Fulfillment companies handle the order fulfillment process for ecommerce businesses, including product storage, picking and packing orders, and shipping those orders to customers. Some fulfillment warehouses cater to small sellers and startups, and most offer specialty services like batch fulfillment, secure storage, oversize shipping, or international sales.
The best fulfillment companies for small businesses are:
- ShipBob: Best overall order fulfillment
- ShipMonk: Best for customer service and warehouse automation
- Red Stag Fulfillment: Best for special handling needs
- FedEx: Best combined freight and fulfillment service
- FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon): Best for Amazon sellers
- Whitebox: Best combined marketplace management service
Outsourcing fulfillment to a warehouse or order fulfillment company is typically best for growing ecommerce businesses consistently processing more than 10 orders per day. In other words, when you can no longer fulfill orders in-house without adding more people or space, outsourcing fulfillment saves time and money and offers a lot of flexibility. The best solution for your business depends on your volume of orders, sales channels, and whether your products require any special handling.
Top Order Fulfillment Services Compared
Monthly Minimum | None | $250 min. pick and pack fee | ~200 orders | 400 orders | None | 1,000 orders |
Onboarding fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0, but seller fees will incur | $0* |
US Warehouse Locations | 13 | 3 | 2 | 130 | 110 | 3 |
Climate Control | ✔ | X | X | ✔ | ✔ | X |
Shipping Partner Options | UPS, USPS, FedEx, DHL | FedEx, USPS, DHL, DHL Express, Passport, UPS1 | UPS, USPS, FedEx, Amazon, OnTrac | FedEx | Amazon, UPS | UPS, USPS, FedEx, DHL |
Error Rate | 0.05% | 0.03% | 0.02%, with $50 payment guarantee for every error | Undisclosed | Undisclosed | 0.10% |
Amazon Prime or SFP compatibility | X | ✔ | ✔ | X | ✔ | ✔ |
*Though it is widely reported that WhiteBox charges a $3,000 onboarding fee, the company told us directly that there are currently no startup or onboarding costs. | ||||||
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How We Evaluated Fulfillment Companies
Fulfillment services are designed to help ecommerce businesses scale by enabling business owners to focus on more growth-minded tasks—like marketing and product development—rather than fulfillment. They’re also a helpful and cost-effective option for companies that have outgrown their in-house fulfillment operation and don’t want to invest in their own staffed warehouse.
To address those needs, we compared the best six order fulfillment companies based on pricing, functionality, specialty services, and ease of use. Our retail and ecommerce experts also weighed in and gave their evaluation of each service.
25% of Overall Score
We looked at the itemized fees that account for total fulfillment costs with each company—including inbound shipment-receiving labor, pick & pack charges, and storage costs—and prioritized the most affordable options.
We also weighed each company’s onboarding fees and awarded points to those who offer discounted shipping rates. Lastly, we heavily considered pricing transparency and predictability.
25% 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.
20% 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 who need a fulfillment partner who can grow with them.
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.
15% of Overall Score
This score combined our retail and ecommerce experts’ final evaluation of value, ease of use, and stand-out features with scores from real-world users on trusted third-party review sites.
Based on the above criteria, ShipBob is the best order fulfillment service for small businesses, receiving the highest overall score according to our grading system. ShipBob’s pricing, features and practicality are well-suited for growing small businesses that want a good value for high-quality fulfillment services.
ShipBob
PROS
- Excellent value: Free order management software, low-cost shipping, and no order minimums or pick and pack fees
- 2-day discounted ground shipping anywhere within the continental US and options for same-day delivery
- Transparency: The software provides high levels of visibility into order and inventory statuses
CONS
- High storage fees: Not ideal for slow-moving products or businesses with low sale-to-SKU ratios
- Cannot fulfill Amazon SFP (Seller-Fulfilled Prime) orders
- Not optimized for B2B sales
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 3.93 | OUT OF | 5 |
| Quality/Functionality | 4.55 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Specialty Services | 3.83 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Ease of Use | 3.45 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 4.69 | OUT OF | 5 |
ShipBob delivers highly functional ecommerce fulfillment services with the levels of flexibility that many small businesses need to thrive. They have no prohibitive order minimums and even offer a Growth Plan ideal for startups and young operations.
