The best fulfillment companies handle receiving, shipping, and all the logistics in between at affordable costs, while providing retailers with transparency into their stock.
8 Best Fulfillment Companies for Small Businesses in 2024
This article is part of a larger series on Retail Management.
To find the best fulfillment companies for small businesses, I evaluated more than a dozen providers, grading them against a 23-point scale I developed that factored in pricing, features, specialty services, ease of use, and real-world user reviews.
Based on my evaluation, I recommend:
- ShipBob: Best overall warehouse and order fulfillment services
- Saltbox: Best for on-demand services facilitating in-house fulfillment
- ShipHero: Best for transitioning to third-party fulfillment
- Red Stag Fulfillment: Best for oversized, heavy, high-value, or fragile items
- ShipMonk: Best for subscription box management and crowdfunding projects
- Flexport: Best for selling on competitive marketplaces
- FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon): Best for Amazon sellers
- ShipNetwork (Rakuten Super Logistics): Best for scalability
These order fulfillment companies are picked because of their general affordability which is well-suited for small businesses and scalable features that are helpful for growing operations.
Best Fulfillment Companies for Small Businesses Compared
Our Score (Out of 5) | Monthly Minimum Requirement | US Warehouse Locations | Error Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 4.68 | $275 spend | 37 | 0.05% |
 | 4.61 | $199-$349, custom quote | 12 | <1% |
 | 4.46 | 500 orders | 5 | 0.1% |
 | 4.12 | ~200 orders | 2 | |
 | 4.02 | None | 50+ | Undisclosed |
 | 3.88 | 10 | 0.1% | |
 | 3.62 | None | 110 | Undisclosed |
 | 3.34 | 250 orders | 10 | 0% |
Why You Can Trust Fit Small Business
The Fit Small Business editorial policy follows strict standards to ensure our best answers are based on accuracy, clarity, authority, objectivity, and accessibility.
I have more than a decade of experience managing several Shopify ecommerce stores and Amazon private label brands that outsource their order fulfillment, so I factored in my experience in our evaluation while adhering strictly to the Fit Small Business editorial policy.
You can learn more about our evaluation in the methodology section below.
Retail Software Expert at Fit Small Business
Which Order Fulfillment Provider Is Right for You?
Not sure which order fulfillment company is right for your business? Take this five-question quiz for our personalized recommendation (you won’t be redirected to another screen):
Which Fulfillment Service is Right for You?
ShipBob: Best Overall Order Fulfillment Services
Overall Score:
4.68 / 5
Pros
- Offers a plan specific for startups
- 50 global warehouse and fulfillment centers
- Advanced reporting and analytics software
Cons
- High storage fees
- Lacks integrations with Etsy & Groupon
- Inconsistent real-world user reviews
Overview
Who should use it:
Ecommerce retailers, B2B sellers, importers, and those that prefer self-managed warehouses are perfectly suited for ShipBob’s services.
ShipBob provides flexible ecommerce order fulfillment services that bring Amazon-level infrastructure to businesses of all sizes. Yet, it offers affordable pricing and dedicated onboarding to startups and small businesses with its Growth Plan.
Why we like it:
ShipBob has a vast network of local and global fulfillment centers—one of the largest on our list—that enables them to provide advanced distribution capabilities. All orders placed before noon ship the same day. Only Amazon and Flexport have more warehouses than ShipBob on our list, but Amazon is a giant fulfillment provider and Flexport has acquired Deliverr for more distribution reach.
ShipBob scored 4.68 out of 5 in our evaluation. The company performed well in all categories and was the only provider that got perfect scores in the quality and functionality of services category.
It lost points because of inconsistent feedback from real-world users, a high monthly minimum spending requirement, and storage fees. ShipBob’s storage fees are among the highest on our list, making its pricing structure the best for faster-moving goods.
ShipBob charges a single fulfillment fee for each order, which includes pick and pack (up to four items), basic packaging materials, and shipping costs.
