Key takeaways
- 50/50 is the standard: 50% deposit on order confirmation, 50% balance before shipment. Suits standard items with medium lead times.
- 30/70 works for larger orders where the buyer wants less upfront cash exposure — usually requires an established supplier relationship.
- OEM / ODM projects benefit from milestone payments tied to sample approval, production start, and pre-shipment QC.
- T/T remains the default for international B2B. L/C only earns its overhead when the deal is large or the relationship is new.
How B2B payment usually gets structured
International B2B kitchenware procurement runs on telegraphic transfer (T/T) in almost every case. Letters of credit exist, but the overhead rarely pays off below large order sizes or between parties that already trust each other. Below are the payment structures that cover most real orders.
50/50 — the standard
This is the default we quote for repeat orders with established items. Unless something unusual is going on — a brand-new supplier, a very large order, or custom tooling — 50/50 is what lands on the PI.
30/70 — larger or tooling-heavy orders
30/70 is also a common structure when the product needs tooling but the mould cost has already been paid separately. It's less appropriate for fresh, untested supplier pairings.
Custom — project-based milestones
Milestone payments are especially worthwhile when the project has a long tooling or design phase. Without them, either the supplier is financing the project, or the buyer has committed cash to a project that hasn't proven it will ship.
A note on currency, bank fees, and timing
Almost all of our quotes are in USD unless the buyer asks otherwise. Intermediary bank fees on T/T are normally borne by the buyer; factor a few dozen USD per wire into your cost model. Timing-wise: deposit wires typically clear within 1–3 business days; plan your PI signature accordingly if the production slot is tight.