How much is the general commission for import and export agency?

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I am planning to engage in import and export agency related work recently and am not very familiar with the commission situation in this area. I would like to ask everyone, how much is the general commission for an import and export agency? Is it calculated as a percentage of the order amount, or are there other calculation methods? I hope experienced friends can share, and what is the general range of commission for orders of different industries and scales, so I can have a rough idea.
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Daniel Kim
Daniel KimYears of service:4Customer Rating:5.0

Commodity Inspection and Quarantine ConsultantStart a Chat

The commission for import and export agencies usually does not have a fixed amount, and is mostly calculated as a certain proportion of the business volume. Commonly, the commission is 1% - 5% of the order amount, and the specifics vary depending on multiple factors. For simple daily necessities import and export agency, with smaller order scales, the commission ratio might be around 3% - 5%; for orders of high value and complex operations such as large machinery and equipment, although the difficulty is high, the amount is high, and the commission ratio might be around 1% - 3%. In addition, if the agency business involves special products, such as strictly regulated medical devices, due to the need for more qualifications and procedures, the commission ratio will also be higher. It may also be linked to the completed business volume, with additional rewards for completing a certain business volume. In summary, the specific commission needs to be negotiated and determined with the company.

References: Want to become an export alcohol agent, what exactly should I do?
Michael Zhang
Michael ZhangYears of service:10Customer Rating:5.0

Customs Clearance SpecialistStart a Chat

I heard that for simple import and export agency businesses, the commission is generally 2% - 3%, and for more complex ones, it might be 4% - 5%, but this also depends on the company's regulations.

Linda Guo
Linda GuoYears of service:3Customer Rating:5.0

Trade Dispute MediatorStart a Chat

Some companies calculate commission based on profit. If the profit is high, the commission is more; if the profit is low, the commission is less.

Sophia Wang
Sophia WangYears of service:6Customer Rating:5.0

International Logistics CoordinatorStart a Chat

For the small orders I handled before, the commission was about 4%, but for large orders, it might be around 3%. Anyway, the difference between companies is quite significant.

Kevin Huang
Kevin HuangYears of service:3Customer Rating:5.0

E-Commerce Export AdvisorStart a Chat

Besides calculating by percentage, some companies calculate by order, giving a fixed few hundred yuan per order, which also depends on the difficulty of the business.

Emma Zhao
Emma ZhaoYears of service:3Customer Rating:5.0

Export Documentation SpecialistStart a Chat

I feel it's also related to customer resources. For clients developed by oneself, the commission will be higher.

Robert Tan
Robert TanYears of service:5Customer Rating:5.0

International Market Development AdvisorStart a Chat

I heard that some companies adjust the commission ratio based on quarterly performance. Higher performance means a higher ratio.

Olivia Liu
Olivia LiuYears of service:6Customer Rating:5.0

Foreign Exchange Risk ManagerStart a Chat

There are huge differences between industries. For example, for clothing import and export agencies, the commission might be only 2% - 3%.

David Chen
David ChenYears of service:10Customer Rating:5.0

Trade Compliance AdvisorStart a Chat

For long-term cooperative clients, the commission might be slightly reduced, but it's stable.

User-submitted questions and answers reflect personal opinions, not the official stance of this website.

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