Whoever you end up working with, the diligence is the same. Ask these before signing anything, and pay attention to which questions produce a precise answer and which produce a story.
Six questions
- What exactly is the deliverable, and when do I have it? Vague deliverables produce vague invoices.
- Who does the work, and are they in China? A partner in Paris and an unnamed « local team » is a different arrangement from a named person on the ground.
- How are you paid, and by whom? If they also take a commission from the supplier or distributor they recommend, you need to know.
- What have you refused to do, and why? A provider who has never declined a project has no selection criteria.
- What does failure look like, and what does it cost you? This single question reorganises the whole conversation.
- What will I be able to do myself afterwards? Good work leaves you more capable, not more dependent.
Two answers that should slow you down
A guaranteed outcome — nobody can guarantee that a Chinese distributor will buy. And a client list that cannot be verified: impressive logos that turn out to be a one-off introduction three years ago are more common than anyone admits, and they are easy to check.
Apply this to us as well. If we cannot answer one of these precisely, that is information you should act on.