Answers to Your Most Common Questions

Far East Advisory provides expert on-the-ground support for Western businesses operating in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. We offer six core services — sourcing and product development, manufacturing support, quality control and inspection, translation and interpretation, business setup and advisory, and visa and relocation support. Think of us as your trusted partner in Asia — physically present, culturally fluent, and working entirely in your interests.

We're based in South China, in the heart of the Pearl River Delta — minutes from Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Dongguan, and Hong Kong. This puts us at the centre of one of the world's most dynamic manufacturing and business regions, and means we can be at a factory, in a meeting, or on a site visit same day when needed.

Our founder has been living and working in South China for over 20 years. Far East Advisory was built on that accumulated experience — the relationships, the cultural understanding, the hard-won knowledge of how business actually works here. It's not something you can shortcut, and it's the foundation of everything we offer.

We work with Western businesses from across the globe — the UK, USA, Australia, Canada, Europe, and beyond. Our primary focus is on clients who are based outside Asia and need trusted, experienced representation on the ground in Greater China. We work across all time zones and communicate clearly in English.

Not at all. We work with businesses of all sizes — from individual entrepreneurs launching their first product to established importers and growing SMEs. What matters is that you need reliable, professional support in China and that we're the right fit for your specific situation. Book a free consultation and we'll tell you honestly whether we can help.

We draw primarily on our established network of verified manufacturers built over 20+ years on the ground in South China. We supplement this with targeted research and direct outreach where needed. Crucially, we physically visit and assess every supplier before making introductions — we don't recommend factories we haven't met in person.

For a product with an existing specification, we can typically identify and vet suitable suppliers within 2-4 weeks. More complex products or product development from scratch naturally takes longer. We'll give you a realistic timeline after our initial consultation — we never overpromise on speed.

Not necessarily — many of our clients never visit China at all. We handle factory visits, supplier meetings, sample reviews, and negotiations entirely on your behalf. That said, if you want to visit suppliers in person we'll arrange and accompany you every step of the way, making the trip as productive as possible.

IP protection is one of the most common and most important concerns for our clients. Before any supplier introductions we advise on appropriate NDA and IP protection measures, and we work with trusted legal contacts in the region to ensure your interests are properly protected. We also advise on practical steps like design registration in China, which many clients overlook.

Absolutely — the Canton Fair is one of the most important sourcing events in the world and we know it extremely well. We can help you prepare before the fair, accompany you during it with professional interpretation and market expertise, and follow up with suppliers afterwards. Having experienced support at the Canton Fair makes an enormous difference to what you get out of it.

Absolutely. We work with your existing suppliers as readily as those within our own network. Our manufacturing support service is about providing professional oversight wherever your production is happening — not about directing you to our preferred factories.

This depends on the complexity of your order, the production timeline, and the level of oversight we agree together. For straightforward orders a pre-production meeting and pre-shipment inspection may be sufficient. For complex or high-value productions we can provide frequent in-line oversight throughout. We'll recommend the right approach for your specific situation.

We catch issues early — that's the whole point of proper manufacturing oversight. If a problem is identified we communicate it to you immediately and clearly, work with the factory to find the fastest and fairest resolution, and keep you informed throughout. You'll never find out about a production problem by opening a container at your warehouse.

Ideally at multiple stages — pre-production, during production, and pre-shipment. If your budget allows only one inspection, a pre-shipment inspection when 80-100% of goods are complete is the most critical checkpoint. We'll advise on the right approach for your specific order and budget.

In the vast majority of cases you will receive your full written inspection report, complete with photographs and clear findings, within 24 hours of the inspection being completed. We know that timely information is critical when you're making shipment decisions.

You'll receive a detailed report explaining exactly what was found and why. We then work with you to determine the best course of action — requiring the factory to rework the goods, negotiating a price adjustment, or in serious cases advising against acceptance of the shipment. We'll give you our honest recommendation and support you through whatever decision you make.

We coordinate with accredited third party testing laboratories where product safety, regulatory compliance, or certification testing is required. We'll advise on what testing may be relevant for your product and target market, and manage the coordination with testing facilities on your behalf.

