If you run a small business, your first priority should be expanding and growing your brand. However, if you work in the eCommerce sector, shipping and warehousing your products can quickly drain your resources.
Fortunately, you can save a lot of time, money, and space by outsourcing to a third-party logistics (3PL) provider!
3PL services work on the frontlines of the supply chain to help small businesses take care of order fulfillment needs, so if shipping your products has become a demand you can no longer keep up with, it might be time to consider outsourcing order fulfillment to a 3PL.
Hiring a 3PL is often more cost-effective than completing order fulfillment in-house, and 3PLs usually have processes in place that make shipping, warehousing, and inventory management much more efficient.
Of course, not all 3PLs are created equal. Some are going to be better equipped to handle your needs than others.
You need a 3PL that can provide high-quality service to keep your customers returning for more.
You also need one that can accommodate your typical order volume with warehouses near you and your customers.
To help you out, here is a list of the best 7 3PL services for small businesses.
1. Fulfillrite
Holding a five-star rating on both Google and Trustpilot, Fulfillrite is a highly reputable 3PL and one of CrowdCrux’s favorite businesses to collaborate with.
Fulfillrite provides services for crowdfunding fulfillment, kitting and assembly, subscription boxes, custom packaging, and more!
With a warehouse in Lakewood, New Jersey, they’re a great option for businesses with customer bases on the East Coast.
They also offer plenty of resources, support, and integrations for eCommerce businesses, especially those that operate through Shopify. We recommend checking out this helpful checklist they’ve put together for businesses that want to get started on Shopify!
2. ShipBob
With a 99.95% accuracy rate, ShipBob is one of the top 3PLs in the US.
They have over 40 fulfillment centers spanning North America, Europe, and Australia, so they can accommodate international customer bases.
They also offer a special “Growth Plan” for small businesses, which has no minimum monthly order requirement. If you’re ready to outsource shipping services, but you don’t have a high order volume, you can partner with ShipBob!
3. Red Stag Fulfillment
Red Stag has fulfillment centers in Knoxville, TN and Salt Lake City, UT, positioning them perfectly to serve both the East and West coasts of the US, but they do not ship internationally.
As of 2019, they claim to have shipped 100% of orders on time.
Red Stag has a relatively low minimum requirement of 200 orders per month.
4. ShipMonk
ShipMonk fulfills orders for small businesses and sellers on platforms like Etsy, Groupon, and Amazon Prime, making them a great option for growing eCommerce businesses.
They do not have minimum monthly order requirements. Instead, they charge varying pick fees based on the number of orders you typically have each month.
ShipMonk has eight fulfillment centers throughout the US as well as warehouses in the Czech Republic, UK, Canada, and Mexico.
5. Saltbox
With no minimum monthly order requirements or onboarding fees, Saltbox is a great fulfillment service for businesses that just finding their footing in the eCommerce world.
Optimized to support small businesses, Saltbox offers services for shipping and receiving, warehousing, and office equipment rentals.
They have nine locations in major US cities, including Washington, DC, Los Angeles, CA, and Phoenix, AZ.
6. eFulfillment Services
If you have an eCommerce business in the early stages of growth, eFulfillment services might be a great choice for you.
They have no minimum monthly order requirements, onboarding costs, or long-term contracts.
They can also facilitate cross-docking, meaning they can ship out orders as soon as they arrive at the warehouse, so if you’d prefer not to pay for storage costs, they can accommodate you.
eFulfillment Services provides 3PL services in the US and internationally.
7. ShipHero
Providing warehousing and fulfillment services for businesses across North America, ShipHero has facilities in Pennsylvania, Texas, Florida, Nevada, Utah, California, Toronto, and Vancouver.
ShipHero has a relatively high minimum requirement of 500 orders per month, but they also hold a 99% accuracy rate and are one of the most reputable 3PLs in the United States.
They also put a lot of emphasis on automation and technology, so if streamlined tech integration is a priority for you, ShipHero might be able to help.
Conclusion
3PL services like Fulfillrite and the others on this list can be a godsend for small businesses.
A growing customer base is a great sign for your business, but it also means you’ll have to invest more resources into order fulfillment.
Reliable and satisfactory order fulfillment is a big part of customer retention, and if you can’t keep your customers happy with timely and accurate deliveries, you can’t expect them to keep coming back for more.
If you’ve reached a point at which order fulfillment is starting to become burdensome, the right 3PL service can take some of the weight off your shoulders.
Consider what your business needs most to thrive and start searching for a 3PL that can help.
And don’t forget to download the Fulfillrite Shopify Checklist to get you on track for success!