Its wide network of 16 global fulfillment centers is topped only by the major corporations on our list (Amazon and FedEx), allowing it to provide high-level distribution capabilities. Plus, it’s the only fulfillment company on our list that boasts FDA-certified climate control and handling—making it ideal for retailers who sell beauty, health, or consumable goods.
ShipBob charges significantly higher storage fees than most of the competitors. If you sell fast-moving goods or maintain a high sale-to-SKU ratio, this expense will be balanced out by its virtually free pick and pack service. But if your store deals in a high SKU volume of slow-moving goods, ShipBob’s pricing model isn’t for you.
ShipBob scored 4.09 out of 5 in our evaluation. The company performed well in all categories, but lost points for its storage costs and Seller-Fulfilled Prime incompatibility. It was also docked slightly for its less-than-perfect online reviews and customer service hours.
A map of ShipBob’s global warehouse locations
(Source: ShipBob)
ShipBob Pricing
ShipBob’s billing transparency is the best in the industry. 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.
Returns are processed to your specifications for $3 per order, and order management software comes free for every account.
Service | Cost* | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
Onboarding | $0 | Onboarding and account setup is free |
Receiving | $25/hour first two hours, $40/hour following | Inbound stock receipt, unpack, and check-in |
Inventory Storage | $40 per pallet/month, $10 per shelf/month, or $5 per bin/month | Climate-controlled storage, security, and inventory management |
Pick and Pack | $0 for the first 4 picks, 20¢ per additional item.Free standard packaging and dunnage. | Picking items from inventory and packing them for shipment |
Shipping | Discounted rates available with 5 carrier partners | Shipping costs vary depending on the size, weight, and destination of your goods |
*ShipBob does not publish pricing. The above values are based on information from ShipBob, trusted third-party review sites, and customer reviews. Contact ShipBob for a direct quote. | ||
ShipBob Features
- Fulfillment network: 13 US warehouses and three international locations make for efficient, cost-effective distribution around the world. All orders placed before noon ship the same day.
- Shipping carriers: UPS, USPS, DHL, and FedEx—all with discounted rates.
- Integrations: Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Squarespace, Amazon, eBay, Walmart, and API options.
- FBA prep: For eligible multi-channel clients, ShipBob will send a portion of your inventory to Amazon and ensure it meets precise packaging standards.
- Batch fulfillment: Service can be enrolled on a per-project basis for crowdfunding campaigns and product launches.
- FDA certification: Seven of ShipBob’s warehouses are climate-controlled and certified by the Food and Drug Administration for the safe handling of food, beverages, cosmetics, medical equipment, and dietary supplements.
- Software: Free user-friendly, web-based software for managing orders, inventory, customers, returns, billing, and analytics.
What ShipBob Is Missing
ShipBob’s services aren’t geared toward B2B sales, so wholesalers wouldn’t benefit from using them. It also doesn’t offer refrigeration, making warehousing of certain foods and beverages impossible.
Though ShipBob can accommodate oversized goods, it isn’t as nearly cost-effective for special handling and large-item shipping as Red Stag Fulfillment.
ShipMonk
PROS
- Best-in-class support from a dedicated customer service rep with client-specific training
- Advanced accuracy measures and warehouse automation
- Versatile “Special Projects” capabilities to extend assistance wherever it's needed
CONS
- Limited warehouse network
- Hidden costs in fine-print pricing details
- No climate control for temperature-sensitive goods like health products or grocery items
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 3.53 | OUT OF | 5 |
| Quality/Functionality | 4.10 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Specialty Services | 3.83 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Ease of Use | 3.38 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 |
ShipMonk’s features and capabilities rival the top direct-to-consumer fulfillment companies in the industry. Its platform is built to cater to small businesses, equipped with the scalability needed to foster growth.
The company’s humble beginnings without the means for sophisticated systems led to a focus on best-in-class customer service. Now, $365 million in funding later, it provides its clients high-tech tools, automated warehouse services, and a developed fulfillment network—while still maintaining an unparalleled dedication to client support.
ShipMonk scored 3.91 out of 5 in our evaluation. There’s a minimum requirement of $250 in pick and pack costs to use the services—which is a low threshold, but still cost the company points. It also doesn’t offer batch fulfillment services. Because of these factors, nascent small businesses, startups, and crowdfunding ventures would be a better match for ShipBob’s partnership.