We reached out to ShipBob and they gave us the ballpark pricing information below. To get pricing for freight and import services, contact ShipBob.
- Onboarding: Starting at $499 (if availing of the Growth plan); self-onboarding available
- Storage fees:
- Pallet (48 x 40 x 54 inches): $40/month
- Shelf (42 x 12 x 23 inches): $10/month
- Small Shelf (22 x 12 x 14 inches): $7.50/month
- Bin (21 x 7 x 11 inches): $5/month
- Receiving
- Cost for the first two hours: $35
- Cost for each succeeding hour: $45/hour
- Picking: $0.26 per unit
Note: Prices are based in the US as a country of fulfillment and are subject to a 3% credit card processing fee.
Clients’ bills are assessed and updated daily, and all charges are visible in a fully itemized format from your dashboard. In the same tab, shipping details can be toggled to estimate variable order costs.
- Large fulfillment network: 37 US and 13 non-US locations in over 200 countries.
- Integrations: Extensive native integrations from shopping carts to CRM tools
- Customization options: Branding options to enhance customer experience
- Highly flexible: D2C orders, subscription boxes, and B2B sales with EDI compliance
- FBA prep: Prepares and sends inventory to Amazon for multichannel clients
- Retailer dropshipping service: Items listed on Bed Bath & Beyond, Best Buy, Chewy, Nordstrom, Target, and more ship directly from ShipBob to customers
- Managed freight program: ‘FreightBob’ offers a comprehensive freight and inventory management service, improving transit times and visibility for shipments from China
- WMS (Warehouse Management Software): Proprietary WMS available for use in self-managed warehouses, compatible with ShipBob’s fulfillment services.
ShipBob’s user reviews on third-party sites are inconsistent and notably polarized. Review scores typically range between 3.6 to 4.3. While the score range may seem average, ShipBob receives both glowing 5-star testimonials and critical 1-star ratings.
Here’s a summary of the reviews across several sites:
- Users often highlight excellent customer service. Users also commend its two-day express shipping and overall shipping costs.
- Users frequently complain about delayed orders, mislabeled shipments, and mishandled products. There are claims about oversized packaging being used, resulting in increased shipping costs.
Saltbox: Best On-demand Services, Labor & Space for Facilitating In-house Fulfillment
Overall Score:
4.61 / 5
Pros
- Custom packages include combination of in-house and/or third-party services
- Easy access to inventory and facilities keeps sellers in full control
- Membership includes amenities such as office space
Cons
- Limited volume capacities may not work for large or enterprise-level businesses
- Business-only customer support hours
- Lacks amenities for cold storage
Overview
Who should use it:
D2C fulfillment brands, growing businesses that want to keep their fulfillment in-house, and Amazon sellers are a great fit for Saltbox’s services.
Saltbox provides a flexible logistics solution for growing ecommerce businesses, offering customizable services such as warehouse and office rentals, coworking spaces, secure storage, shipping supplies, and fulfillment resources, with no long-term contracts.
Why we like it:
Saltbox scored 4.61 out of 5 in our evaluation, performing well in all categories. It’s the only provider that lists pricing plans on its website without me needing to reach out for a quote. The only thing lacking with Saltbox is an international warehouse network and extended customer service hours.
While I recommend Saltbox for those wanting to retain some control by keeping its fulfillment operations in-house, Saltbox also offers affordable, outsourced fulfillment services for those preferring more of a hands-off approach. Its strategically located warehouses in metropolitan areas allow clients easy access to their inventory for direct management, offering a level of control and convenience not typically found with other fulfillment providers.
However, Saltbox’s focus on small and midsize businesses may inhibit scaling your business at a certain level—although Saltbox can take on clients shipping 20,000 orders or more per month. For larger businesses or enterprise-level growth, we recommend ShipNetwork.
Since Our Last Update: Since our last article update in October 2023, Saltbox has introduced membership plans—making it the only order fulfillment provider I know that has clear-cut pricing plans. You can find the plans below.
