Source factory exclusive guide｜6 steps to complete the process - 3 modes of comparison to choose - Material list + avoid pit guide - First shipment of practical points to help you quickly open a store through the audit at once!

Merkur 2026 cross-border business year-on-year growth of 68%, Brazil, Mexico, the two sites of the Chinese factory sellers continue to explode in demand. But many factory sellers are stuck in the ”don't know how to get started” - theWhat materials should I prepare? Which model to choose? How long does the audit take? How to arrange the first shipment?This article follows the timeline of the actual move-in, from step 1 to step 6, taking you by the hand through the entire process and avoiding the 90% pitfalls in advance.

Step 1: Choose the right model first, then prepare the materials

Many factory sellers come up to prepare materials, fill out the form, the results were audited by the staff told ”not enough water” or ”this mode is not suitable for you”. The first step is to find out which mode is suitable for you, the qualification and water requirements of different modes vary greatly.

How to choose? Look at three conditions

✅ Select Full Hosting

• No operational team specializing in cross-border e-commerce
• Stable production line and fast replenishment
• Want to save your mind, don't want to bother with Listings and ads
• Hoping for 0 fees and fast turnaround

✅ Select Semi-Custodial

• Have a 1-2 person dedicated e-commerce operations team
• Wants to control pricing and profits himself
• Experience with Amazon/Shopee operations
• Desire to balance autonomy and logistical convenience

💡 Optimal Path for Factory SellersIf no cross-border experience at all: choose firstfully managedRun through the Latin American market → Accumulate 3-6 months of data before considering upgradessemi-trusteeshipTake back the right to operate. Don't get greedy right off the bat.

Step 2: Prepare business qualifications and move-in materials

After the model is determined, prepare item by item against the list below. Incomplete materials or inconsistent information are the most common reasons for rejection, and it is recommended that they be prepared at once.

Required materials (common to all modes)

• business licenseThree certificates in mainland China (including unified social credit code), registered for 6 months, business scope including trade/sales/e-commerce categories
• Legal Person ID: High-definition color scans of the front and back, consistent with the license information
• International mailbox: Gmail / Outlook / AliCloud Enterprise Mailbox (QQ, 163, 126 disabled)
• China cell phone number: Cell phone of the legal person or person in charge of operations, keep it open
• Receiving accountPayoneer / WorldFirst / LinkPay / PingPong, or a corporate account in US Dollars (the account name must be the same as the company name on the business license).

Supplementary materials (by mode/category)

⚠️ What if the source factory has no e-commerce flow?2026 Mercado opens to source factoriesFlow-through exemption channel. If you are an actual manufacturing business (not a trading company), you can submit the following instead of proof of running water:

• Business license with the words ”production/manufacturing” in the scope of business
• Factory photos (2-3 each of workshop, warehouse, production line)
• Proof of production capacity or list of OEM cooperation
• Submit with the notation ”Source plant application for flow-through waiver”

Step 3: Submit an application for admission

Once the materials are ready, proceed to the formal application. There are two channels for submission:

Points of operation for submitting an application

• Use an international email address (Gmail/Outlook) when registering for an account, set a strong password and enable two-step verification
• When filling out the company information, all fields must match the business licenseidentical(word for word)
• Upload Material SelectionHigh-definition color scansDo not take photos (cell phone photos are often blurry/shadowed/with skewed edges)
• If there is an investment manager docking, in the notes column write ”source factory application” can trigger the green channel
• After submissionFocus on registered email and cell phoneThe reviewer may contact you within 1-3 days.