A map of ShipMonk’s warehouse locations (Source: ShipMonk)
Pricing
Service | Cost | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
Onboarding | $0 | Onboarding and account setup is free |
Receiving | $0 when shipment guidelines are met | Inbound stock receipt, unpack, and check-in |
Inventory Storage | $20 per pallet/month, or $1–$4 per bin/month | Storage, security, and inventory management |
Pick and Pack | $1.50–$2.50 for the first pick per order, 30¢–50¢ per additional item. Standard packaging and dunnage $0.15–$2.00 per order. | Picking items from inventory and packing them for shipment |
Shipping | Discounted rates available with five carrier partners | Shipping costs vary depending on the size, weight, and destination of your goods |
The billing portal on ShipMonk’s software features a detailed breakdown of your monthly fulfillment costs, offering transparency into each invoice.
The company’s pricing model is highly scalable, with volume discounts that apply on a sliding scale and custom pricing eligibility at 10,000 orders per month.
Users occasionally report running into unexpected costs from fuel surcharges and contract complications. Pricing details hidden in fine print can impact your bottom line if you’re not careful, so be sure to understand your fulfillment agreement thoroughly.
ShipMonk Features
- Customer service: High-level accessibility from a dedicated representative and a support facility open during extended business hours in multiple time zones.
- Shipping carriers: USPS, FedEx, DHL, DHL Express, Passport, UPS1—with discounted rates.
- Integrations: 60+ turnkey integrations including Shopify, WooCommerce, Amazon marketplace, Magento, eBay, PayPal, and more.
- Advanced automation: State-of-the-art warehouse automation technologies increase ShipMonk’s efficiency and effectiveness, which provides clients with quicker fulfillment times, higher picking accuracy, cheaper fulfillment costs, and more secure storage.
- Software: Free user-friendly, web-based software for managing orders, inventory, customers, returns, billing, and analytics.
- Quality-control: ShipMonk assures 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 updated.
What ShipMonk Is Missing
Without climate control, refrigerators, and special handling expertise, ShipMonk isn’t a good fit for retailers selling goods that require extra care or maintenance.
ShipMonk’s lack of a vast fulfillment network could mean less efficient distribution than its well-established competitors, such as FedEx or FBA. It also doesn’t currently feature any international warehouse locations, although the company runs one international development office in Europe and plans to expand globally.
Red Stag
PROS
- Excellent operational transparency and service guarantees
- Fast turnaround times with affordable shipping and handling for oversize items
- Low order minimums and no long-term contracts
CONS
- Only two warehouses—not ideal for high-volume sellers
- Dashboard and user interface are not user-friendly
- Costly fulfillment fees
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 3.26 | OUT OF | 5 |
| Quality/Functionality | 4.10 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Specialty Services | 3.83 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Ease of Use | 2.60 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 4.69 | OUT OF | 5 |
Red Stag Fulfillment caters to ecommerce businesses selling high-ticket items, oversized goods, heavy products, and products that require light assembly or customization before shipping. Red Stag also offers excellent customer service with dedicated customer support and payouts for errors, including lost or damaged items. Plus, users benefit from Red Stag’s market-leading order accuracy (99.98%) and zero-shrink guarantees.
Red Stag has just two warehouses, so it’s not a good fit for high-volume sellers. However, low order requirements, affordable options for hard-to-ship items, and impressive service make Red Stag an excellent choice for small businesses with special shipping needs.
We awarded points to Red Stag for its robust special services and functionality in our evaluation, but the company was docked for order minimum requirements, lack of billing transparency, customer service hours, and limited network. It received an overall score of 3.64 out of 5.
A map of Red Stag’s warehouse locations and delivery speeds
(Source: Red Stag Fulfillment)
Pricing
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 not satisfied 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 | Cost* | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
Onboarding | $0 | Onboarding and account setup is free |
Receiving | $13.25/pallet | Inbound stock receipt, unpack, and check-in |
Inventory Storage | $15 per pallet/month, or $2 per bin/month | Climate controlled storage, advanced security, and inventory management |
Pick and Pack | $2.25–$2.65 for the first pick, 30¢ per additional item | Picking items from inventory and packing them for shipment |
Shipping | Discounted rates available with four carrier partners | Shipping costs vary depending on the size, weight, and destination of your goods |
*Red Stag Fulfillment does not publish pricing. The above values are based on information from Red Stag, trusted third-party review sites, and customer reviews. Contact Red Stag Fulfillment for a direct quote. | ||
Red Stag Fulfillment Features
- Fulfillment network: Two existing warehouse locations—one in Salt Lake City, Utah, and one in Knoxville, Tennessee—plus two additional locations scheduled to open later in 2021.