Saltbox’s pricing plans are as follows:
Access Plans:
- $199/month (Starting Shipper): Daily workspace rentals, basic logistics support including easy package drop-offs for major shipping carriers like UPS, USPS, and FedEx
- $349/month (Growing Shipper): Everything in the Starting Shipper plan, plus inventory receiving support and storage access
Workspace Plans:
- Pro Shipper (custom pricing based on size of warehouse suite): Everything in the Growing Shipper plan, plus dedicated warehouse suites for storage and fulfillment operations, advanced logistics support, including shipping, receiving, and inventory management, easy access to loading docks and receiving areas
- Professional (custom pricing based on office suite size): Everything in the Growing Shipper plan, plus: dedicated office suites with customizable layouts, advanced logistics support, including shipping and receiving, easy access to loading docks and receiving areas
- Suite rentals: Rent an office or warehouse suite on a month-to-month basis (no long-term contract or lease). No other fulfillment service on our list does this.
- Business resources and amenities: Access to a photo studio, loading docks, conference rooms, and coworking areas
- Flexible services: Create your own hybrid fulfillment arrangement—Saltbox is the only order fulfillment service with this kind of flexibility
- Integrations: Over 30 integrations available, including Shopify, WooCommerce, Amazon, Etsy, Magento, and Walmart—plus CSV upload and API options
- Crowdfunding/batch fulfillment: Support for crowdfunding ventures and limited product launches at the same capacity as standard DTC businesses
Saltbox, founded in 2019, has experienced rapid growth and enjoys a steady customer base but I still didn’t find that many SaltBox reviews from third-party sites online, even on popular forum sites used by small business owners. That said, the available Saltbox reviews I have read are mostly positive.
- Users like its responsive support and high-quality service. Many mention receiving 24/7 support from branch managers while others report that the warehouse rentals saved them significant amounts of money and time by providing everything they need.
- There are a few one-star Saltbox reviews but, unfortunately, they don’t include an explanation.
ShipHero: Best for Transitioning to Third-party Fulfillment
Overall Score:
4.46 / 5
Pros
- Affordable two-day shipping to lower 48 states
- Zone-free shipping costs for ultra-predictable pricing
- Amazon SFP-eligible
Cons
- High minimum monthly order requirement
- Limited warehouse network
- No climate control
Overview
Who should use it:
Ecommerce retailers delivering to a wide range of locations will benefit from ShipHero’s shipping structure—a “no shipping zone” pricing that has flat-rate shipping fees based on parcel size and weight. This pricing model is beneficial for small businesses and startups, providing predictability in fulfillment costs during their transition to outsourced fulfillment.
Meanwhile, those who use third-party logistics providers (3PLs) and maintain hybrid and in-house fulfillment can benefit from ShipHero’s robust warehouse management software (WMS) to manage their warehouses.
Why we like it:
ShipHero, scoring a 4.46 out of 5 in my evaluation, offers solutions for both in-house and third-party order fulfillment services. It provides inventory management, shipping software, and Warehouse Management Software (WMS) to streamline in-house operations. These facilitate a smooth transition to third-party fulfillment, with options for a hybrid approach by splitting inventory between ShipHero’s warehouses and the client’s own facilities.
However, ShipHero’s limited warehouse network, minimum order requirements, and business-hours-only customer support are potential drawbacks.
See how ShipHero compares to our top pick in our ShipBob vs ShipHero comparison guide.
ShipHero uses an ‘all-in-one’ fulfillment fee structure that includes flat-rate postage, pick and pack (for one item), and packaging materials. These rates are custom-quoted; the company states that because fulfillment needs vary, it can better meet expectations by offering personalized quotes.
However, ShipHero universally charges $0.70/cubic foot per day for storage and $0.33 per additional pick.
ShipHero’s warehouse management system (WMS) is a separate offering from its order fulfillment services. This software is used to manage and optimize day-to-day fulfillment operations and logistics in a self-managed warehouse. Prices start at $1,995/month.
