1. What exactly does the basic fee include?

Export RepresentationThe basic cost structure follows"Service fee + advance funding cost + additional charges"The Golden Triangle Model, specifically manifested as:

• Service fee (3%-8% of the cargo value)
  • Fixed service fee: 2000-5000 RMB per order (suitable for small orders)
  • Progressive rate fee: The higher the cargo value, the lower the rate (below 1 million at 1.5%, above 5 million at 0.8%).
• Financing interest (annualized 8%-15%)
  • Calculated based on the number of days of advance payment (from payment to tax refund receipt)
  • Mainstream financing cycle for 2025: 60-90 days.
• Additional Fees (Documentation)
  • Customs declaration fee: 500-2000 RMB per shipment (depending on port complexity)
  • Document Authentication: 200-800 RMB/copy (Chamber of Commerce Authentication/Embassy Authentication)

2. How do different charging models affect the total cost?

In 2025, mainstream agency companies adopt three pricing models, as illustrated through case comparisons:

• Proportion of goods value model (Example: Goods value of 1 million)
  • Service fee 1.5%: 15,000 yuan
  • Financing interest (90 days/12% annualized): 1,000,000 × 12% ÷ 360 × 90 = 30,000 yuan
  • Additional fee: 5,000 yuan
  • Total cost: 50,000 yuan
• Fixed package model (Case: Below $100,000)
  • Service package fee: 8,000 yuan
  • Capped interest on advance payment: 5,000 yuan
  • Total cost: 13,000 yuan
• Hybrid Model (Applicable to Goods Worth Over 3 Million)
  • Basic service fee: 0.8%
  • Excess profit sharing (20% of the portion exceeding the agreed profit)

3. What hidden fees should be paid special attention to?

According to the 2025 industry complaint statistics, the following three types of hidden fees are the most common:

• Document Exception Surcharge
  • Amendment fee: 500-2000 RMB per instance (e.g., HS code modification, etc.)
  • Late declaration fee transfer: 1.5 times the customs fine will be charged.
• Exchange rate difference traps
  • FX Settlement AgencyExchange rate difference: The agent's self-determined exchange rate is 0.5% lower than the Bank of China's middle rate.
  • Cross-border RMB settlement handling fee (1.2‰-3‰)
• Traps in the Advance Payment Clause
  • Interest outside the grace period: An additional 0.3‰ will be charged daily for overdue payments.
  • Early repayment penalty (30% of the remaining interest)

IV. How to Secure the Optimal Agency Fee Rate?

Based on the latest market research in 2025, three negotiation strategies are recommended:

• Step Quote Game Method
  • First order at standard rate
  • A quarterly cumulative transaction value of 5 million will result in a 1% service fee rebate.
• Risk hedging solutions
• Commitment to using designated logistics providers can reduce fees by 0.5%.
• Using forward exchange locking can reduce the interest on advance funding by 20%.
• Leveraging policy dividends
  • Under RCEPIt is recommended to verify through the following methods:Service fee reduced by 50%
  • Cross-border E-commerceThe 9710 model is eligible to apply for government subsidies to offset service fees.

Special Reminder: After the implementation of the new VAT credit refund regulations in 2025, the funding cycle for professional agents has been shortened from 120 days to 75 days. When selecting an agent, be sure to confirm whether they have the capability to integrate with the electronic tax refund system. It is recommended to require the agent to provide documentation including72-hour Cost Breakdown Confirmation MechanismandReal-time Tax Refund Tracking SystemService commitment to minimize capital costs.