- Shipping carriers: UPS, USPS, FedEx, Amazon, and OnTrac.
- Integrations: eBay, Ecwid, Magento, Netsuite, PayPal, PrestaShop, QuickBooks, Sears, Shopify, ShipStation, Volusion, Wayfair, Weebly, WooCommerce, Yahoo, 3dcart, Amazon, BigCommerce, Brightpearl, and more, including custom solutions.
- 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 and delivery times: Same-day fulfillment is offered with aggressive cutoff times (orders must be placed before 5 p.m.); 97% of orders reach customers within two days and 99% within three days.
- Management and quality-control: Red Stag has video tracking throughout its warehouses to prevent losses through damages, mistakes, or theft.
What Red Stag Fulfillment Is Missing
Red Stag’s limited network of fulfillment centers can impact distribution efficiency compared to companies that boast 10-100+ warehouse locations like FedEx or ShipBob.
It also lacks transparency in billing: Fee itemization and visibility come at an inconvenience and cost. Detailed fulfillment and shipping cost breakdowns aren’t provided by default, but rather prepared on a case-by-case basis upon request and charged at a “Special Projects” rate.
FedEx Fulfillment
PROS
- Fast, low-cost nationwide delivery
- Large fulfillment network supports high volumes, efficient distribution, and unlimited growth
- Sophisticated product and order tracking technology
CONS
- Inconsistent customer service support
- No batch-only fulfillment services
- Cannot fulfill FBA or Amazon SFP (Seller-Fulfilled Prime) orders
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 4.06 | OUT OF | 5 |
| Quality/Functionality | 2.75 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Specialty Services | 4.08 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Ease of Use | 3.03 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 4.38 | OUT OF | 5 |
FedEx Fulfillment leverages the company’s vast, established transportation networks and delivery routes to offer fast and affordable order fulfillment. This makes it a great option for large businesses with a nationwide or global customer base. FedEx also offers the lowest FedEx shipping rates and provides access to its shipping and tracking systems.
However, FedEx has previously required an order-to-SKU ratio (daily orders shipped vs number of unique SKUs in stock) of 4:1, and has only been able to accommodate products under 50 pounds with dimensions less than 18x14x8 inches. Although we weren’t able to confirm whether or not these restrictions currently apply, FedEx has been known to only be a good fit for high-volume businesses selling small, lightweight products.
In our evaluation, FedEx received a score of 3.58 out of 5—the company was mainly docked for its transparency, predictability, and order minimum requirements. Its features, functionality, and pricing scored highly, but points were lost for poor reviews, customer service issues, and Amazon incompatibility.
A snapshot of FedEx Fulfillment’s management software (Source: FedEx)
FedEx Fulfillment Pricing
Service | Cost* | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
Onboarding | $0 | Onboarding and account setup is free |
Receiving | $0 if shipments meet standard requirements; $35–$40/hour otherwise | Inbound stock receipt, unpack, and check-in |
Inventory Storage | $8–$15 per pallet/month | Storage with climate-controlled option, security, and inventory management |
Pick and Pack | 40¢/unit including standard packing materials | Picking items from inventory and packing them for shipment |
Shipping | Discounted FedEx rates | Shipping costs vary depending on the size, weight, and destination of your goods |
*FedEx Fulfillment does not publish pricing. The above values are based on information from FedEx, trusted third-party review sites, and customer reviews. Contact FedEx for a direct quote. | ||
FedEx Fulfillment Features
- Fulfillment network: Over 130 warehouses in the US plus one international fulfillment center location, all providing access to FedEx’s well-established transportation network.
- Shipping carriers: FedEx fulfillment only supports FedEx shipping services.
- Integrations: Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Magento, eBay, Walmart, Etsy, and more.