📌 Common mistakes in filling out the form (directly leading to rejection)

• The name of the company is over- or under-written with ”Ltd.” → It must be exactly the same as the license.
• Corporate name in traditional Chinese/English → Must be the same as the ID card.
• Unified Social Credit Code (UCC): one wrong digit → check three times before submitting.
• Cell phone number is down/empty → Audit return visit can not be contacted, automatically rejected

Step 4: Identification of legal persons

2026 Mercado addedFace Recognition + Identity Verification Dual VerificationThis is the only part of the admission process that requires the legal entity to be physically present.

verification process

1Receive verification SMS/email

Within 1-3 business days after submitting the application, the legal entity will receive a verification notification on its cell phone and email address

2 Enter Face Recognition

Click on the link to go to the verification page, allow camera permissions, and follow the prompts to complete the facial recognition (needs to be well lit and have an unobstructed face)

3 Upload the front and back of your ID card

Photograph the front and back of the ID card according to the guidelines to ensure that the corners are intact and the handwriting is clear.

4 Automatic system verification

The system automatically compares the consistency of identity information and business license, and the results are usually available in a few minutes.

⚠️ What should I do if my face recognition fails?If verification fails due to low light, network lag or facial obscuration, you can try again (up to 3 times per day). If it fails consecutively, contact the Merchandising Manager to applyManual Verification Alternatives(Hand-held ID photo + original business license photo required).

Step 5: Wait for review

After your identity is verified, you will enter the official review stage. The review team will check all the materials you submitted.

What can I do during the audit?

• Organize product information: shooting product white background picture (≥1200×1200px), prepare 5-6 points of product selling point description
• Research competitors in the Latin American market: open the Mexico site/Brazil site and search for similar products to see price bands and reviews
• Determine the first batch of SKUs: it is recommended to start with 10-20 SKUs, do not spread too much at once!
• Prepare a sample library: full hosting needs to send samples for review, prepare samples in advance

📌 3 Tips to Speed Up Your Audit

• After submissionUnsolicited emailsTo the investment manager to explain ”the factory has prepared XX type of products, ready to ship”.”
• Onboarding through a partner service provider is usually faster than self-submission3-7 working days
• The materials are complete, high-definition and free of alterations at one time, avoiding back and forth supplementation leading to audit delays

Step 6: Store Opening + First Shipment

After the review is approved, you will receive an email notification of the success of your move-in. Below is a list of all the things you need to accomplish after you place your store, in order of priority:

1Binding Receiving Account

Bind the ready Payoneer/LianLian etc. receiving account in the backend, make sure the account name is the same as the business license. It is recommended to set up bothautomatic cash withdrawalto avoid a backlog of funds.

⏰ Completed on the 1st day after placing in store

2 Improve store information

Set store name, Logo, return policy, shipping time commitment. Store name is recommended to useBrand Name + CategoryDo not use the full name of the company (too long for users to remember).

⏰ Completed 1-2 days after placing in store

3 Upload Product Listing

The first batch of 10-20 SKUs to be uploaded. each Listing needs to be prepared: title (with core keywords), 5-6 images (main image on white background), detailed description, price, stock.

• Title Formula: Brand name + core category words + 2-3 attribute words (color/material/use)
• Pricing reference: 3-5 times the ex-factory price (including freight, commission, room for exchange rate fluctuations)
• Main Image Requirements: white background, no watermark, ≥ 1200 × 1200px, the product accounted for more than 80% of the screen

⏰ 2-5 days to complete after placing in store

4 First shipment into warehouse

First shipments are scheduled according to the selected model:

• fully managedSend samples for review according to the platform's email requirements, and after passing the review, prepare 5-10 pieces/SKU to be sent to the designated warehouse according to the first order.
• semi-trusteeship: The first batch of stock is recommended to be 30-50 pieces/SKU, which will be shipped to the Latin American warehouse through the platform's designated logistics.
• self-service delivery: Set up a good shipping template, there are orders to be shipped according to the platform specified logistics channels can be

⏰ 3-7 days to complete after placing in store

5 Formal Operation

Goods into the warehouse on the shelves will be officially opened for sale. Fully hosted mode is operated by the platform; semi hosted/self-shipment mode requires the arrangement of specialized personnel:

