How much does it cost to make a private label product?
Updated October 31, 2026
There is no single price, because "a private label product" can mean a stock formula with your label on it, or a formula built from scratch for you. The real question is which costs you will pay and how big your first run has to be.
Stock (white label) vs. custom formula
Stock or white label means you pick a formula the manufacturer already makes and put your brand on it. There is usually no development fee, and minimums are lower. Some companies in our directory publish very small minimums for this route, for example Pravada Private Label (50+ pieces per SKU for private label, per its site) and Blanka (states zero MOQ).
Custom formulation means a chemist develops a formula for you. You pay for development time and samples, then a production run. You may own the formula or not, depending on the contract, so ask before you sign. See formulation labs and contract manufacturers.
The cost lines to budget for
| Cost | What it covers | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Formula development | Chemist time, revisions, sample batches | None for stock formulas. For custom work, get a written quote with a set number of revisions. |
| Testing | Stability, compatibility with your packaging, preservative efficacy (challenge) testing, sometimes safety or claims testing | Often quoted per test by testing labs. Claims like "dermatologist tested" or SPF need specific testing. |
| Ingredients and production | Raw materials, mixing, filling, capping, labeling | Usually a per-unit price that falls as the run gets bigger. |
| Packaging | Bottles, jars, pumps, cartons | Stock packaging from packaging suppliers is sold by the case; custom-printed packaging usually needs much larger minimums. |
| Labels | Design and printing | Digital label printers can do short runs. |
| Compliance | Label review, FDA cosmetic facility registration and product listing where required | See our MoCRA guide and regulatory consultants. |
| Freight and storage | Shipping finished goods, warehousing, order fulfillment | See fulfillment & 3PL. |
Why the first run drives your cost
Most of the setup work (cleaning equipment, weighing, quality checks) costs about the same whether a batch makes 500 units or 5,000. Smaller runs spread that cost over fewer units, so the per-unit price is higher. That is why low-MOQ manufacturers are useful for a first order, and why the price per unit usually drops on reorders.
How to get comparable quotes
- Write a one-page brief: product type, fill size, key ingredients or claims, target retail price and quantity.
- Ask three or more suppliers to quote the same brief, with development, testing, unit price and packaging listed separately.
- Ask what is not included (testing, packaging, freight) and who owns the formula.
- Ask for the minimum order per SKU and per scent or color, which are not always the same.
Start your shortlist with contract manufacturers, pet care manufacturers or all private label suppliers.