Low MOQ Manufacturing: What It Actually Costs

We are asked for lower minimums almost every week. It is a reasonable request — market-test a product before committing to a container load — but it is worth understanding where the cost goes.

Setup does not scale down

Cleaning, line changeover, quality release and documentation take broadly the same time whether the batch is 5,000 units or 50,000. Spread over a small batch, that fixed cost is what you feel.

Components have their own minimums

Bottles, caps, pumps and cartons carry the packaging supplier minimums, which may be higher than our filling minimum. Buying below them usually means paying a stock-item premium.

When starting small is still right

If you genuinely do not know whether the product sells, a pilot batch is cheaper than a warehouse of unsold stock. Just be clear that the unit cost of the pilot is not the unit cost of the business.

Our position

We will quote below our standard minimum for a first order when the formula and pack are straightforward, and we will tell you honestly when it is not worth doing.