How We Work With Manufacturers | Agents-Distributors.com

Agents-Distributors.com

How we work with manufacturers

A plain-language guide to our recruitment process, cooperation options, and what you can expect at every stage.

The process

From listing to signed partner — step by step

Every manufacturer project follows the same four stages. Here is exactly what happens, what it costs, and who does what.

Professional listing — your market presence

€149 · paid once before we start

We write a professional agent and distributor search listing on your behalf and publish it as a featured listing on our platform for 30 days. This is not simply an advertisement — it is the foundation document we point every prospective partner to, and it generates inbound enquiries while active outreach runs in parallel.

No listing, no outreach. We do not begin approaching candidates on your behalf without a credible profile to present them. This step is the starting point of every project we take on, without exception.

What we need from you

Company background and production capacity
Product overview and key specifications
Product photos (catalogue quality where available)
Price list — treated as strictly confidential, never published
Any existing brochure or technical documentation

One-off listing fee

€149

due before publication · no recurring costs

All enquiries generated by the listing come to us first. We filter and qualify each one, then forward only relevant contacts to you with a short briefing note.

Active market development — we search on your behalf

No additional upfront cost

With the listing live, we begin active outreach. We map the market, identify suitable distributors, wholesalers, and agents, and approach them directly on your behalf. We present your company and product range, assess genuine interest, and qualify candidates before involving you.

We focus initially on the Netherlands and nearby EU markets — Germany, Austria, Belgium — as well as the wider Adriatic and Balkan region where relevant. The geographic scope is agreed with you before outreach begins.

What this includes

Market mapping and target identification
Direct outreach to shortlisted candidates
Initial interest assessment and qualification
Regular updates on progress and market feedback

Week 1–2

Market mapping and candidate shortlist prepared

Week 4–6

First qualified prospects and market feedback

Week 8–12

First substantive introductions to candidates

Introduction — we connect you directly

Facilitated by us

When we identify a serious candidate, we make a direct introduction by email — to you and to them simultaneously. From this point, you communicate directly with the candidate. We do not stand between you and your future partner.

Depending on the cooperation option you have chosen (see below), we may remain available to support the early stages of the conversation or step back entirely after the introduction.

Agreement — you negotiate and sign directly

Between you and the partner

Negotiations, commercial terms, and the distribution or agency agreement are handled directly between you and the partner. We do not draft or sign contracts on your behalf — any agreement is made between the two parties in their own names.

Our success fee becomes due at this point — upon the signing of a distribution agreement or the confirmation of a first order with a partner we have introduced. The exact amount is agreed with you before outreach begins. If no deal results, nothing further is owed beyond the listing fee.

No deal, no fee. Beyond the €149 listing, our success fee is only due when a partner you found through us signs an agreement or places a confirmed first order.

After recruitment

Cooperation options once candidates are found

After the introduction is made, there are several ways we can structure our ongoing involvement — or step back entirely. Choose the model that fits your situation.

🤝

Pure introduction

We introduce you to qualified candidates and then step back. You take the conversation forward independently. Clean, simple, and self-directed.

Cost after introduction: €0

Success fee only — due at signing or first confirmed order.

Most common

📋

Facilitated agreement

We stay involved through the early negotiation phase to help shape realistic terms — we know what distributors expect in these markets and what is reasonable to ask for. We help both sides reach an agreement that works.

Cost: Flat fee agreed in advance

Applied once, at the point of signing. Scope agreed before outreach begins.

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Ongoing commercial representation

We act as your ongoing regional representative — maintaining the relationship with the distributor, supporting reorders, and identifying further opportunities in the market. A percentage commission applies to orders placed through partners we manage.

Cost: % commission on orders

Rate and scope agreed before start. Reviewed after the first 6 months.

🔗

Account management retainer

A light-touch monthly arrangement where we act as a liaison between you and your new partner during the critical first year — keeping communication flowing and flagging issues early. Suited to manufacturers new to the market.

Cost: Monthly retainer

Fixed monthly fee. Typically for 6–12 months. Cancelable with 30 days notice.

Not sure which option suits you? Start with the listing and active search. We can discuss the right post-recruitment model once the first candidates have been identified.

Pricing overview

What you pay and when

No hidden costs. Every fee is agreed in writing before work begins.

Service	Cost	When due
Professional listing (30 days featured)	€149	Before publication. One-off, no recurring charges.
Active market development & outreach	No upfront fee	Nothing due during the search phase.
Success fee	Agreed in advance	Due only when a distribution agreement is signed or a first order from an introduced partner is confirmed.
Facilitated agreement support	Flat fee (agreed)	At signing. Only if this option is selected.
Ongoing representation / retainer	% commission or monthly fee	Monthly, in arrears. Only if this option is selected.

Common questions

Frequently asked

Answers to the questions we hear most often from new manufacturers.

No. The listing is the starting point of every project we take on, without exception. It is not simply a publication — it is the professional profile we present to every candidate we approach on your behalf. Without it, we have nothing credible to put in front of the market, and outreach is not effective.

The agreement is negotiated and signed directly between you (the manufacturer) and the distributor or agent. We do not draft contracts on behalf of either party. If you would like support in shaping the commercial terms, that is covered by our facilitated agreement option.

If no distribution agreement is signed and no first order is confirmed with a partner we have introduced, no success fee is due. The only cost you will have incurred is the €149 listing fee. We are entirely results-oriented in our approach.

The success fee is agreed with you before outreach begins and confirmed in writing. It is typically a fixed amount rather than a percentage, reflecting the nature of the introduction rather than the ongoing value of the agreement. The exact figure depends on the target markets, product category, and scope of the search.

Not necessarily. Please send what you have and we will advise on what needs to be available in English for effective outreach. We can assist with reformatting and, in some cases, light translation of key product information.

For most manufacturers starting with us, we recommend beginning with the Netherlands and nearby EU markets — Germany, Austria, Belgium — as well as geographically relevant neighbouring markets. The scope is agreed with you before outreach begins and can be expanded once initial results are in hand.

Ready to get started?

The first step is a professional listing. Send us your enquiry and we will be in touch by email to discuss the next steps.

Start with a listing →