If you run a small business – especially in the eCommerce sector – you know how much of a hassle order fulfillment can be.
Organizing shipments across long distances, warehousing products, arranging returns, and managing inventory can be a lot for small businesses to handle.
That’s where order fulfillment services come in.
Also called third-party logistics (3PL) services, order fulfillment services are companies that exist to help eCommerce businesses ship their products to customers as efficiently as possible.
They make it easy for small business owners to continue running their businesses without having to worry about the logistics of shipping and inventory management.
If you run a US eCommerce business with a demanding customer base, you can outsource fulfillment to one of the many reliable 3PL services with fulfillment centers throughout America.
However, choosing an order fulfillment service your business can rely on isn’t a decision you should make on a whim.
You need to choose an affordable and reputable service that can accommodate your company’s order volume and reach your customers’ locations.
To help you select the best 3PL service for your eCommerce business, here are the facts on the top 10 order fulfillment services for small businesses.
1. Fulfillrite
When it comes to eCommerce fulfillment, the highly reputable Fulfillrite is a favorite among small businesses, and if you’re shipping products of less than 10 pounds, it might be a perfect fit for you!
The New Jersey-based fulfillment center is especially popular with companies on the East Coast.
Fulfillrite requires customers to make at least 100 shipments per month, putting its minimum monthly order volume on the lower end.
Fulfillrite is also well-known for its emphasis on sustainable shipping practices, making it a top choice for eCommerce businesses that share this value.
2. ShipBob
Ideal for companies with an international reach, ShipBob has over 40 fulfillment centers globally and can fulfill orders throughout the US, UK, and continental Europe.
Critically, ShipBob offers affordable two-day shipping across the entire United States and claims to have a 99.6% shipping accuracy rate.
There is no minimum monthly order volume, but ShipBob will only ship items less than 20 pounds, and customers are limited to a 5.0 stock-keeping unit (SKU)-to-order ratio.
3. ShipMonk
With multiple locations throughout some of the largest population centers in the US, ShipMonk is a warehousing and fulfillment service that aims to help eCommerce businesses accommodate growing customer bases.
ShipMonk has no monthly order volume minimums or SKU limits, making it accessible to businesses of all sizes. Pricing is calculated based on order volume and storage requirements.
ShipMonk encourages customers to use its services to scale up and expand their scope.
4. Fulfillment.com
Fulfillment.com offers affordable two-day shipping around the world from fulfillment centers in multiple locations throughout the US.
With a minimum monthly order volume of 1,500 orders, Fullfillment.com caters mainly to eCommerce businesses that process a high volume of orders.
It offers a relatively large 7.5 SKU-to-order ratio as well as an affordable two-day shipping option.
5. Red Stag Fulfillment
Red Stag boasts nearly 100% accuracy on order fulfillment and inventory management for growing eCommerce businesses.
Red Stag offers a same-day shipping option for customers around its locations in Knoxville, TN and Salt Lake City, UT, but it can also fulfill orders throughout the rest of the US in less than five days.
It has no SKU limits and its order volume minimum is 200 orders per month.
Red Stag will ship items of up to 20 pounds and claims to have perfected the art of shipping large products at an affordable price.
6. Flowspace
Flowspace helps eCommerce businesses outsource shipping, returns, warehousing, and inventory management.
It has over 1000 fulfillment centers throughout the US, allowing it to quickly process and complete orders across the country, but it does not provide an option for international shipping.
Flowspace emphasizes the personal touch, offering a 30-day in-person service for new customers. Because it has a minimum order volume of less than 100 orders per month, it’s ideal for small businesses.
7. SHIPHYPE
With a 100% shipping accuracy rate and over 100 active clients, SHIPHYPE provides 3PL services from 4 locations across the US.
It has no SKU limits, but customers are required to process at least 100 orders per month.
One of SHIPHYPE’s biggest selling points is its ability to ship large packages. This service will accept items weighing up to 50 pounds.
8. Complemar
With five shipment centers throughout the US, Complemar is a well-established 3PL company that has offered services for order fulfillment, returns, and warehousing for over 70 years.
Complemar ships to over 30 countries and promises 99.99% accuracy on all services, including same-day shipping in the US.
Thanks to its FDA registration, Complemar is able to ship a large variety of items, including wine, beauty products, food, and medical devices.
9. Shipwire
Shipwire emphasizes the use of innovative tech and software to streamline the order fulfillment process as much as possible.
Shipwire has 30 fulfillment centers across the globe and can provide express shipping to 164 countries.
Shipwire’s more than 10 million square feet of space makes it a great option for growing eCommerce businesses with significant warehousing needs.
The service can ship products weighing up to 70 pounds, making it a great choice for businesses that deal with bulking products.
10. ShipHero
ShipHero helps eCommerce businesses outsource shipping services internationally by facilitating deliveries around the globe.
It has three locations near large population centers in the US and allows customers to use custom packaging.
ShipHero is known for its accessible software, 99% shipping accuracy rate, and lack of order volume and SKU limitations.
Conclusion
A good order fulfillment service can help your small business a lot by providing accurate and efficient shipping to keep your customers happy so that you can focus on scaling up.
That’s why it’s so important to choose a reliable fulfillment center that aligns with your values and can deliver the high-quality service that you and your customers deserve.
Don’t let your eCommerce business get bogged down with the logistics of shipping, warehousing, inventory management, and returns.
Instead, outsource all of that to one of the companies on this list so that you can spend your time and energy doing what you do best!
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