- Fulfillment network: Five US and two Canadian warehouse locations
- Warehouse management software: ShipHero WMS is used by large-scale warehouses globally. Although pricey, its comprehensive inventory and shipping management capabilities can offset costs in time and expenses
- Integrations: Over 50 turnkey integrations plus API options
- Batch fulfillment: Offers per-project services for crowdfunding campaigns and product launches
- FBA prep and Seller-fulfilled Prime Eligibility: Power your Amazon sales with ShipHero’s programs and qualify for an Amazon Prime badge
- Operational visibility: See order status in real time, including photos of every packed box
- Accessible customer support: Dedicated support contact for personalized customer service
ShipHero maintains a high overall rating from real-world user reviews on third-party sites. Reviews typically average around 4.4 out of 5. Here are the main trends I noticed:
- User reviews commend ShipHero’s helpful staff, easy onboarding process, and effective software for both fulfillment and WMS.
- Negative feedback included poor communication, mishandled inventory, and frequent late shipments.
Red Stag: Best for Oversized, Heavy, High-value, or Fragile items
Overall Score:
4.12 / 5
Pros
- 100% accuracy guarantee
- Affordable shipping & handling for oversized items
- Low order minimums & no long-term contracts
Cons
- Only two warehouse locations
- Clunky user interface
- Costly pick and pack fees
Overview
Who should use it:
I recommend Red Stag Fulfillment for ecommerce businesses selling high-ticket items, oversized goods, heavy products, and goods that require light assembly or customization before shipping. It’s also one of the only 3PLs that accepts hazardous merchandise (like ammunition).
Why we like it:
Red Stag provides dedicated customer support and payouts for errors, including lost or damaged items. It also boasts incredible order accuracy (99.98%) and zero-shrink guarantees.
Red Stag scored a 4.12 out of 5 in my evaluation, earning points for its robust special services, but the company was docked for order minimum requirements, lack of billing transparency, and limited warehouse network. Its biggest drawback is that it cannot guarantee two-day shipping everywhere in the US—a normal guarantee with the other providers.
See how Red Stag compares to the top-ranking provider in our ShipBob vs Red Stag comparison review.
Red Stag pricing is custom to each client based on a combination of order volume, package weights, and SKU count. We confirmed this with the Red Stag’s team and they said they provide free onboarding and discounted rates with carriers.
Red Stag Fulfillment allows you to partner with it risk-free for 30 days to see if it’s a good match for your needs. If you’re unsatisfied with its people, processes, and services at the end of the guarantee period, it won’t bill you for any of your fulfillment service fees.
- Service guarantees: Red Stag is so confident in its storage, packing, and tracking systems that it will remedy issues for free and pay you $50 for any errors on its part. It also has guarantees for receiving and unloading inventory within 48 hours of the shipment arriving at Red Stag warehouses.
- Turnaround times: Same-day fulfillment is offered for orders placed before 5 p.m.; compare this to ShipBob, which has same-day with a cutoff of noon.
- Mobile-friendly fulfillment software: Red Stag’s RSF OPS software is specifically designed for use on mobile. Although we didn’t find it as user-friendly as others, it would be helpful if you frequently work on the go.
- Management and quality control: Video tracking throughout Red Stag warehouses to prevent losses through damages, mistakes, or theft.
Overall, there are only a handful of user reviews available on third-party sites about Red Stag. However, most of the reviews have been positive, averaging 4.5 for close to a hundred reviews.
Here’s a summary of the reviews:
- Users like its operational accuracy, speed, and responsive and courteous client support.
- Users complain about difficulty obtaining a quote (I encountered this too when trying to reach out to Red Stag) and its clunky user interface.
Flexport: Best for Selling on Competitive Marketplaces
Overall Score:
4.02 / 5
Pros
- Large warehouse network with robust shipping capabilities
- Prime-like badges to advertise fast shipping
- Intelligent inventory allocation
Cons
- No custom packaging options
- Cannot fulfill FBA or Amazon SFP (Seller-Fulfilled Prime) orders
- Fluctuating and expensive storage costs
Overview
Who should use it:
Flexport provides digital freight brokerage through partnerships with hundreds of carriers, which is well-suited for small businesses selling on online marketplaces and even enterprise-level customers.
