If you’re an ecommerce founder, chances are you’ve asked yourself this: “Am I ready to outsource fulfilment?” It’s not an easy call. After all, your business probably started with you carefully wrapping each order yourself, sliding in a handwritten thank-you note, and running down to the post office with a bag full of parcels. That’s how many great brands begin.
But as orders grow, there comes a tipping point. What once felt personal and manageable quickly turns into chaos. The tape gun is permanently stuck to your hand, the hallway looks like a warehouse, and instead of thinking about sales and marketing, you’re knee-deep in cardboard every evening.
So, when do you know it’s time? Let’s break it down.
Red Flags That Say “It’s Time”
• 200+ orders a month. For most founders, this is where DIY fulfilment starts eating your day. If you’re spending more time packing than selling, you’re at capacity.
• No space left. Your garage, spare room or office is overflowing. Instead of a home, you’re living inside your stock.
• You’re missing growth opportunities. Maybe a retailer asked for wholesale supply, but you turned them down because you couldn’t handle the fulfilment. That’s lost revenue.
• Customer complaints are creeping up. Late deliveries, wrong items, or inconsistent packaging are signs you’re stretched too thin.
• You’re exhausted. If evenings and weekends are swallowed by packing boxes, burnout isn’t far away.
Why Outsourcing Earlier Works Better
Many business owners think fulfilment outsourcing is only for “big” companies. The truth? Outsourcing early often helps you become big. Here’s why:
• Scalability built in. Your fulfilment partner can flex up and down with your sales volume. Whether you sell 50 orders this week or 500 next week, you’re covered.
• Professional systems. 3PLs have tech, processes and carrier contracts you simply can’t access on your own. That means better shipping rates and fewer errors.
• Your time back. Imagine reinvesting all those packing hours into product launches, digital ads, or customer engagement. That’s where growth comes from.
Case in Point
A small skincare brand I know started shipping just 30 orders a week. Within six months, TikTok exploded their sales. Suddenly, they were processing 300+ weekly orders from a spare bedroom. It nearly broke them — until they outsourced fulfilment. Overnight, they went from drowning in parcels to focusing on marketing campaigns that tripled their revenue. The brand grew, because they outsourced.
Am I “Big Enough”?
Here’s the myth: “I’ll outsource when I’m bigger.” The reality? The sooner you outsource, the sooner you can focus on growth instead of operations. Even businesses at 50–100 orders a month can benefit if logistics is the bottleneck.
Final Thought
Outsourcing fulfilment isn’t about giving up control. It’s about reclaiming your time, protecting your sanity, and setting your business up for scale. If fulfilment is slowing you down, stealing your evenings, or costing you opportunities — that’s your sign. The earlier you make the move, the faster you can grow.
