Business Due Diligence Before Dealing with a Turkish Company

Finding a company in an official database is only the first step. Due diligence is the comprehensive process of ensuring the entity you are talking to is capable, legitimate, and safe to transact with.

This checklist provides a structured framework for international buyers evaluating a Turkish business partner.

Due Diligence Checklist

1. Identity & Registration Alignment

• Have you obtained the company’s Vergi Levhası (Tax Plate)?
• Have you obtained a recent Faaliyet Belgesi (Chamber of Commerce Activity Certificate)?
• Does the exact legal name on these documents match the name in the MERSİS database?
• Does the name match the beneficiary on the proforma invoice?

2. Physical Address & Operations

• Have you verified the registered headquarters address using Google Maps/Street View?
• Does the legal address align with the nature of the business? (e.g., A factory should be in an industrial zone, not a residential apartment).
• Have you conducted a live video call of the production facility?
• Have you requested a Kapasite Raporu (Capacity Report) if they claim to be the direct manufacturer?

3. Financial & Payment Consistency

• Is the bank account provided for payment physically located in Türkiye?
• Is the bank account strictly in the name of the registered corporate entity? (Never pay an individual or an unrelated offshore third-party company).
• Have you agreed on a balanced payment structure (e.g., Letter of Credit, or a split deposit/balance transfer)?

4. Digital Footprint

• Does the company have a professional web presence?
• Do the email addresses used for communication match the official domain? (Be highly suspicious of generic Gmail or Yahoo accounts for corporate trade).
• Are the contact numbers legitimate Turkish lines (+90)?

What Online Verification Can and Cannot Do

Online verification can:

• Confirm a company was legally formed.
• Verify its official tax identification number.
• Confirm its registered headquarters.

Online verification CANNOT:

• Prove that the person emailing you actually works for that company.
• Prove that the company is currently solvent and not facing bankruptcy.
• Guarantee that the goods shipped will match the quality of the sample.

When to Seek Professional Local Assistance

If you are negotiating a high-value contract, purchasing specialized machinery, or if your basic checks raise red flags, online due diligence is no longer sufficient.

In these scenarios, it is highly recommended to engage:

• A Turkish Commercial Lawyer: To draft binding bilingual contracts and perform deep, authenticated background checks (including pending litigation or tax debts).
• A Third-Party Inspection Agency: To visit the factory, verify raw materials, and conduct pre-shipment quality inspections (e.g., SGS, Intertek, or local equivalents).

DealyVIP provides informational frameworks but is not a licensed legal or financial advisory firm. Always seek professional counsel for high-risk transactions.