Choosing a manufacturing partner is the single decision that shapes your margins, your launch date and your reputation. Here is how to run the evaluation.
1. Start with the formula, not the packaging
Ask each candidate what they can genuinely formulate in-house. A partner who outsources your core formula adds cost and delay at every reorder — and cannot answer technical questions on your behalf.
A partner who cannot explain what is inside the bottle cannot protect your brand in a recall.
2. Ask for documentation before you ask for price
Compliance paperwork is where cheap quotes quietly become expensive. Request the full certificate pack up front:
- GMP and ISO 22716 certificates, valid and in date
- Halal, FDA or CPNP registration for your target market
- MSDS and stability data for each formula version
3. Agree the sampling loop early
Confirm how many sample rounds are included, who covers courier costs, and how formula revisions are version-controlled — before you sign anything.
