Purpose

• Sourcing agents act as a middle man between two companies, typically in different countries doing business. The agent can be an individual employee of one of the companies, or a company in itself. Sourcing agents help manage relationships by overcoming language barriers and acting on behalf of the purchaser's interests according to the agreement.
  
  

Terms

• Terms discussed in a sourcing agent agreement are length of the agreement, the ability of the sourcing agent or purchaser to terminate the agreement, payment terms, and duties.
  
  

Fees

• The fees paid to the sourcing agent vary by agreement. It can be a flat fee for a single purchase, or a percentage of all goods and services purchased through the agent.
  
  

Duties

• Typical agent duties outlined in the agreement are providing market information about potential sellers, and to make the purchaser aware of shipping conditions and availability of product.