# Product Sourcing ## Find the right supplier. _Skip the guesswork._ Sourcing a product takes months of research, negotiations, and dead ends. Portless compresses that into days — vetted suppliers, negotiated pricing, and a warm handoff. $0 Revenue we make from suppliers. Zero. 0% Commission, kickback, or referral fee from factories. 100% Flat fee from you. Nothing hidden, nothing baked in. Open book See every supplier quote raw, unedited, direct. ## We're on your side. Structurally. Most sourcing agents get paid twice — by you, and quietly by the factory. That's why their recommendations feel fishy. Our model is designed to make that impossible. ### Traditional sourcing agents #### Paid by you _and_ the factory. - ✕ Hidden kickbacks of 5–15% from factories, baked into your unit cost - ✕ “Recommend” the supplier paying the biggest commission - ✕ Markups layered on top of supplier quotes you never see - ✕ Tooling, sampling, and relationship fees collected on the side - ✕ Vague quotes. “Trust me” pricing. No paper trail. ### Portless Sourcing #### Paid only by you. Ever. - ✓ **Zero kickbacks, commissions, or referral fees** from any supplier. In writing. - ✓ We recommend the supplier that fits **your** specs and budget best — full stop. - ✓ Supplier quotes passed to you **raw, unedited**. You see what we see. - ✓ One flat fee. No tooling markups, no sampling margins, nothing else. - ✓ Every dollar we negotiate down is yours to keep — that's the whole point. This isn't a policy — it's our business model. We negotiate suppliers down hard because there's literally no other way we make money on sourcing. ## Why it matters ### Sourcing is a full-time job. We do it for you. Most brands spend 3–6 months finding a reliable supplier — and still end up with bad pricing, missed lead times, or quality issues. We've done this thousands of times so you don't have to. #### Save months of research We tap our established supplier network to deliver a qualified shortlist within one week — not months of cold outreach. #### Better pricing from day one Our volume relationships unlock pricing you can't get as a single buyer. We negotiate on your behalf as a standard part of the process. #### No surprises at the finish line Every supplier we recommend has been vetted on lead times, quality, and reliability. We only make introductions when you're ready. ## What's included ### Everything you need to move fast. #### Supplier research & vetting We identify and qualify 2–3 options matched to your product specs and budget. #### Price negotiation We negotiate pricing with each supplier to get you the best unit economics from day one. #### Full supplier details MOQ, unit pricing, lead times, certifications, and production capacity — delivered in a clear comparison. #### 1 revision round If the first shortlist isn't right, we go back and revise at no extra charge. #### Sample coordination We manage the sample process and can receive samples at our warehouse for quality review. Sample costs are paid by the merchant. #### Formal introduction Once you approve, we make the supplier introduction and hand off everything you need to place your first order. ### Ready to skip months of supplier research? Submit your brief in 2 minutes. We'll come back within 1 business day with next steps — and you'll have a vetted shortlist within a week. ## How it works ### From brief to supplier in weeks, not months. 1. **Submit your brief** Day 1 Describe your product, target pricing, and any supplier requirements. Takes 2 minutes. 2. **Initial review** Day 1–2 Our team reviews your request and follows up with any clarifying questions within 1 business day. 3. **Supplier shortlist** Within 1 week We research, qualify, and present 2–3 vetted supplier options with full pricing and details. 4. **Sampling & approval** 1–4 weeks You review suppliers, request samples, and choose your preferred partner. We coordinate logistics — sample costs are paid by you directly. 5. **Formal introduction** ~1–2 months end-to-end Once you approve, we make the official introduction and hand off everything needed to place your first order. ## Pricing ### One flat fee. No supplier kickbacks. No hourly rates. No hidden fees. No factory commissions. Pay for outcomes. #### One-Off Project $2,500 per project · paid only by you - 2–3 vetted supplier options - Price negotiation included - 1 revision round - Formal supplier introduction #### Best value Monthly Subscription $2,000/mo unlimited projects/year · paid only by you 3-month minimum commitment, then cancel anytime. - Up to 3 projects in parallel - Unlimited projects per year - All one-off services included - 5 QC inspection days / year (non-transferable) - 1 factory audit / year (non-transferable) - Sample shipping from supplier covered by Portless ### What we don't do We're transparent about the scope so there are no surprises. - ✕ We don't take a dime from suppliers Not a referral fee, not a commission, not a volume kickback, not “free” sampling coordination quietly paid by the factory. If you hear a sourcing agent claim they’re free to you — it’s because the factory is paying them, and it’s baked into your unit cost. Our model is the opposite: you pay our flat fee, and every dollar we save you on unit cost stays in your pocket. - ✕ We don't manage your supplier relationship Once we make the formal introduction, the ongoing relationship — orders, payments, quality disputes — is between you and the supplier. We hand off cleanly and step back. - ✕ We don't cover sample costs Samples are ordered and paid for by you directly. We coordinate the process, but the cost is yours. - ✕ We don't guarantee supplier performance We vet suppliers rigorously, but we can't guarantee their production quality, lead times, or future behavior after introduction. That due diligence is shared. ## FAQ ### Common questions. **How do you make money? Do you take a cut from the factory?** No, and this is the core of how we work differently. Portless is paid exclusively by you — $2,500 per project or $2,000/month on subscription. We don't take commissions, referral fees, or kickbacks from suppliers. Ever. This is why we can recommend suppliers without bias and why we push hard on pricing — every dollar we save you is yours to keep. **What product categories do you source?** We source across all major consumer product categories — electronics, apparel, home goods, beauty, health, outdoor, and more. If you sell it, we can likely find a supplier for it. **Do I need to be a Portless fulfillment customer?** Yes, this service is available exclusively to Portless merchants. If you're not yet on Portless, reach out to our sales team. **What if I don't like the supplier options?** Every project includes one free revision round. We'll go back and refine the search based on your feedback. **Can you receive samples at the Portless warehouse?** Yes. When you submit your request, indicate that you'd like to send samples to the warehouse and we'll coordinate receipt and quality inspection. **How is the subscription billed?** Monthly, in advance. Cancel anytime with 30 days notice. Projects in flight at cancellation will be completed. ## Ready to get started? ### Stop spending months on sourcing. Submit your brief today. Our team will review it and be in touch within 1 business day.