• Monitor orders and inventory for timely replenishment (no more than 15 days replenishment cycle)
• Optimize Listing Titles and Images to Boost Conversions
• Keep an eye on platform promotions (e.g. Hot Sale, Cyber Monday) and sign up in a timely manner
• Handle customer inquiries and after-sales, maintain positive feedback

⏰ 7-14 days into full operation after placing the store

Factory Sellers High Frequency Pitfall List

We have served a large number of factory-type sellers stationed in the United States more, the following is the highest frequency of 8 pitfalls, in advance to understand can help you save a lot of time and energy:

⚠️ 3 red lines that lead to permanent store closure

• Material Counterfeiting: Falsification of licenses, flows or authorizations → permanent blackout, no recourse
• Selling imitations/infringement: unauthorized branded products on the shelves → store closure + legal recourse
• connected violation: Re-registration of the legal person or company of the blocked store → Association detection of blocked stores

P.S.: Factory Seller Onboarding Timeline Overview

common problems

Q: How long does it take for a factory seller to join Mercado?

A: Self-shipment mode provided that the materials are complete7-10 working daysFull/semi-trusteeship15-30 working days. Source factories take the green channel and the review cycle can be shortened to 7-14 working days. The whole process (including material preparation and first shipment) is usually 2-6 weeks.

Q: Can factories move in without cross-border experience?

A: Yes. Recommended choicesFull hosting modelWe are a seller who only supplies goods and operates the platform as a full package. There is no hard requirement for cross-border experience. Source factories can also apply for water threshold exemption, is the lowest threshold way to enter.

Q：Why should I choose full hosting or half hosting for my factory move-in?

A:There is an operations team to choose semi-custodial(taking control of your own pricing, listing optimization and marketing strategies).No operation team choose full hosting(Platform all-inclusive, 0 commissions and 0 fees). It is recommended to run through the Latin American market with full hosting first, and then upgrade to half hosting after accumulating experience.

Q: How much do I have to pay to join Mercado?

A:0 fee to move in--Entry fee $0, monthly rent $0, deposit $0. Full hosting model full link 0 fee (0 commission + 0 storage fee + 0 international shipping fee + 0 advertising fee). Self-shipment base commission 16%-17.5%, new sellers first month free of charge, 2-3 months halved.

Q: How many goods should I prepare for the first shipment from the factory?

A: Fully managed first order for each SKU5-10 piecesStarting out, replenishment cycle within 15 days. Semi-custodial / Overseas Warehousing Suggested First Batch30-50 pieces/SKU, at least cover 2-3 weeks of sales to avoid out of stock. It is recommended to control 10-20 SKUs for the first time in the warehouse, don't spread too much.

Q: What should I do if my Mercado audit is rejected?

A: Upon receipt of notification of refusalCan be resubmitted within 7 days. Common reasons for rejection: unclear materials, inconsistent information, inconsistent business scope, mailbox unreachable, cell phone contact. Targeted modification after the second submission, the pass rate of about 56%. you can contact the investment manager to understand the specific reasons for rejection.

Q：Can a legal person who is from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan or a foreigner move in?

A: Yes, but additional documents are required: Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan corporations are required to provide notarized business registration certificate; foreign corporations are required to provide passport (validity ≥ 6 months) + Chinese work visa. It is recommended to prepare in advance to avoid audit delay.

Q: How soon can I see my first order after I get in?

A: After the fully managed model merchandise is in the warehouse and on the shelves it is usually1-2 weeks for first order(platform with traffic support); semi-trusted/self-shipment depends on operational capabilities, general2-4 weeks. Pick the right hot categories (consumer electronics, apparel, home, auto parts) and optimize Listings well, and the speed of orders will be significantly faster.

Need one-on-one assistance getting into Mercado?

We provide exclusive services for factory sellers: qualification assessment → mode selection → material preparation → green channel submission → the first single out of the warehouse to accompany running
Priority channel for source factories, fastest 7 days to complete the audit