Short answer
A pre-payment risk worksheet happens before money moves. It checks supplier identity, payment details, transaction terms, missing evidence, and questions to ask.
Pre-shipment inspection happens after goods exist. It checks physical product, quantity, packaging, labeling, workmanship, and shipment readiness.
When this matters
This matters when you are deciding whether to pay a deposit now, or when production is finished and you are deciding whether to release final balance.
What to check before payment
- Supplier identity and legal company name
- PI and payment beneficiary consistency
- Product specs and quote clarity
- Deposit, balance, and refund terms
- Inspection acceptance before final payment
- Incoterm and shipping responsibility
What inspection checks later
- Quantity and assortment
- Workmanship and defects
- Product measurements and basic function checks
- Packaging and labeling
- Carton markings
- Photos, videos, and shipment readiness
Red flags
- Supplier refuses inspection before final balance.
- Goods are “ready” but no packing list, photos, or inspection window is offered.
- Deposit is requested before product specs are written.
- Final balance is requested before evidence or inspection.
What evidence to collect
Before deposit, collect identity, PI, bank, quote, specs, Incoterm, and inspection agreement. Before final balance, collect inspection report, packing list, commercial invoice, photos, videos, and shipping documents.
Questions to ask the supplier
Please confirm:
1. Do you accept third-party inspection before final balance?
2. Where will inspection happen?
3. What happens if inspection finds defects?
4. What documents will be provided before final payment?
5. What specs and packaging will inspection compare against?When to use another service
Use pre-payment worksheets before paying. Use a qualified inspection company once goods exist. Use a lawyer for contract and dispute risk, and a freight forwarder for shipment and customs questions.
Use the $49 DIY Toolkit before payment, and use qualified inspection once goods exist.
FAQ
Can a pre-payment review replace inspection?
No. It helps before payment, but it does not check physical goods.
Can inspection verify the supplier identity?
Inspection may observe a location and goods, but it is not the same as reviewing your pre-payment identity and beneficiary chain.
Build your supplier evidence file before you pay.
Start with the free checklist, then use the $49 DIY Toolkit when you want reusable scorecards, supplier question scripts, and company-identity worksheets.
Disclaimer
This is an educational toolkit based on supplier evidence, public business-information concepts, and practical buyer checklists. It is not supplier certification, legal advice, financial advice, customs advice, product compliance advice, inspection, factory audit, sourcing agency work, or a guarantee that any supplier is safe.