Problem: You want to launch or expand a supplement brand, but choosing the right manufacturer feels risky.
Agitation: Many factories make appealing promises but fail in quality, timelines, or transparency. That can hurt your brand’s reputation and growth.
Solution: This FAQ guide outlines the essential questions every supplement brand should ask before partnering with a manufacturer. It helps you vet reliability, compliance, and capabilities—so you can build strong, long-lasting partnerships.
Every supplement brand should ask potential manufacturers about certifications (like GMP or FDA), production capacity, lead times, label customization, quality control processes, and transparency on ingredients and testing. Confirming these ensures you get reliable service, safe products, and scalability.
You need more than just a product. You need a partner. To ensure a successful partnership, ask the right questions. Below are six key areas you must address before signing on.
1. How do you ensure certification and quality control?
Safety and consistency are non-negotiable. Ask about the factory’s certifications, lab testing, and validation processes.
Verify if the facility holds GMP, FDA registration, NSF, or ISO certifications. Ask for evidence of in-house or third-party lab testing and traceability systems.
- Ask for current certificates (GMP, FDA, ISO).
- Inquire about third-party testing for potency and purity.
- Check if they conduct microbial testing and heavy metal screening.
- Confirm batch traceability: Can they track raw materials to final product?
* Verified certifications reduce risk and ensure compliance.
* Transparent quality control builds trust and protects your brand.
2. What is your production capacity and lead time?
Timely production matters. Learn how much volume the manufacturer can handle and when they can deliver.
Find out their daily/weekly output, how they handle rush orders, and typical timelines from start to finish.
- Ask: What is your monthly production capacity?
- Inquire about existing order backlogs and how they affect new clients.
- Clarify start-to-shipment timeline for private-label vs. custom formulas.
- Check shift patterns (single vs. multi-shift) to estimate delivery timeframes.
* Real-time capacity insight helps avoid supply delays.
* Understanding lead times aligns production with product launch planning.
3. Can you customize formulations and label design?
Your brand’s identity depends on unique formulas and packaging. Ask whether the manufacturer supports customization.
Find out if they provide R&D for custom formulations, offer stock formulas, and assist with label design and packaging choices.
- Ask: Do you have stock formulas?
- Ask: Do you offer full custom R&D?
- Check if they support design mockups, nutritional panels, and multilingual labels.
- Inquire about child-resistant and eco-friendly packaging options.
* Full customization supports brand differentiation.
* Label help reduces regulatory errors and speeds approval.
4. How do you manage ingredient sourcing and testing?
Quality begins with raw materials. Ask the manufacturer to explain sourcing and testing workflows clearly.
Request info on where they source ingredients, how they validate suppliers, and which tests they run on raw materials.
- Ask: Do you source from certified, audited suppliers?
- Ask: Are COAs and pesticide/contaminant tests available for every batch?
- Check if they conduct identity, potency, and microbial testing on each lot.
- Inquire about policies around allergens, GMOs, and organic claims.
* Strong sourcing and testing ensure product safety and label accuracy.
* Transparent supply chains enhance consumer confidence.
5. What are your minimum order quantities and pricing?
Budget planning requires clarity. Ask about MOQs, pricing tiers, and how costs change with volume.
Ask for MOQ data, price breakdowns by volume, and any extra fees like setup, consultation, or testing.
- Ask: What is the minimum order for stock vs. custom products?
- Ask: How does pricing change with volume increases?
- Ask: Are there hidden costs—formulation, design, testing, packaging?
- Inquire about payment terms, deposit, and balance timelines.
* Clear MOQs prevent overcommitment or surprise costs.
* Transparent pricing supports profit projections and financial planning.
6. What kind of post-production support do you offer?
Your relationship shouldn’t end after shipment. Ask about after-sales, reorder support, and regulatory backup.
Check if they provide assistance with customs, marketing materials, reorders, and regulatory updates.
- Ask: Do you support DDP shipping or global logistics?
- Ask: Will you help with regulatory registration in target markets?
- Ask: Do you provide marketing or product training support?
- Inquire about policies for failed batches or product recalls.
* Ongoing support ensures smooth market entries and brand continuity.
* Manufacturers who partner over the long term are valuable assets.
These six questions help you uncover a manufacturer’s quality, capacity, and support capabilities. Don’t settle. Ask, verify, and compare before signing a contract. The right manufacturer can drive your brand’s success and protect its reputation.
Ask clear, precise questions to vet potential supplement manufacturers. Prioritize certification, capacity, customization, sourcing, pricing, and support. Your diligence today avoids costly problems tomorrow—and builds trust with consumers.
External Links Recommendation
Partnering with the right manufacturer is a game-changer. At Shandong Health Biotech, we offer comprehensive OEM/ODM services for supplement brands. We hold GMP and ISO certifications, maintain full traceability from ingredient sourcing to shelf-ready packaging, and support private-label and custom formulations. Our flexible MOQs, transparent pricing, and responsive team ensure your project stays on time and on budget. Whether you’re launching a new gummy line or expanding your product portfolio, we provide expert guidance, regulatory support, and global logistics solutions. Let’s build success together—contact us for a seamless, trusted partnership.
