Contacting a contract manufacturer for the first time feels like you need to have everything resolved before you can ask anything. You don't. But you do need clarity in four specific areas — and founders who arrive with those four areas framed move through the first stage weeks faster than those who don't.
This article maps exactly what to bring, why each area matters to the manufacturer, and what you can reasonably leave open at first contact.
You don't need a finished formula to get started
The MHS Start-Up Pathway begins with founders who are still in development. A completed formula, finished artwork, confirmed retail distribution, and a large first-run budget are not requirements for a first conversation.
The underlying principle: clarity upfront = speed later. Every undefined element at first contact becomes a round of back-and-forth later. Working through the four areas below — even at an approximate level — compresses that back-and-forth into a single structured exchange.
The four things to bring
| Preparation area | What to address |
|---|---|
| Product direction | Format (powder / gummy / liquid / sachet / cream or balm) · Target user and use case · Required or excluded ingredients · Sensory goals (flavour, texture, mouth feel) |
| Packaging direction | Container type (jar / pouch / bottle / tube) · Pack size · Label material preference · Whether you need MHS to source packaging components |
| Commercial targets | First-run quantity · Budget or unit-cost range · Sales channel (DTC / wholesale / export) · Hard deadlines |
| Compliance boundaries | Food-type or TGA scope confirmed · Certifications required (organic, halal, kosher) · Allergen restrictions · Export labelling requirements |
Product direction
Product direction answers the core question: what are you making? You do not need a specified formulation — a clear product concept is enough. "A vegan, sugar-free gummy with magnesium, for people who can't swallow tablets" is a workable starting point. "Something in the wellness space" is not.
Format matters immediately because it determines which production line, which MOQs, and which compliance pathway your product sits on. Gummies, powders, liquids, and sachets are all manufactured differently and have different entry costs and lead times.
Packaging direction
Packaging decisions affect production more directly than most founders expect. Container format, pack size, and component sourcing all affect MOQs, lead times, and compliance requirements. Packaging supplier MOQs often exceed a startup's first production run — arriving without a packaging direction means this gap gets discovered late, sometimes after formulation is complete.
Artwork delays are among the most common causes of production delays at MHS. Starting packaging decisions in parallel with formulation — not after it — is a structural time-saver that most founders learn the hard way.
Commercial targets
Commercial targets give the manufacturer enough context to flag a fit or a mismatch early. Approximate ranges are useful. "Around 300 units at $15–20 per unit, direct-to-consumer within 6 months" is enough to establish fit. You don't need a confirmed retail agreement or a precise budget figure.
The first-run principle: the MOQ run is for validation, not dream margins. Smaller first batches reduce upfront risk and carry inventory risk; margins improve with scale.
Compliance boundaries
MHS manufactures food-type supplements under FSANZ food standards — not TGA-listed therapeutic goods. Before contacting MHS, confirm which pathway your product sits on.
Food-type supplements are powders, gummies, liquid tinctures, sachets, and similar formats without therapeutic claims. If your product would require TGA registration as a therapeutic good, that is a separate regulatory pathway — MHS cannot manufacture it. Better to know at enquiry stage than after a development engagement has begun.
Also clarify any other compliance requirements: organic, halal, or kosher certifications; allergen declarations; export requirements that affect labelling.
Where first conversations stall
Packaging left until after formulation. This is the most common delay pattern. Packaging and graphics decisions should start during formulation, not after it — when supplier MOQs and lead times can be factored into the project plan from the beginning.
TGA and food-type confusion. Some founders contact supplement manufacturers without knowing that food-type supplements and TGA-listed therapeutic goods are different regulatory categories with different manufacturers. MHS can help you understand the distinction — but the right time to surface it is at first contact, not partway through development.
Expecting a free technical assessment. The onboarding form is free and no-obligation. Technical assessment, formulation review, material pricing, and detailed quoting are paid services. The structured entry points:
- Complete manufacturing documentation → qualifies for a free Existing Product Quote
- Existing formula, no production documentation → Production Review & Pricing ($499 + GST)
- Concept but no formula yet → Simple Formulation ($2,500 + GST) or Advanced Formulation ($5,000 + GST) for products targeting vulnerable populations
See MHS Formulation Services for the full pathway options.
What happens after the onboarding form
The MHS Start-Up Pathway runs in four stages:
- Brief and fit check — the onboarding form feeds this. MHS reviews product direction, packaging direction, targets, and compliance scope.
- Formulation (if required) — Simple or Advanced Formulation pathway depending on complexity. Includes sample production and full IP transfer to your brand.
- Graphics and labelling — artwork preflight, label layout checks, GS1 barcode readiness, printer coordination. This runs in parallel with formulation to compress the timeline.
- Manufacturing and fulfilment — MOQ confirmed, production scheduled, optional 3PL dispatch.
Once your project has a documented formula, complete packaging spec, and artwork in progress, it is manufacturing-ready — the point where a production run can be quoted and scheduled.
Frequently asked questions
No. The pathway is designed for founders at different stages. Arriving with gaps is expected — the onboarding form surfaces them. Founders who move slowest are typically those who haven't framed the four areas above, not those who have one or two things still open.
A manufacturing quote prices a production run against a complete, documented formulation. If your formulation doesn't yet exist, formulation services come first. A product with complete manufacturing documentation qualifies for a free Existing Product Quote. A concept without a formulation starts at Simple Formulation ($2,500 + GST).
A first order with local ingredients typically takes ~2 months. Imported ingredients are typically ~3–4 months. These are indicative — actual timelines depend on formulation complexity, packaging decisions, and MHS's current production schedule. Replenishment runs for established clients are typically ~2–3 weeks.