Ask a large packaging supplier for a quote and you'll often hear the same thing: "our minimum is 50,000 units." For a new supplement brand that's a lot of cash tied up in tubs, lids and labels before you know which flavor sells.
Why minimums are so high
Custom packaging has setup costs: color matching, tooling, press setup and line time. Big suppliers spread those costs over huge runs, so small orders don't make sense for them. That doesn't mean small runs are impossible. It means you need a partner set up for them.
Plan a first run you can sell through
- Start with your best-selling product or flavor, not the whole line.
- Pick packaging sizes you can keep using as you grow, so you aren't redesigning in six months.
- Order enough to cover your launch and a few months of sales, not a year.
At NutraPack, we quote what works for your quantity and your launch.
Consolidate your suppliers
The hidden cost of a launch isn't only the minimum. It's managing three vendors for tubs, lids and labels, each with its own lead time. When one arrives late, your whole launch waits. Putting the full component stack under one purchase order and one timeline removes most of that risk.
Don't cut corners on the label
A smaller run is not a reason to accept colors that don't match or labels that bubble. Ask for press matching and quality control before the run ships, and ask for samples. A sealed sample box before production goes wide is the best insurance you can buy.
Ship straight to your co-manufacturer
Have your packaging delivered directly to the co-manufacturer or co-packer that fills your product, so components don't bounce through your garage on the way.
Get a real quote
A good quote tells you materials, MOQ tiers, lead times and unit cost, so you can compare a smaller first run against a larger one and choose with real numbers. Send us a brief and a real person replies.
