How many samples should I order?

Factories usually make one to five sample pieces, and charge more per piece than the production price: a sample is hand-finished and interrupts a line. Ask for the sample charge and the courier cost in writing before the factory starts, and say what the sample must prove: material, colour, size, packaging, or all four. Two samples of the same spec from two factories tell you more than five from one.

What does a test order look like?

A low-MOQ test order of roughly 50 to 500 units before scaling is common when a factory agrees to one. It costs more per unit than a full run, and it is worth it: it shows how the factory behaves when the money is real, how the packaging survives the courier, and whether the goods match the approved sample. Treat the test order as the last sample round, not the first production run.

What is the usual payment split?

The standard first-order terms are a 30 percent deposit on order and the remaining 70 percent before shipment, by bank transfer. Some factories ask for more on a first order; some accept less on a reorder. Whatever the split, the balance is paid after the pre-shipment inspection report, not before it. That single sequence protects you more than any clause.

What if the MOQ will not move?

Factories cut the minimum order for a first order more often than buyers expect, usually in exchange for a slightly higher unit price. When the MOQ still will not move, the levers that usually work are these: split the payment across two deliveries; amortise tooling over the first reorders instead of paying it up front; ask the factory to hold part of the run as inventory and ship in two lots; or choose a stock material and colour for the first order and go custom on the second.

What should be in writing before the factory starts?

Nine lines: the unit price at the agreed quantity; the MOQ and any tolerance on it; the sample charge and who pays the courier; the payment split and the trigger for the balance; the production lead time from deposit; packaging, labelling and carton marks; the Incoterm and the port; who owns any tooling; and how defects found at inspection are handled. A one-page terms sheet with these nine lines prevents most of the arguments a first order produces.

How we use this on a project

The sample rounds, the terms sheet and the inspection are the work the fee pays for. The factory’s sample charges and the courier are paid through EcomLaunch Solutions at cost, with the receipts returned to you. The full scope is on the Services page; the money model is on the Transparency page.