Imagine this scenario – you’ve set up a Shopify store and after a lot of hard work, the orders start rolling in. Maybe it was sudden or maybe it was gradual.
But either way, shipping hundreds of orders per month is becoming time-consuming and exhausting. Sounds like you need a fulfillment service to help you out!
This isn’t a wild hypothetical. Just about every Shopify store that starts to see serious success runs into this issue. Transitioning from self-fulfillment to third-party fulfillment is like a rite of passage for growing eCommerce companies.
It’s a sign that you’ve made it!
Of course, knowing you’ve made it doesn’t make the process of finding a fulfillment service any less stressful. Choosing a fulfillment service is a consequential decision, and one you need to make carefully.
In this article, we’ll help you determine how to choose the right fulfillment service for your Shopify store. Then we’ll provide 10 good options for your consideration.
How to choose the right fulfillment service for your Shopify store
Choosing the right fulfillment service can be complex because every store has different needs. Here’s a quick list of things that you will need to consider.
- Integration with Shopify. Any fulfillment service you choose to work with will need to integrate with Shopify. Otherwise, you will manually be entering in orders or sending CSV files every day and that would get old really fast.
- Communication. Giving a third-party company access to your inventory is scary. You want to make sure that your fulfillment service of choice gives you a good way to contact them. Pay attention to how communicative they are during the sales process and check online reviews for negative comments that focus specifically on their communication quality.
- Pricing. Fulfillment pricing is complicated because it usually involves account fees, storage, pick-and-pack fees, postage, and supplies. A good fulfillment service will provide you with detailed, accurate custom quotes that help you understand what you’re getting into.
- Location. Most customers expect to receive their items in 2-3 days. Make sure your fulfillment service of choice has locations close enough to most of your customers to ensure that they can receive packages within that time-frame.
- Value-added services. Fulfillment services often provide additional services such as kitting and assembly, subscription boxes, FBA prep, and even refurbishment. If you see yourself needing any of these services in the future, make sure you choose a fulfillment service that can accommodate your needs.
With that in mind, now let’s talk about specific fulfillment services that you should consider using for your Shopify orders.
1. Fulfillrite
If you are looking for eCommerce order fulfillment and aren’t sure where to start, Fulfillrite is a good option. Billing itself as the most trust name in order fulfillment, Fulfillrite emphasizes its speed, accuracy, and quality customer service.
In addition to integrating with Shopify, Fulfillrite also provides:
- A dedicated account rep for each client
- Same day shipping and receiving
- No long-term contracts
Additionally, reviews on Google, Trustpilot, and the Shopify store are almost unanimously 5 stars.
2. Fulfillment by Amazon
Many Shopify sellers also have a presence on major platforms such as Amazon. While Fulfillment by Amazon can be used even for orders not selling through Amazon, sellers may nevertheless find it easy to work with Amazon for fulfillment if they’re already selling on the platform.
Amazon provides a number of attractive benefits such as:
- Deeply discounted prices
- Dropshipping services
- 24/7 support
Learn more about Fulfillment by Amazon.
3. Shopify Fulfillment Network
Did you know that Shopify also has a fulfillment service of its own? For many businesses that want to work with one company for many different needs, the Shopify Fulfillment Network is an attractive option.
Shopify emphasizes that it provides the following features:
- Affordable two-day shipping
- Delivery dates that display on your product pages
- Custom packing slips for brand recognition
- Seamless inventory management
What’s more, inventory is sent to a single warehouse and they distribute it within the network as appropriate. Shopify users receive free storage for six months, and only pay when inventory is sold.
Learn more about Shopify Fulfillment Network.
4. FedEx Fulfillment
FedEx is one of the biggest names in the delivery business, so it’s no surprise that they offer order fulfillment for Ecommerce as well. This service is ideal for small, lightweight goods, particularly when international shipping is necessary. It’s also a good fit for B2B sales.
Features include:
- Low order minimums
- Low prices
- A massive fulfillment network
A word to the wise: it’s somewhat difficult to find public information on the nature of FedEx Fufillment for eCommerce, so be sure to do additional research to make sure this is a good fit for your business.
Learn more about FedEx Fulfillment.
5. Red Stag Fulfillment
With two warehouses in the US, Red Stag is smaller than many of the options on this list, but is nevertheless a very good option. Red Stag integrates with Shopify and is a good fit for companies that are just starting to need order fulfillment.
Red Stag emphasizes on their website:
- Fast receiving – 2 days or less or they pay you $50
- Inventory accuracy – paying for damage or shrinkage
- Reliable order processing and accuracy
- A free 30-day trial of their services
Learn more about Red Stag Fulfillment.
6. Rakuten Super Logistics
Rakuten Super Logistics is a good option if you need a fulfillment service which is bigger than one or two warehouses, but not necessarily a giant like Amazon, FedEx, or Shopify. Rakuten has twelve warehouses in the United States, all strategically located for fast shipping.
Rakuten offers:
- 100% order accuracy
- 100% next day shipping
- 100% U.S. based client services
Learn more about Rakuten Super Logistics.
7. ShipMonk
If you need order fulfillment with a wide network of warehouses, ShipMonk is a great option. ShipMonk has warehouses throughout the US, Canada, Mexico, UK, and Europe.
It also has an excellent reputation and over 100 integrations.
Some unique features to ShipMonk include:
- Fulfillment services for just about every eCommerce niche, including tricky ones like CBD and jewelry
- Transparent billing with an exact breakdown of costs
- Freight management
8. ShipHero
Another good option for Shopify order fulfillment is ShipHero. Their fulfillment network includes seven warehouses located in the US and Canada.
ShipHero also has an excellent reputation on Trustpilot, Shopify, G2, and Capterra.
Some unique features of ShipHero include:
- Low postage and labor costs
- Fast shipping
- ParcelView: an optional service in which ShipHero will take a photo of a package before it is sealed to show how it is being sent to your customers
9. eFulfillment Service
Of all the options available, eFulfillment Service might the one that’s been around the longest. This company has been providing fulfillment since 2001 and provides quality service for eCommerce, including Shopify.
According to eFulfillment Service, clients can expect:
- Error-free order fulfillment
- Discounted Ground Shipping rates
- Smart packaging and shipping strategies
- First-rate service, honesty, and transparency
Learn more about eFulfillment Service.
10. ShipStation
While ShipStation does not handle order fulfillment directly, it’s a good company for Shopify sellers to be aware of. If you’re not quite ready to hand off your inventory to another company, ShipStation can help you save money on shipping beyond Shopify’s built-in discounts.
Shippers can save up to 88% on UPS, USPS, and DHL Express. Best of all, ShipStation and Shopify work together directly, making this a good option for sellers who need more time before letting someone else handle their inventory.
Final Thoughts
When the day-to-day burden of shipping orders becomes time-consuming or expensive, it’s time to outsource. Picking the right fulfillment service to handle your orders might seem scary at first, but with some research and patience, you can find the right one for your needs.
Once you start working with a fulfillment service, you can focus on growing your business instead of simply keeping up with demand. The grunt work will be on autopilot!
Fortunately, there are a lot of companies you can work with to make this happen.
Overwhelmed by all the work that goes into setting up an eCommerce store? Check out our free eCommerce/Shopify checklist. It lists everything you need to know to get your store up and running.
Need help fulfilling your orders? Click here to request a quote from Fulfillrite.
Brandon Rollins is Director of Marketing at Fulfillrite. His main areas of expertise are online marketing and supply chain management. He also writes for Weird Marketing Tales.
