Programs and minimums
Most contract manufacturers won't tell you their minimum until you've had two calls. Here's everything up front.
3
Ways to work with us
2,500+
Unit minimum, published
14–21
Days to production
Compare the programs
| Adapt a Base | Formula Transfer | Custom Development | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Brands who want to market fast | Brands who own a formula | Brands who need something new |
| Minimum | 2,500 units | 5,000 units | 10,000 units |
| Development fee | $1,500 per SKU | $2,500 per SKU | $5,000 per SKU |
| Rounds included | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| To first sample | 3–5 days | ~1 week | 1–2 weeks |
| To approval | 1–2 weeks | 2–3 weeks | 3–6 weeks |
| Production | 14–21 days | 14–21 days | 14–21 days |
| You provide | A benchmark and a brief | Making instructions and specs | A benchmark and a brief |
Adapt a Base
- Best for
- Brands who want to market fast
- Minimum
- 2,500 units
- Development fee
- $1,500 per SKU
- Rounds included
- 3
- To first sample
- 3–5 days
- To approval
- 1–2 weeks
- Production
- 14–21 days
- You provide
- A benchmark and a brief
Formula Transfer
- Best for
- Brands who own a formula
- Minimum
- 5,000 units
- Development fee
- $2,500 per SKU
- Rounds included
- 3
- To first sample
- ~1 week
- To approval
- 2–3 weeks
- Production
- 14–21 days
- You provide
- Making instructions and specs
Custom Development
- Best for
- Brands who need something new
- Minimum
- 10,000 units
- Development fee
- $5,000 per SKU
- Rounds included
- 3
- To first sample
- 1–2 weeks
- To approval
- 3–6 weeks
- Production
- 14–21 days
- You provide
- A benchmark and a brief
Add 1–4 weeks for stability depending on condition. Timelines assume raw materials are on hand and sample feedback within five business days.
Bulk
Bulk compound quoted separately, from 40 kg — our smallest tank.
Buy the formula — 2 pathways
1Outright
$15,000 per formula. Yours from that point forward, including making instructions, raw material specifications and our vendor list.
2Earn it
No upfront fee. Once you've purchased $250,000 of that product from us, ownership transfers at no cost.
Available on formulas developed exclusively for you. Adapted library formulas aren't eligible, though we'll license production rights on request. Custom formulas are exclusive to you from development.
Already in development? Add $10,000 to a Custom Development project at any point and the formula becomes yours outright.
Payment
- 1
50% due on purchase order
- 2
Balance due before shipment
- 3
Terms considered after a successful first order
How pricing works
- Development fees credited against your first purchase order when that order meets the program minimum. Non-refundable if the project doesn't proceed.
- Additional development rounds beyond three: $1,000 each.
- Unit cost drops with volume. We quote every project at our standard breaks — 2,500, 5,000, 10,000, 50,000 and 100,000+ units — so you can see the curve before committing. Where breaks fall and how much you save varies by product and packaging.
- Client-supplied components carry 10% overage for line loss; unused material is returned.
Timeline
- 1
Before the PO — formula development and approval. Depends on program and how quickly samples come back approved.
- 2
At the PO — purchase order issued, deposit paid. The clock starts here.
- 3
Procurement — raw materials and components ordered. Usually the longest stage, driven by packaging suppliers' lead times.
- 4
Production — 14 to 21 days once all materials have been received.
- 5
Then — QC release and ship.
Artwork runs alongside all of this and must be print-approved before components are produced.
The two things that move a launch date most are how quickly samples get approved and when packaging is sourced.
Changes and cancellations
Spec changes
No fee before materials are ordered; $500 plus non-returnable materials after; plus rescheduling once production is booked.
Quantity increases
No fee before materials are ordered; $500 plus incremental material cost after. A component top-up can carry its own supplier minimum and lead time.
Quantity decreases
Quoted individually. You'll cover materials already procured, and the order is repriced at the tier you land in.
Cancellation
Development fee and deposit are not refunded; client covers materials already procured and any production already run.
Logistics
Ship dates
You propose a date on the purchase order; it becomes binding when we issue an order acknowledgment confirming it.
Finished goods storage
Held free for 10 business days after release. Past that, an escalating daily rate per pallet, because our space is production floor rather than warehouse — for anything longer term a dedicated 3PL will serve you better and cost you less.
Who this is for
Good fit
- Brands producing at least 2,500 units per SKU
- Brands who plan in annual volumes
- Brands with a named decision maker
- Brands with a benchmark or a spec
Not a fit
- Under 2,500 units per SKU — you want a short-run manufacturer
- Need product in hand inside eight weeks, packaging not yet sourced
- No reference point or benchmark yet