- Reverse logistics: Because FedEx Fulfillment is a small part of FedEx’s extensive logistics business, you also have access to all of FedEx’s other services including industry-leading return management services.
- Tracking and visibility: Real-time order and shipment tracking for you and customers, plus live insights on inventory data.
- Climate control: The company’s main fulfillment and distribution center in Memphis is fully temperature controlled and monitored with a compliant temperature recording system.
- Supply chain consulting: FedEx offers its logistics expertise to help you identify opportunities to overcome challenges and improve processes.
What FedEx Fulfillment Is Missing
Though FedEx is a vast logistics organization, it’s hard to tell how much of its resources are being dedicated to fulfillment operations. Inconsistent customer service has been reported by FedEx Fulfillment clients, and in response to ecommerce fluctuations in 2020 the company temporarily halted its return services, reverse logistics, and international fulfillment. All fulfillment services resumed in 2021.
We attempted to contact FedEx concerning its fulfillment pricing, service availability, and requirements. It was largely unresponsive and did not provide relevant information.
FedEx Fulfillment doesn’t perform FBA prep or ship Amazon orders, so if a majority of your sales come from Amazon, FBA or Whitebox may be a better choice.
FBA
PROS
- Prime shipping designation provides access to over 150 million Prime subscribers
- Fast turnaround and shipping times
- Hands-off return and refund management
CONS
- Highly expensive storage fees that fluctuate seasonally
- Low visibility into stock levels, plus pooling products between sellers, puts you at risk
- No common specialty services like kitting, assembly, or branded packaging
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 3.40 | OUT OF | 5 |
| Quality/Functionality | 2.75 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Specialty Services | 3.58 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Ease of Use | 3.73 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 3.13 | OUT OF | 5 |
Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is the obvious fulfillment solution for Amazon sellers because it comes with automatic Prime designation, which gives you greater access to Amazon’s over 150 million Prime subscribers. FBA is also a great option for Amazon sellers because it handles all customer inquiries, processes returns and refunds, and automates order fulfillment—all of which can save a lot of time.
However, FBA’s pricing and procedures are more complicated than many other fulfillment warehouses, particularly if you are not selling small or low-weight products, so make sure to get a full understanding of how FBA works to avoid unnecessary fees.
FBA scored 3.29 out of 5 in our evaluation. The company’s score was docked in all categories—it’s not the most functional or economical operation, but the advantages it provides to Amazon sellers make up for its drawbacks in many cases. Exorbitant storage charges and costly multichannel fulfillment fees knocked the company’s score in the pricing category, and lack of common value-add services, shipping carrier options, and order accuracy impacted its total as well.
A map of Amazon’s existing and planned fulfillment centers in the US
(Source: CNBC)
FBA Pricing
Service | Cost | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
Onboarding | $0 | Onboarding and account setup is free, but monthly seller fees will incur |
Receiving | $0 when guidelines are met | Inbound stock receipt, unpack, and check-in |
Inventory Storage | $0.48–$0.99 per cubic foot/month during January–September; $1.20–$3.63 per cubic foot/month during October–December | Short-term storage with climate control and security options Inventory stored for more than 365 days incurs an additional monthly fee |
Fulfillment | $1.79–$13.23 per unit for standard-size products (up to 20 lbs) $11.40–$206.10+ for oversize products (21-150+ lbs) | Picking items from inventory, packing, shipping, and customer service Fulfillment fees are based on size, weight, quantity, sales channel, shipping speed, and category of goods in each order. |
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 as well as potential customers estimating their profitability.
FBA Features
- Fulfillment Network: FBA has over 110 warehouse locations in the US and 75 international fulfillment centers.
- 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.
- Integrations: In addition to fulfilling Amazon orders, FBA has a multichannel fulfillment portal to ship orders received on other channels like eBay, Etsy, or your own online store website.
- Specialty services: FBA is not a full-service fulfillment warehouse, so there are no specialty packing add-ons. Your items ship exactly as they’re received by FBA. However, 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 visibility and sales of your goods.
What FBA Is Missing
Due to its multichannel fulfillment fees, FBA is simply not cost effective unless 80%-90% of your sales come from Amazon.
Another issue comes from inventory commingling or pooling, which is a storage system used by FBA to streamline distribution by grouping identical products from different sellers. This means the goods another retailer bought and shipped to FBA could be sent to the customer who made a purchase on your listing.
