2026-06-10 / registered address / production address / China factory

Registered Address vs Production Address in China Factory Checks

Why a registered address on a business license may not be the place where your goods are actually made.

Why it matters

A Chinese business license usually shows a registered address, but that address is not always the workshop, warehouse, or production site. Some companies register in an office, industrial park address, or shared administrative location while manufacturing happens elsewhere. This is not automatically suspicious, but it must be explained before the buyer treats the supplier as a verified factory.

Evidence to collect

Ask for the registered address, actual production address, warehouse address if separate, and the address shown on inspection reports, certificates, shipping records, or product labels. If the supplier claims multiple sites, request a simple site list with the product categories handled at each location.

How to review it

Compare the production address with photos, video calls, audit reports, and inspection arrangements. If a third party will inspect goods, ensure the inspection address is the same site that will produce or hold the order. Address consistency matters because quality responsibility follows the real operating site, not the marketing name.

Where buyers get misled

Buyers may assume that any address on an official-looking document proves factory ownership. In practice, the registered address may only identify the legal entity. A supplier can be legitimate and still outsource production; the issue is whether that role is disclosed and controlled.

Practical next step

Create an address table for each supplier. List every address, source document, related entity, and explanation. If the supplier cannot explain where production happens, do not treat the order as factory-direct until more evidence is provided.