Why we like it:
Flexport operates like Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA)—it leverages a massive warehouse network to offer two-day and expedited delivery geared toward online marketplaces. But unlike FBA, the company specializes in non-Amazon marketplaces like Walmart, Wish, eBay, Facebook,Instagram, and Google Express.
Flexport scored 4.02 out of 5 in our evaluation. It was rewarded for its impressive US footprint, badging features, and shipping capabilities—but lost points due to poor customer service hours, lack of branding options, and problematic reviews.
Flexport’s fulfillment pricing structure is nearly identical to that of FBA—but total costs come out to be more affordable in most cases. This especially applies to multichannel sellers.
Like FBA, its storage costs fluctuate greatly during peak season. This can easily lead to surprise charges, so users must examine their budget carefully. Unlike FBA though, Flexport fulfillment charges for shipping based on three service levels: Standard (five to seven days), 3-day, and 2-day delivery.
See its ballpark pricing on common line items in Flexport quotes and invoices and learn what costs are commonly not included in quotes.
- Social selling: In addition to Shopify, Etsy, Walmart, and the other venues most on our list offer, Flexport also works with Facebook, Instagram, and Google.
- Prime-like badges: Offers badges on marketplace listings to promote fast shipping, automatically displayed for eligible customers on qualifying venues, signaling next-day or two-day delivery.
- Fulfillment network: Over 50 warehouses across the US, second only to Amazon in network size.
- Shipping carriers: Support for 12 shipping carriers, including FedEx, UPS, USPS, and DHL.
- Advanced logistics: Flexport’s order fulfillment services are backed by an extensive logistics ecosystem, specializing in a broad range of services including freight and customs, with comprehensive logistics tools.
Overall, Flexport has positive reviews averaging 4.2 out of 5 on review sites. However, reviews are not as plentiful at the time of writing. Here are the main trends I noticed:
- Users commend the user-friendly interface, the high level of guidance and consulting available to them, and frequent updates (although this is like a double-edged sword for them).
- Users don’t like needing to relearn the interface because of the frequent updates. Some also claim that it’s expensive for low-volume shippers.
ShipMonk: Best for Subscription Services
Overall Score:
3.88 / 5
Pros
- Dedicated rep with client-specific training
- Warehouse automations
- Affordable batch fulfillment
Cons
- Limited international fulfillment network
- Hidden fees reported in fine-print pricing
- Difficult to terminate services
Overview
Who should use it:
ShipMonk offers special pricing for subscription boxes and batch fulfillment. Businesses that offer subscriptions and perform crowdfunding projects will benefit from ShipMonk’s services.
Why we like it:
ShipMonkscored 3.88 out of 5 in my evaluation, earning some of the highest scores for overall functionality and ease of use However, it lost points for billing predictability and transparency due to a large number of complaints in user reviews.
See how ShipMonk compares to the top-ranking provider in our ShipBob vs ShipMonk comparison review.
There’s a minimum requirement of $250 in pick and pack costs to use ShipMonk’s services—which is a low threshold compared to ShipBob’s $275 minimum monthly spend.
ShipMonk’s pricing model is highly scalable, with volume discounts that apply on a sliding scale (starting at 500 orders/month). That being said, fragile items and items heavier than 5 lbs will incur additional charges.
The billing portal on ShipMonk’s software features a detailed breakdown of your monthly fulfillment costs, offering transparency in each invoice. However, users report running into unexpected costs from fuel surcharges and contract complications.
- Subscription Services: ShipMonk specializes in handling subscription box orders, with special pricing, inventory forecasting, kitting, custom packing procedures from wrapping to inserts, and more.