No. Machine translation tools are entirely unsuitable for professional business, legal, or technical documents where accuracy and nuance are critical. All our translations are produced by human translators with relevant subject matter expertise and professionally reviewed before delivery.

Absolutely — trade show interpretation is one of our most popular services. Having a professional interpreter with deep business and industry knowledge at the Canton Fair makes an enormous difference. We don't just translate words — we help you communicate effectively and culturally intelligently throughout the event.

Yes — we understand that business doesn't always run to a convenient schedule. Get in touch with your deadline and we'll do everything we can to accommodate urgent requirements. The more notice you can give us the better, but we'll always be honest with you about what's achievable.

Our core language services cover Mandarin Chinese (Simplified — mainland China), Mandarin Chinese (Traditional — Taiwan), Cantonese and Traditional Chinese (Hong Kong), and English. All services bridge seamlessly between these languages in either direction.

A Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprise is a legal entity in China that is entirely owned by foreign investors — giving you full operational control without requiring a local Chinese partner. Whether it's the right structure for you depends on your business model, objectives, and how you intend to operate in China. We'll walk you through all the options clearly during your consultation.

Yes — Hong Kong remains one of Asia's premier business jurisdictions. Its common law legal system, transparent regulatory environment, straightforward low taxation, and world class banking infrastructure make it an excellent base for Western businesses looking to operate across the region. We'll give you an honest assessment of whether it's the right fit for your specific situation and objectives.

Not necessarily. A WFOE structure allows full foreign ownership without a local Chinese partner. However in certain industries local partnership or joint venture structures are required by regulation, or may be commercially advantageous. We'll advise clearly on what applies to your specific business type and sector.

Absolutely. We work with businesses at all stages — including those who have already established a presence in the region but are experiencing structural issues, compliance challenges, or simply need better ongoing local support and advice. Sometimes a fresh set of experienced eyes makes all the difference.

For most business purposes — factory visits, trade shows, supplier meetings, and negotiations — a Chinese Business Visa (M Visa) is the appropriate category. Requirements and processing times vary by nationality and where you're applying from. We'll confirm exactly what you need based on your specific situation.

Yes — a refusal isn't necessarily the end of the road. We'll review what happened, identify the issue, and advise on the best path forward. In many cases refusals result from documentation issues or incorrect category selection that can be addressed and successfully reapplied for.

Yes — for clients relocating with families we provide practical guidance on international schools, residential areas, accommodation options, healthcare, banking, and the general practicalities of family life in the region. Having lived here for over 20 years ourselves, we offer genuinely useful firsthand knowledge rather than generic relocation advice.

Significantly — all three jurisdictions operate entirely distinct immigration systems with their own entry requirements and permit categories. What applies in mainland China does not automatically apply in Hong Kong or Taiwan. We'll ensure you have accurate, current, and specific guidance for whichever destination or combination of destinations is relevant to you.

All fees are agreed transparently before any work begins — no hidden costs, no surprises. The structure varies by service type: some services are priced per project, some per day, and some on a retained basis for ongoing support. We'll discuss the right fee structure for your specific situation during your free consultation and provide a clear written proposal before anything starts.

Yes — completely and genuinely free, with no obligation whatsoever. We want to understand your situation properly before either of us commits to anything, and we're happy to give you honest initial advice and direction even if we turn out not to be the right fit for each other.

We're flexible and work around what suits you best. Most client communication happens via email, video call (Zoom or Teams), and WhatsApp. For clients already operating in Asia, WeChat is also available. We provide regular, clear updates and are always accessible when something important needs attention.

Yes — we're used to working with clients across all major Western time zones. We schedule calls at times that work for you, which often means early mornings or evenings our time. We'll always find an arrangement that works, and for urgent matters we're responsive regardless of the hour.

Everything you share with us is treated with complete confidentiality as a matter of course. We never share client information, project details, or business plans with third parties without your explicit permission. If required, we're happy to sign a mutual NDA before any detailed discussions take place.

Absolutely — and this is one of the real advantages of working with Far East Advisory. Having one trusted partner who can handle sourcing, manufacturing oversight, QC, translation, and business advisory simultaneously means better coordination, fewer communication gaps, and a more coherent overall experience. Many of our clients use us across multiple service areas.