This practice has led to counterfeit and faulty products making their way into the supply chain—harming the reputation and eligibility of sellers at no fault of their own. It’s a risk that should be assessed by anyone selling goods that aren’t unique to their store.
Whitebox
PROS
- 2-day shipping for 99% of the continental US
- Full-service marketplace management platform handles your listings for you
- Advanced reporting, forecasting, and analytics
CONS
- Prohibitive order minimums
- Monthly platform fee charged for software
- Lack of pricing transparency
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 1.80 | OUT OF | 5 |
| Quality/Functionality | 3.65 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Specialty Services | 3.83 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Ease of Use | 2.60 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 3.75 | OUT OF | 5 |
Whitebox is a unique combination of two ecommerce services—an order fulfillment company and a marketplace growth agency specializing in Amazon sales.
This turnkey platform makes it the easiest, most hassle-free way to sell Prime-eligible items on Amazon. It manages your entire online sales process, covering everything from professional product photography and SEO-informed copywriting to quality assurance and profitability studies.
The company is geared toward sellers who are enrolled in FBA as well as other channels—which means marketplace, FBA, and Whitebox fees all take a bite out of your bottom line.
Because of this, we recommend Whitebox for product manufacturers that have large markups of 250% or more. For these sellers, Whitebox can be the ideal full-service partner due to its extensive and well-developed turnkey services.
We were not able to determine pricing for Whitebox’s fulfillment services. Since we couldn’t fairly assess value, their final score was impacted.
Contact Whitebox for a direct quote.
In addition to drawbacks in the pricing and value categories, Whitebox lost points for their high order minimum requirements, lack of climate control, and customer service hours. The company was awarded points for their robust services, operational transparency, and scalability—ultimately scoring 3.02 out of 5.
A look inside one of Whitebox’s warehouse centers
(Source: Baltimore Sun)
Whitebox Pricing
Whitebox’s pricing structure is different from most other fulfillment companies. Rather than charging for each service individually, clients pay a monthly “all-in fulfillment fee” that covers all related charges except storage, which is billed additionally.
The company’s order management software also incurs a monthly fee. Advanced cross-channel data-management software is also available at an additional cost, or free to clients who meet a minimum billing requirement.
Its growth agency option is charged on a commission basis, assessed as a fixed percentage of the client’s sales.
Whitebox Features
- Fulfillment network: Three warehouse locations strategically located in Las Vegas, Memphis, and Baltimore.
- Shipping carriers: FedEx, UPS, USPS, and DHL.
- Integrations: Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Amazon, Walmart, Wayfair, Home Depot, and more, including API.
- Growth Agency Services: Full-service marketplace management platform goes beyond fulfillment to include listing creation and optimization, stock maintenance, marketing, and sales servicing.
- FBA prep: Whitebox receives, counts, and examines your stock before correctly packaging and distributing it into Amazon’s warehouse system per FBA requirements.
- Advanced reporting: Sales forecasting, profitability studies, inventory management, and unified data are visible from the company’s available software.
- Amazon advantage: Whitebox can list your items on its own well-established seller account which boasts a 5-star rating with 97% positivity on 6,500+ reviews.
What Whitebox Is Missing
Whitebox’s high minimum requirement of 1,000 orders per month makes it incompatible with many young businesses and startups. It also doesn’t offer batch fulfillment services for crowdfunding ventures.
The company does offer an order fulfillment partnership separately from their growth agency and marketplace management services. For multichannel sellers who want to outsource fulfilment and logistics while handling the rest of the operation on their own, Whitebox’s value falls short compared to other fulfillment-focused options such as ShipBob.
Bottom Line
Choosing the right warehouse and fulfillment services can save time, so you can focus on marketing, product development, and growing your ecommerce business. Outsourcing warehousing also allows businesses to expand and reduce product offerings on a whim without having to acquire new space or adjust internal processes.
ShipBob is the best all-around warehouse and fulfillment center for small businesses. The company not only offers zero order minimums, transparent pricing, and free user-friendly order management software, but it also integrates with numerous ecommerce platforms and sales channels. Plus, the popular company has excellent user reviews and offers reliable customer support. Visit ShipBob to create a free account and receive a custom quote.