- Advanced automation: Warehouse automation technologies increase ShipMonk’s efficiency and effectiveness, resulting in quicker fulfillment times, higher picking accuracy, cheaper fulfillment costs, and more secure storage.
- Quality control: Improved order accuracy with features like “Snap n’ Pack,” which takes a photo of packed orders before they’re shipped, and automatic reshipment of orders whose tracking number hasn’t been updated.
- Duty-free import with Section 321: Sellers can ship merchandise to ShipMonk’s Mexico location and then incrementally import it into the US, divided into multiple $800 portions. This eliminates duties for volume importers.
ShipMonk’s reviews from third-party sites average 4 out of 5. Notable is the uptick in positive reviews from the past year compared to previous years. Here’s a summary of the reviews across several sites:
- Users like its warehouse efficiency and responsive support. They also mention its fast order turnaround times, and easy-to-use software.
- Users complain about its hidden fees and surcharges, unmet SLAs, and lengthy termination of services and migration process.
FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon): Best Warehouse & Order Fulfillment Services for Amazon Sellers
Overall Score:
3.62 / 5
Pros
- Prime shipping designation provides access to over 200 million Prime subscribers
- Fast turnaround and shipping times
- Hands-off return and refund management
Cons
- Expensive storage fees that fluctuate seasonally
- Low visibility into stock levels and pooling products between sellers may put you at risk
- No common specialty services like kitting, assembly, or branded packaging
Overview
Who should use it:
Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is a very popular choice for Amazon sellers, offering automatic Prime status and access to over 200 million Prime subscribers. FBA also manages customer inquiries, processes returns and refunds, and automates order fulfillment, saving significant time for sellers.
Why we like it:
In our evaluation, FBA scored 3.62 out of 5. The benefits of Amazon’s ecosystem, combined with FBA’s scalability, international shipping capabilities, and no minimum requirements, make it a considerable option for many Amazon sellers.
FBA prices vary by season but are transparent via Seller Central, aiding in budget predictability. However, FBA’s pricing and procedures can be complex, especially for products that aren’t small and lightweight—so understanding its system is key to avoiding extra fees.
FBA’s pricing structure is complicated, especially if you’re using FBA to fulfill orders from channels other than Amazon. Plus, its fees are slightly higher if your products are apparel or what it considers to be dangerous goods (which is anything that includes lithium batteries or magnetized material).
To address this, Amazon offers a host of useful fee tools to provide transparency and predictability for existing clients and potential customers estimating their profitability.
See how FBA’s pricing and features compare to the top-ranking company in our FBA vs ShipBob comparison review.
- Huge international fulfillment network: FBA has over 110 warehouse locations in the US and 75 international fulfillment centers. This blows away the competition.
- Quick delivery: Shipping times are driven by the Amazon Prime shipping guarantees, which have set the industry standard. Shoppers can select their delivery speed too, and Amazon orders largely arrive as expected.
- Scalability: Sellers that move from 10 products to millions of products monthly can use Amazon FBA. It’s important to monitor stock levels closely to optimize costs as you grow, but you won’t outgrow FBA’s fulfillment capacity.
- Specialty services: FBA items are eligible for Amazon’s gift services, and offering this doesn’t add to your fulfillment costs. Amazon does manage customer service and refunds for orders it fulfills, which is not typical.
- Search rankings: Amazon’s product-search algorithm favors products that are fulfilled by FBA, which can boost the visibility and sales of your goods.
Amazon FBA user reviews from third-party sites are few, but there is plenty of feedback in Amazon Seller forums. Here’s a summary of the reviews:
- Users like its fast shipping timeline and hassle-free end-to-end outsource services (from order fulfillment to customer support).
- Users complain about its fluctuating fees and complex regulations.
ShipNetwork (Formerly Rakuten Super Logistics): Best for Scalability
Overall Score:
3.34 / 5
Pros
- One- to two-day US ground delivery network
- Can support high-volume orders
- Specialty fulfillment services (refrigeration)
Cons
- Restrictive minimum order volume requirements
- No custom packaging
- No international warehouses
Overview
Who should use it:
ShipNetwork (formerly, Rakuten Super Logistics) is known for supporting enterprise-level clients but requires only 250 orders per month, making it accessible—and scalable—for many small businesses.
