When should a brand move to third party fulfillment?

Most brands benefit once internal fulfillment causes daily labor strain or missed cutoffs. A common threshold is 500–1,000 monthly orders, depending on SKU complexity and returns.

How long does onboarding usually take?

Onboarding typically takes one to four weeks. Brands with clean data and fewer than 50 SKUs often launch in about one week.

What is the most common hidden cost?

Inbound receiving and exception handling. Slow counts or unclear ASN data lead to extra labor fees and delayed inventory availability.

How are returns handled?

Returns are usually processed per unit. Processing frequency matters more than price since delays increase refund times and customer support volume.

Can third party fulfillment handle bundles?

Yes, but you must define whether bundles are pre-kitted or assembled at pack time. Each approach affects cost, error rate, and inventory planning.

Do providers guarantee shipping cutoffs?

Most providers define targets, not guarantees. Carrier pickup reliability matters more than written cutoff language.

How accurate is inventory tracking?

Well-run operations maintain 99.5%+ accuracy. Ask how often cycle counts occur and how discrepancies are resolved.

What happens during sales spikes?

Volume spikes expose sync delays and labor limits. Ask for real examples of peak-day throughput and backlog recovery time.

Third Party Fulfillment Services for DTC Brands

Channels/Products

Step 2 of 3

Which channels are you looking to have us fulfill orders for? *

Business Model *

DTC (direct to customer)
B2B (business to business)
FBA (fulfillment by amazon)

If you are only shipping to FBA, we will not be able to support your account. If you would like us to refer you to someone that specializes in FBA, please send an email to [email protected] so we can make an introduction.

Which platforms do you need SHIPHYPE to fulfill orders for? *

What platforms do you sell on?

Are you currrently shipping DTC orders in the US or Canada? *

Please Select

Are you currrently shipping DTC orders in the US or Canada?

Are you currrently shipping B2B orders in the US or Canada? *

Please Select

Are you currrently shipping B2B orders in the US or Canada?

What % of your B2B orders ship out in Cases? *

What % of your B2B orders ship out in Cases?

What % of your B2B orders ship out in Pallets? *

What % of your B2B orders ship out in Pallets?

How do your customers submit B2B orders to you? *

How do your customers submit B2B orders to you

Are you currrently shipping FBA orders in the US or Canada? *

Please Select

Are you currrently shipping FBA orders in the US or Canada?

How many orders are you expecting per-month?

Have you reviewed our Pricing Page? *

Have you reviewed our Pricing Page?

Please review our Pricing Page to see if it fits your budget before continuing with the rest of the form.

Are you able to afford the $999/month Account Management Fee? *

Are you able to afford the <span class="site-color">$999/month</span> Account Management Fee?

This fee only applies in months where you are shipping less than 500 orders.

The Account Management fee is compulsory for brands shipping under 500 orders/month.
If you are shipping less than 500 orders and are unable afford the Account Management fee, we can refer you to one of our partners for assistance instead.
Please email [email protected] if you would like an introduction.

Orders Shipped in Last 12 Months (Shopify) *

What is your store URL (Shopify)? *

Orders Shipped in Last 12 Months (Shopify Plus)? *

What is your store URL (Shopify Plus)? *

Orders Shipped in Last 12 Months (TikTok)? *

What is your store URL (TikTok)? *

What Amazon Model are you currently doing? *

We only work with FBA brands who are doing Private Label.

