Three tiers.
Every supplier pre-verified.
We check business registration, insurance, licensing, and trade compliance — not just self-reported profiles. Here's exactly how it works.
Self-Claimed
Every new supplier starts here. Profile visible in search, but without trust badges.
- Business name + contact
- Services / products listed
- Physical location disclosed
- Listed in search results
- Receive buyer messages
- Use all free platform features
Verified
Blue shield badge. Requires uploaded business registration + insurance + admin review.
- Government business registration (incorporation, EIN, VAT, etc.)
- Current liability or professional insurance
- Industry license (where applicable)
- Admin review by PocketFiler team (1-3 business days)
- Blue Verified shield on profile
- Higher ranking in search
- Buyer trust: higher reply + conversion rate
- Featured in category pages
- Eligible for promoted placement
Premium Verified
Gold shield badge. PocketFiler-reviewed in depth: operations, quality systems, past transactions, compliance.
- Everything in Verified, plus:
- Operational capacity disclosure (MOQ, lead times, capabilities)
- Quality management certification (ISO 9001, AS9100, IATF, SA8000, BSCI, etc.)
- Trade compliance documentation (AGOA, USMCA, country of origin, ethical labor)
- PocketFiler-led video walkthrough of facilities or references
- Annual re-verification
- Gold Premium Verified shield
- Top placement in search + category pages
- Featured spotlight rotations
- Verified badge visible on every outbound contract
- Direct line to PocketFiler success team
- Priority resolution on disputes
We track and verify dozens of industry certifications
Verified suppliers can display badges for the specific certifications they hold. Buyers can filter search by required certifications.
How verification actually works
Why does PocketFiler verify suppliers?+
Marketplaces without verification have a scam problem — well-documented on platforms like Alibaba. Our three-tier system lets buyers filter by trust level and see exactly which credentials we've confirmed. This protects buyers, rewards honest suppliers, and builds a marketplace worth trusting.
How long does verification take?+
Tier 1 Verified: typically 1-3 business days after documents uploaded. Tier 2 Premium Verified: 7-14 days depending on industry complexity and document availability. We'll email you at each review step.
What documents do I need for Tier 1 Verified?+
(1) Government business registration — your EIN, incorporation certificate, VAT number, or equivalent national ID. (2) Current liability or professional insurance certificate. (3) Any industry-specific license (real estate, contractor, trade). Upload PDFs directly in your profile; our admins review within 3 business days.
Is my verification information public?+
No. Only the badge (blue shield / gold shield) + badge-granted capabilities (e.g., 'ISO 9001 certified') are visible on your public profile. Your actual uploaded documents are never shared — they're stored encrypted and only seen by PocketFiler's verification team.
What if I don't want to verify?+
You don't have to. Tier 0 Self-Claimed is free and fully usable. You'll just rank lower in search and have a lower conversion rate — buyers tend to message verified suppliers first. Most suppliers upgrade to Tier 1 within 30 days of seeing their lower reply rate.
Can a supplier fake verification?+
Tier 1 requires real government docs reviewed by a human. Tier 2 adds operational capacity review, quality cert verification, and a live video walkthrough. Faking these consistently is far harder than the payoff — and being caught falsifying gets a lifetime ban + public disclosure.
Do you re-verify suppliers?+
Tier 1 stays active for 12 months unless triggered by dispute. Tier 2 requires annual re-verification: refreshed documents + refreshed operational audit. We notify 60 days in advance.
How much does Premium Verified cost?+
Pricing varies by industry complexity and is disclosed during application — typically $200-$800 one-time for review + annual renewal. The cost offsets our deeper audit work. Most Premium Verified suppliers report ROI inside 2 months from improved placement + conversion.
Get your Verified badge.
Blue shield free. Gold shield when you're ready. Start by listing your business.