Why we like it:
ShipNetwork provides domestic fulfillment services and international freight delivery with a 100% accuracy guarantee, ultimately earning a score of 3.34 out of 5 in my evaluation.
However, ShipNetwork’s pricing is custom-quoted, so it’s difficult to tell whether or not it’s a cost-effective option for low-volume sellers. This lack of pricing transparency cost ShipNetwork several points in our evaluation. It was also docked for its packaging restrictions, popularity, integrations, and customer service hours.
ShipNetwork does not disclose its pricing online—all onboarding, receiving, storage, pick and pack, and account management costs are custom-quoted.
Contact ShipNetwork for a quote.
- Xparcel: This program lets you compare quotes to choose the fastest and least expensive carrier. Others, like Flexport, choose the shipping service for you.
- Freight forwarding: ShipNetwork’s in-house team of freight experts can handle your domestic and international freight service needs.
- Customer support: US-based client service: Unlike many large-scale 3PLs, ShipNetwork does not outsource its customer service outside the US. Clients can receive support via live chat, phone, and email during standard business hours.
- Ecommerce smart tools: ShipNetwork provides online tools, including a shipping optimizer and customs guide with clearing support.
- Lot tracking: Manufacturers and retailers can work with ShipNetwork to track, fulfill by expiration/freshness dates, and properly recall product lots along the supply chain.
- Temperature control: The company offers climate control and refrigeration in some of its facilities. While others like ShipBob, Saltbox, FBA, and Red Stag claim climate control, ShipNetwork is the only one with refrigeration capabilities.
- Guaranteed accuracy: ShipNetwork promises 100% order accuracy and 100% of orders shipping within a day.
Both ShipNetwork and Rakuten Super Logistics have very few user reviews online, making it difficult to get an impression of the actual user experience. That said, the very few online user reviews I chanced upon are from forum posts that describe a highly negative experience using the company.
How We Evaluated Order Fulfillment Companies
To be able to recommend the best order fulfillment companies, we considered the factors that matter most to small retail and ecommerce businesses. To address those needs, we compared the eight best fulfillment companies based on pricing, functionality, specialty services, and ease of use.
We evaluated more than a dozen providers on a 23-point scale shaped by industry experience, reader surveys, and competing providers’ attributes. Our criteria weigh functionality, scalability, and transparency throughout a range of processes.
Click through the tabs below for a more detailed breakdown of our evaluation criteria:
20%
Pricing
30%
Quality/Functionality
15%
Specialty Services
15%
Ease of Use
20%
Expert Score
20% of Overall Score
Many fulfillment companies offer pricing on a custom-quoted basis. We assert that it’s better to openly publish pricing. This eliminates the need for potential clients to contact each company for a quote—potentially wasting both parties’ time—and promotes general transparency.
Since we can’t fairly compare the specific costs of each provider, this category examines the providers’ pricing transparency, billing transparency, and billing predictability. Saltbox and Flexport got top scores in this category.
30% of Overall Score
We evaluated the quality of service and functionality of each company by weighing critical details like order turnaround time, shipping partner options, size of fulfillment center network, and accuracy rate.
We also considered how each service integrates with ecommerce shopping carts, marketplaces, operational tools, and solution providers that your online store may use. ShipBob was the only product to get a perfect score.
15% of Overall Score
We awarded points for the availability of special services like climate control, international shipping, custom packaging elements, and different types of assembly. Being crucial to ecommerce operations, return handling, and reporting/analytics were prioritized.
Lastly, we assessed whether each company was eligible to fulfill Amazon Prime or SFP (Seller-Fulfilled Prime) orders. ShipBob and Red Stag scored the highest in this category.
15% of Overall Score
This score considered customer service accessibility—prioritizing companies that provide a dedicated service rep for each client and weighing their support center’s hours of availability.
