How to find a manufacturer for your product

How do I go from idea to a manufacturer?

1. Write a product spec

   Describe materials, dimensions, colors, finishes, packaging and target cost, with sketches or a reference product. Makers quote more accurately, and faster, from a clear spec.

2. Decide where it should be made

   A maker near you means smaller orders, faster samples and easier visits; an overseas maker may cost less per unit but adds shipping time, import paperwork and larger minimums.

3. Build a shortlist of makers

   Look for factories and workshops that already make the same kind of product, through industry directories, trade shows, trade associations and other founders' recommendations.

4. Request quotes

   Send the same spec to each and ask for unit price at several quantities, the minimum order quantity, sample cost, lead time, payment terms and what certifications or test reports they can provide.

5. Order samples and test them

   Pay for samples from your top two or three. Use them as a customer would, check them against your spec, and show them to likely buyers.

6. Check the rules for your product

   Confirm which federal safety, testing and labeling rules apply before you order production, because the importer or manufacturer is responsible for meeting them.

7. Place a small first order in writing

   Agree the spec, approved sample, price, quantity, quality checks, delivery date, payment schedule and who owns the molds or designs, then start small.

What should I ask a manufacturer before ordering?

• What is your minimum order quantity, and how does the unit price change at higher quantities?
• How long do samples take, and how long does production take after approval?
• What do samples cost, and is that credited against the first order?
• Which similar products do you make now, and can I see examples?
• Who supplies your materials, and can you document where they come from?
• Can you provide test reports or certificates for the rules my product falls under?
• What happens if the order does not match the approved sample?
• Who owns custom molds, tooling, patterns or artwork?

Clear answers to these, in writing, are a better sign than the lowest price. The minimum order and the price at that quantity also feed straight into your pricing and startup costs.

Which US safety and labeling rules apply to my product?

It depends on the product. A few of the most common rules for new consumer brands:

• Children's products. The Consumer Product Safety Commission defines a children's product as one designed or intended primarily for children 12 or younger. Domestic manufacturers and importers must issue a Children's Product Certificate based on testing by a CPSC-accepted third-party lab.
• Other consumer products under a CPSC rule. Domestic manufacturers and importers of certain general-use products covered by a CPSC safety rule, ban or standard must issue a General Certificate of Conformity.
• Cosmetics and skincare. The FDA does not approve cosmetics before sale, except for color additives, but they must be safe and properly labeled, the label address cannot be only a P.O. box or website, and you may need to register your facility and list products under the 2022 Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act, with exemptions for certain small businesses.
• Food. Food rules are federal, state and local; for food made at home, see starting a cottage food business.

Ask your maker which tests they have already passed for similar products, but remember that CPSC places the certificate on the domestic manufacturer or the importer, which is you if you import the product.

What do I need to know about importing?

U.S. Customs and Border Protection says it does not require an importer to have a license or permit, though other agencies may require one depending on the product. You can file the entry yourself or hire a customs broker, who is licensed by CBP but is not a CBP employee.

Either way, CBP says you, as the importer of record, are ultimately responsible for the correctness of the entry documents and for all applicable duties, taxes and fees. Ask your maker for the product's materials and country of origin so the paperwork is right. Once you have a registered trademark, the USPTO notes you can record it with CBP to help stop infringing imports.

Can I say my product is Made in USA?

Only if it qualifies. The Federal Trade Commission's standard for an unqualified Made in USA claim is that the product is "all or virtually all" made in the United States: final assembly or processing here, and all significant processing and nearly all components made and sourced here.

Qualified claims, such as "Made in USA of U.S. and imported parts," describe the extent of domestic content, and the FTC warns they can still mislead if the U.S. share is small. In one FTC example, "Assembled in U.S.A." was offered as a non-deceptive alternative for a product assembled here from mostly imported parts. Decide this before you print packaging.