Hidden Fees & Scalability: What to Ask Before Choosing a Manufacturer

Launching a skincare brand is exciting — but working with the wrong manufacturer can cost you more than you planned. At Vaulabs, we’ve seen many startups face unexpected hurdles simply because they didn’t know the right questions to ask.

Here’s what most manufacturers won’t tell you — and how to avoid beginner mistakes.

1. Hidden Fees to Watch Out For

Before you sign any manufacturing agreement, ask this:

“What’s included in your quote?”

Many founders assume the price they’re quoted includes everything. In reality, these surprise charges often appear later:

• Formula transfer fees (even if you bring your own)

• Setup costs per SKU

• Inventory storage fees (for unused components or overages)

These hidden costs can quickly eat into your margins — or delay your launch entirely.

2. Can They Scale With You?

You’re planning to grow. Your manufacturer should be ready to grow with you.

Ask them directly:

• “Can you scale my order 10x in 60 days?”

• “What’s your maximum daily filling capacity?”

• “Do you offer fulfillment or work with 3PLs?”

Scalability matters — it’s the difference between staying nimble and hitting a wall.

3. Bonus: Download the Full Checklist

Avoid the common pitfalls that slow down most startups.

We’ve created a full checklist of questions to ask your manufacturer before you commit.

Want the full list? Stay tuned — Part 3 of our series drops soon.

✅ This post is part of our mini-series: Clean Beauty Contracting Hacks — created to help founders grow smarter.

📩 Let’s talk about your next launch → vaulabs.com