Supplier verification in Turkey: 7 checks before the first order
Seven checks to run on a Turkish supplier before you pay: registration, premises, export history, capacity, certificates, references and bank details, with the red flags for each.
Alper AzakoğluForeign trade consultant
2 min read
Updated:
Why check before the first order
Most import problems are visible before the first payment: a company that does not really manufacture, a factory without capacity, certificates that belong to someone else, or bank details that do not match the company. A few checks find them.
Seven checks and their red flags
| Check | What to look at | Red flag |
|---|---|---|
| Legal registration | Exact legal name, tax number and registration. Turkish company registrations and changes are published in the Trade Registry Gazette. | Name on invoice, bank account and contract must match |
| Real address and premises | A factory you can see, not only an office. A live video walk-through or a visit. | Refuses video, only shows stock photos |
| Export history | Customs records of buying countries show where the company ships, how much and how often. | No exports in your product, or only one-off shipments |
| Capacity and lead time | Machines, shifts and current orders against your quantity and date. | Says yes to every quantity and date |
| Certificates | ISO 9001 and product certificates: who issued them, for which product and site, valid until when. Check with the issuing body. | Certificate for another company, site or product; expired |
| References | Two or three buyers you can contact, ideally in your region. | No references, or only friends and agents |
| Payment details | Bank account in the company’s own legal name, in Türkiye. | Account in a person’s name or in a third country |
Watch out
Never accept a change of bank details by email alone. Confirm by phone with a person you already know, using a number you already have.
Order of work
- Desk research. Registration, website, export history in customs records, certificates.
- A call with the owner or export manager. Ask about capacity, lead time, main markets and quality control.
- Samples. Test against your specification; keep a signed reference sample.
- Factory visit or video tour. See the production line, quality checks and warehouse.
- A first order with protected payment. Deposit plus balance after inspection, or a letter of credit: how a letter of credit works.
Supplier checks and factory visits in Türkiye
We check the supplier in records and documents, visit the factory and report to you in English before you pay. Paid only by you.
Frequently asked questions
Is a factory visit necessary?
For a first order of meaningful value, yes, or a live video tour at the least. A visit shows capacity, quality culture and who you will really deal with.
What if the supplier is a trading company?
Trading companies can add value, but you should know it. Ask who makes the goods and where; check the factory too if quality matters.
How long do checks take?
Desk checks take a few days; a factory visit adds the travel. It is small compared with the cost of a failed order.
Sources
- Türkiye Trade Registry Gazette (Ticaret Sicili Gazetesi): ticaretsicil.gov.tr
- International Accreditation Forum, certification search (IAF CertSearch): iafcertsearch.org
Author
Alper Azakoğlu
For 30 years he has worked as foreign trade consultant and foreign trade manager for manufacturers in industrial zones across Türkiye. He writes these guides from his own work in the field.