent preparations, including handling import licenses, product certifications, etc. For ordinary products, it may be completed in 2 - 3 months. For special products, such as medical devices, the certification process is cumbersome and may take more than half a year. Overall, if everything goes smoothly, formal sales can start in 3 - 6 months. In complex situations, it may take more than a year.
It is recommended to plan in advance and cooperate with professional agency institutions like Zhongshitong to speed up the process.
Professional consultant answers
Robert ChenYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Customer service consultantConsult
There is no fixed standard for the time required for the agency of imported products, and it will vary due to various factors.
First is the stage of finding suitable products. If you have a clear target and use professional exhibitions, industry platforms and other channels, you may be able to find the desired products in 1 - 2 months. But if your positioning is vague, it may even take half a year or more.
Then it's about negotiating cooperation with suppliers. If the needs of both sides are clear and the negotiation of terms goes smoothly, an intention to cooperate can be reached and a contract can be signed in 1 - 3 months. If complex issues such as intellectual property rights and profit distribution are involved, it is common for the negotiation to drag on for half a year.
Finally, it's about the subsequent preparations, including handling import licenses, product certifications, etc. For ordinary products, it may be completed in 2 - 3 months. For special products, such as medical devices, the certification process is cumbersome and may take more than half a year. Overall, if everything goes smoothly, formal sales can start in 3 - 6 months. In complex situations, it may take more than a year.
It is recommended to plan in advance and cooperate with professional agency institutions like Zhongshitong to speed up the process.
Andrew HuangYears of service：7Customer Rating：5.0
Supply chain optimization expertConsult
I was an agent for imported food before. It took me 2 months to find products, 1 month to negotiate cooperation, and 2 months to handle relevant procedures. I started sales in about 5 months. Mainly, the procedures for food are relatively easy to handle.
Amanda YangYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Cost control consultantConsult
If you are an agent for cosmetics, just the filing process is quite troublesome. My friend did this. It took 3 months to find products and negotiate cooperation, and another 4 months for the filing. It took a total of 7 months to get it done.
David LiYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Senior customs declaration consultantConsult
I think it also depends on the efficiency of the suppliers. Some suppliers don't reply in a timely manner, and a small problem can be dragged on for a long time, which will greatly extend the agency time.
Emily LiuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Settlement and payment expertConsult
If you are familiar with the market of imported products, the speed of finding products will be much faster. I have been in the related industry before. It only took me half a month to find products, and then the subsequent process went on normally, and the overall time was shortened.
Michelle ChenYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Business coordination consultantConsult
For electronic products, the confirmation of technical parameters and other links are very crucial. If both sides repeatedly confirm and modify the parameters, the time will be long. When I was an agent for electronic products, just this part took 3 months.
James LiuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Foreign trade tax refund consultantConsult
For products involving import quotas, the time to obtain quotas is uncertain. If the quotas are tight, it may take more than half a year to wait, which will seriously affect the progress of the agency.
William YangYears of service：5Customer Rating：5.0
International logistics consultantConsult
The time of logistics and transportation also needs to be considered. If factors such as port congestion and weather are encountered and the goods arrive late, it will also affect the time of formal sales.
Joseph ZhouYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Senior foreign trade managerConsult
Cooperating with an agency company can save a lot of time. For example, Zhongshitong is very experienced in handling various procedures and can quickly promote the process.
Sarah ZhangYears of service：8Customer Rating：5.0
Document expertConsult
Sometimes holidays can also affect the progress. Some approval departments are on holiday, and the process will be suspended. So this part should also be considered when planning the time.