How to Find the Right Contract Filling Company for CPG Products
Whether you're bottling a household cleaner, filling a serum, capping a hot-pour candle, or sealing pouches of supplement powder, the contract filling company you choose decides your margins, your launch date, and whether your batch passes QC. AJ Cosmo Labs connects indie founders and established brands across 11 CPG categories with vetted co-packers and contract fillers — and you can run the entire sourcing process from your phone.
This guide breaks down how contract filling works for consumer packaged goods, what to budget, what questions to ask, and how to shortlist a filler that matches your volume, container format, and compliance needs.
What does a contract filling company actually do?
A contract filler takes your finished or bulk product and transfers it into final retail packaging — bottles, jars, tubes, sachets, pouches, tins, or aerosols — then caps, induction-seals, labels, lots, and often cartons it for fulfillment. Many also offer turnkey services: sourcing components, blending or compounding, filling, and final QC under one roof. The right partner depends on your fill format (liquid, viscous, powder, hot-pour wax, granular), your batch size, and your regulatory category.
Liquid and lotion fillers run piston or gravity lines. Powder and supplement fillers handle auger filling and encapsulation. Candle co-packers manage wax temperature, fragrance load, and cure time. Aerosol and pressurized fillers need specialized, certified facilities. Matching format to filler is the single biggest sourcing mistake new founders make — and the reason vetting matters.
What's the typical MOQ and cost for contract filling?
Minimum order quantities vary widely by category. Many liquid and cosmetic contract fillers start around 1,000–2,500 units per SKU, while powder and supplement co-packers may require 2,500–5,000 units to justify a line changeover. Small-batch and indie-friendly fillers on AJ Cosmo Labs list MOQs as low as 250–500 units. Pricing is usually quoted per unit and includes a one-time setup or line-changeover fee ($150–$1,500), plus the per-fill rate that drops as volume rises.
Always confirm what's bundled: are components, labels, cartoning, and QC included, or billed separately? Ask about overage/underage allowances (typically ±5–10%) and whether they require you to supply bulk product or formulate in-house.
How do you vet a contract filler before committing?
Request facility certifications relevant to your category — cGMP for supplements and cosmetics, FDA registration for food and beverage, and OTC drug registration if your product makes claims. Verify they carry product liability insurance and can provide a Certificate of Analysis and batch lot records. Ask for references in your specific format, request a sample run before a full production batch, and confirm lead times in writing.
Inside the AJ Cosmo Labs iPhone app, supplier profiles surface certifications, MOQ ranges, fill formats, and verified messaging history so you can compare fillers side by side without a dozen scattered email threads.
Why founders use the AJ Cosmo Labs app
- Post a filling brief — format, volume, container, and timeline — and let qualified co-packers respond
- Browse and filter contract filling companies by MOQ, CPG category, and certification
- Message vetted fillers directly inside the app, no cold outreach required
- Send escrowed payments so funds release only when milestones are met
- Track sample runs and production batches with status updates
- Get push notifications the moment a filler quotes or ships your samples
How long does contract filling take?
Once a filler is locked in, expect 2–4 weeks for component procurement, 1–2 weeks for a sample or pilot run, and 3–6 weeks for full production depending on line availability and queue. Seasonal categories — candles before the holidays, supplements at New Year — book out further, so start sourcing early. Posting your brief on AJ Cosmo Labs lets multiple fillers compete on lead time, which often compresses your launch timeline by weeks.
Build buffer for label approval and QC. A clearly written brief — net fill, container spec, label artwork status, target lot size, and ship-by date — gets you faster, more accurate quotes from every filler you contact.
Start sourcing your contract filler today
Stop chasing co-packers across email and trade shows. Download AJ Cosmo Labs on the App Store, post your filling brief in minutes, and connect with vetted contract filling companies matched to your CPG category, volume, and format. Open the app, message a filler, and move your product toward production this week.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum order quantity for contract filling CPG products?
MOQs depend on format and category. Liquid and cosmetic fillers often start at 1,000–2,500 units per SKU, while supplement and powder co-packers may need 2,500–5,000 to justify a line changeover. Indie-friendly fillers listed on AJ Cosmo Labs go as low as 250–500 units. You can filter co-packers by MOQ directly inside the app to find one that fits your launch volume.
How much does it cost to use a contract filling company?
Most fillers quote a per-unit fill rate plus a one-time setup or line-changeover fee, typically $150–$1,500. Per-unit cost falls as volume rises. Confirm whether components, labels, cartoning, and QC are bundled or billed separately, and check overage/underage allowances of roughly ±5–10%. AJ Cosmo Labs lets you compare quotes from multiple fillers side by side so you can see what's actually included.
How do I find a vetted contract filler for my product?
Post a brief on the AJ Cosmo Labs iOS app with your fill format, volume, container, and timeline, then browse co-packers filtered by category, MOQ, and certification. Supplier profiles surface cGMP and FDA registration status plus messaging history, so you can vet a filler and start a sample run without cold-emailing dozens of facilities.
What certifications should a contract filling company have?
Look for cGMP for cosmetics and supplements, FDA facility registration for food and beverage, and OTC drug registration if your product makes drug claims. Confirm product liability insurance and the ability to provide a Certificate of Analysis and batch lot records. AJ Cosmo Labs displays these certifications on filler profiles so you can screen partners before you message them.
How long does contract filling take from start to finish?
Plan for 2–4 weeks of component procurement, 1–2 weeks for a pilot or sample run, and 3–6 weeks for full production, depending on line queue. Seasonal categories book out further. Posting a brief on AJ Cosmo Labs lets multiple fillers compete on lead time, which frequently shaves weeks off your timeline.
Can a contract filler also source my packaging and components?
Many offer turnkey service — sourcing bottles, caps, pouches, or tins, then filling, sealing, labeling, and cartoning under one roof. Others require you to supply components or bulk product. Specify which model you want in your brief. On the AJ Cosmo Labs app you can filter for turnkey co-packers versus fill-only facilities to match your needs.
Do contract fillers handle different formats like liquids, powders, and candles?
Most specialize. Piston and gravity lines handle liquids and lotions, auger fillers handle powders and supplements, and candle co-packers manage wax temperature and fragrance load. Aerosol filling needs a certified facility. Matching format to filler is critical — AJ Cosmo Labs lets you filter co-packers by fill format across all 11 CPG categories so you only contact relevant ones.