Starting a supplement brand is mostly a sequence of decisions made in the right order. Brands that struggle usually skip a step: they order before the sample is approved, or design a label before the dose is final.
This checklist takes you from idea to first order for gummies, capsules or powders. Each step says what to decide and what to ask your manufacturer.
Step 1: Define the product and the customer
Write one sentence: who is this for, and what job does it do for them?
- Who buys it: athletes, women over 40, busy parents, older adults?
- What do they want: sleep, energy, joint comfort, a daily multivitamin?
- Where will you sell: Amazon, TikTok Shop, your own website, retail?
A clear answer makes every later decision easier, from the ingredient list to the bottle size.
Step 2: Choose the format
| Format | Strength | Limit | Fits when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gummies | Easy to take, strong taste appeal | Active ingredients limited to about 30% of gummy weight | Low to moderate doses, taste-led products |
| Capsules | High dose flexibility, neutral taste | Less appealing to people who dislike pills | Multi-ingredient formulas, higher doses |
| Powders | Very large doses, easy to flavor | Needs mixing, scoop and tub | Creatine, protein, electrolytes, greens |
If your dose is large, check it before you fall in love with a format. Our guide to gummy loading limits shows how to do the math in minutes.
Step 3: Write a formula brief
Give your manufacturer something concrete to quote against:
- Each active ingredient and its dose per serving.
- Servings per day and servings per bottle.
- The format, and for gummies the pectin or gelatin choice.
- Flavor and appearance.
- A reference product, if you have one.
- Your target market.
A reference product speeds things up. Read how to use one in our guide to benchmarking a competitor's listing.
Step 4: Decide stock or custom
You can launch with an existing formula or build a custom one. Compare minimum order, cost, lead time and who owns the formula before you decide. We cover this in custom formulation vs stock formula supplements.
Step 5: Request a quote and a sample
Ask for an itemized quote and a sample before you commit to production.
- At NuCoreBio, the sample fee is $30.
- Review the taste, texture, dose and appearance, not only the photo.
- Ask for the changes you want, and request an updated sample if the change is large.
Do not approve a production order from a photo. Approve it from a sample you have tasted and checked.
Step 6: Plan the first order
For gummies, capsules and powders, our minimum order is 500 bottles. Treat the first order as a pilot run:
- Choose the number of bottles you can realistically sell in the first few months.
- Expect a higher unit cost at 500 bottles than at larger volumes.
- Ask for pricing at 500, 1,000 and 3,000 bottles so you can plan your reorder.
Production lead time is around 15 days, and it is confirmed in your quotation. For a line-by-line view of the money, read our private label supplement cost breakdown.
Step 7: Prepare the label
Your manufacturer can supply the formula information and specification you need, but the label is your responsibility as the brand. Plan for:
- A Supplement Facts panel that matches the formula exactly.
- Claims that you can support, and the wording rules for your target market.
- Required statements for the market where you will sell.
- Barcode, batch code and best-before date space.
Have your label reviewed by someone qualified in the regulations of your target market before printing. Rules differ between countries, and a change after printing is expensive.
Step 8: Choose packaging and a shipping term
Decide on the bottle or tub size, cap, seal and carton. Then choose how the goods reach you:
- EXW: collect from the production site in Guangzhou or Haikou, depending on the format.
- FOB Shanghai: we deliver to the port, and you pay the main freight.
- DDP: freight and import duties are included, delivered to your address.
Compare quotes on the same term. See our DDP vs FOB guide if you are importing for the first time.
Step 9: Verify your manufacturer
Before you pay, confirm that the manufacturer is real and qualified. Ask for company registration, certifications and a way to audit. Our group's production base holds NSF/ANSI 455-2 GMP certification, and you can read how to verify any Chinese supplier in how to verify a Chinese supplement manufacturer.
Step 10: Place the order and plan the launch
With the sample approved, the label ready and the shipping term chosen, you can place the order. While production runs, prepare your product pages, photos and first customer offer, so you can sell when the goods arrive.
The first-order checklist
- ☐ Customer and product defined in one sentence
- ☐ Format chosen, and dose checked against the format
- ☐ Formula brief written, with a reference product if available
- ☐ Stock or custom decided, and ownership confirmed in writing
- ☐ Itemized quote received
- ☐ $30 sample reviewed and changes requested
- ☐ First order size chosen, with 500, 1,000 and 3,000 prices known
- ☐ Label reviewed for the target market
- ☐ Packaging and shipping term agreed
- ☐ Manufacturer verified
- ☐ Production lead time confirmed
Start your first order with NuCoreBio
We have worked with brands in 60+ countries since 2012, and our process is built for first-time brand owners: a $30 sample, a 500-bottle minimum, around 15 days of production, and a formula that belongs to you.
Ready to choose a format? Compare private label capsules and private label powders.
Ready to start? Send us your product idea or reference formula and we will reply with a quote and a sample plan. Learn more about our gummy, capsule and powder manufacturing.
This article is general guidance for brand owners. Regulations, claims and label requirements differ by market, so confirm them with a qualified advisor before you sell.