Each service was also evaluated for software usability and operational transparency. Companies were awarded points for having highly functional software that allows users to see where each order is within the fulfillment process and warehouse space.
Lastly, order minimums and service scalability were weighted heavily to provide the best recommendation for small businesses that need a fulfillment partner that can grow with them. ShipBob and ShipMonk earned top ratings.
20% of Overall Score
This score combined our retail and ecommerce experts’ final evaluation of value, ease of use, and standout features with scores from real-world users on trusted third-party review sites. Saltbox and Red Stag earned perfect scores.
*Percentages of overall score
How to Find the Best Order Fulfillment Services for You
Hiring a fulfillment company is a big commitment and should be carefully explored. I’ve seen more than one review where an ecommerce company said fulfillment issues caused them to lose money.
Take your time, interview several companies, and make sure you understand contracts before signing up with one.
Step 1: Understand Your Goals
What do you want from a fulfillment service? Some ideas include:
- Expanding market reach
- Improving shipping efficiency and turnaround time
- Handling increased demand
- Cutting costs
- Qualifying as an Amazon Prime supplier
Be sure to prioritize your goals and only consider fulfillment partners that can meet your requirements.
Step 2: Gather Your Company Data
Providing fulfillment services is a big commitment for the fulfillment company as well. As such, they will want to know a lot about you. Before making a request for information or securing a quote, have this information about yourself ready:
- Your ultimate goal for fulfillment services
- Your budget and financial information
- Average monthly, weekly, and daily order volume—note any major seasonal fluctuations
- Number of SKUs
- Sales channels
- Technical requirements
- Timeline expectations
- Weight of your products
- Where most of your customers are located or where most of your orders ship to
- Your current shipping carrier and rates
Having this data on hand will also you to receive accurate pricing quotes and help you understand if what a fulfillment company is offering will actually save you time or money compared to your current operations.
Step 3: Collect Your Questions
Make use of your sales and fulfillment teams to be sure you address their concerns, too. Some questions you might consider are:
- Cost and how pricing works
- How billing works
- Tasks accomplished
- Warehouse locations
- Inventory tracking and compatibility with any current systems
- How shrinkage is handled
- Custom packaging needs
- Alerts
- Returns and reverse logistics
- How inventory is divided across warehouse locations
- Shipping partners and rates
Step 4: Start Your Research
Once you know what you need and have your information ready, start your research with the nine providers listed above. Keep in mind that while we recommend certain providers as best for specific situations, this does not mean the others don’t tackle that same task well. You can also go to WarehousingAndFulfillment.com, which can match your needs with information from over 500 services.
Visit WarehousingAndFulfillment.com
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Click through the sections below to find the answers to common questions about order fulfillment services.
A fulfillment company is a service provider that specializes in storing inventory, processing orders, and shipping goods for other businesses—particularly retail and ecommerce sellers.
These companies have purpose-built infrastructure, including warehouses, loading docks, packing stations, and trained employees. This allows them to store and ship large volumes of products quickly, accurately, and cost-effectively.
A 3PL is a general term for any company that delivers an outsourced logistics service—such as order fulfillment, shipping, freight distribution, or import/export. It stands for third-party logistics.
Fulfillment companies are 3PLs, but not all 3PLs perform order fulfillment. Other examples of 3PLs include shipping carriers like FedEx, UPS, and USPS, and freight brokers.
As a typical ecommerce retailer, the total cost owed to your partner fulfillment company mostly breaks down into four fees: inventory receiving, storage, pick and pack, and outbound shipping. In many cases, packaging materials are also part of the fulfillment outlay.
The periodic cost of each of these processes depends on order volume and complexity, as well as product specifications. Additional services—like custom boxes, special handling, and item assembly—can also contribute to your fulfillment expenses.
Bottom Line
Outsourcing your order fulfillment to a third party can help save time and money. It’s typically recommended when your growing business can no longer fulfill orders in-house without adding more people or space.
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