Orders Shipped in Last 12 Months (Amazon FBA) *

What is your Amazon Storefront URL (Amazon FBA)? *

Orders Shipped in Last 12 Months (Amazon FBM) *

What is your Amazon Storefront URL (Amazon FBM)? *

Orders Shipped in Last 12 Months (eBay) *

What is your store URL (eBay)? *

Orders Shipped in Last 12 Months (WooCommerce) *

What is your store URL (WooCommerce)? *

Orders Shipped in Last 12 Months (B2B) *

Who are you shipping your B2B orders to? *

How do your clients submit their B2B orders to you? *

What % of your B2B orders ship in Cartons vs Pallets? *

Orders Shipped in Last 12 Months (QVC) *

What is your store URL (QVC)? *

Orders Shipped in Last 12 Months (Walmart) *

What is your store URL (Walmart)? *

Orders Shipped in Last 12 Months (NetSuite) *

What is your store URL (NetSuite)? *

Which 'Other' platforms do you need to fulfill orders for? *

Orders Shipped in Last 12 Months (Other) *

What is your store URL (Other)? *

What products do you sell? *

How many SKUs do you carry? (including all variations) *

What is the max number of Pallets you will be storing? *

Do any of your products weigh more than 20 lbs?*

Do any of your products weigh more than 20 lbs? *

How many SKUs are over 20lbs and how much do they weigh? *

How many SKUs are over 20lbs and how much do they weigh?

Are any of your products considered 'NHP' (Natural Health Products)? *

Which country are your products manufactured in? *

Are any of your products considered 'Dangerous/Hazardous Goods'? *

Are any of your products considered 'Dangerous/Hazardous Goods'? * *

Which Hazard Class do your products fall under? *

Please upload MSDS file. *

Drag & Drop Files, Choose Files to Upload

Please upload pictures of your products. *

Drag & Drop Files, Choose Files to Upload You can upload up to 2 files.

Function	Included by Default	Common Constraints
Inbound Receiving	Yes	Fees vary by pallet vs carton
Storage	Yes	Billed per pallet or bin
Pick & Pack	Yes	Complexity pricing applies
Carrier Handoff	Yes	Carrier rates separate
Returns Processing	Sometimes	Often billed separately

SLA Metric	Acceptable Baseline	Risk If Missed
Order Cutoff	Same-day before 2–4PM	Missed delivery promises
Inventory Accuracy	99.5%+	Oversells and refunds
Receiving Time	24–72 hours	Inventory unavailable
Carrier Pickup Reliability	Daily	Backlogs during promos

Cost Category	Typical Billing Method	Hidden Risk
Receiving	Per pallet or carton	Slow counts increase labor fees
Storage	Monthly average	Long-tail SKUs inflate costs
Pick Fees	Per order or item	Bundles raise cost fast
Returns	Per unit	Restocking delays

Requirement	Needed Before Go-Live
Final SKU List	Yes
Dimensions and Weights	Yes
Packaging Rules	Yes
Return Logic	Yes
Carrier Accounts	Sometimes

Issue	Why It Happens	Detection Method
Inventory Mismatch	Receiving variance	Daily cycle counts
Delayed Returns	Manual processing	Aging reports
Damaged Units	Poor inbound prep	Photo evidence
Oversells	Sync latency	Real-time alerts

Third Party Fulfillment for DTC Brands

Key Takeaways

What’s Included in Third Party Fulfillment

Service Levels That Actually Matter for SLAs

Pricing Model and Fee Triggers to Expect

How Fulfillment Operations Work Day to Day

Ready to 10x your business?

Onboarding Timeline and Data You Must Have Ready

Inventory, Returns, and Exceptions That Cause Surprises

Shopify Integration and Order Sync Requirements

Direct Comparison of 3PL Providers

Why SHIPHYPE Is a Fit for Fast-Growing DTC

Requirement	Minimum Standard
Real-Time Sync	Required
Partial Fulfillment Support	Required
Bundle Logic	Explicitly defined
Refund Triggers	Automated

Provider	Core Strength	Limitation	Best for
SHIPHYPE	Fast onboarding, 2PM cutoff	Limited freight services	DTC brands with steady volume
ShipBob	Large network	Rigid processes	High-volume SKUs
Deliverr	Marketplace focus	Less customization	Amazon-heavy sellers
Red Stag	Heavy items	Higher minimums	Oversized products