The verdict in three sentences
A cosmetics contract manufacturer producing 2 million units a year attracts independent and direct-to-consumer brands when its site states its minimum order quantities of 3,000 to 10,000 units plainly, proves ISO 22716 and COSMOS certification and turns every visit into a structured 6-step product brief. The Kolonell budget ranges from 1,220 to 5,340 EUR (800,000 to 3,500,000 FCFA) depending on the Starter, Growth or Premium tier, with a 7 to 10 week timeline. The commercial goal is measurable: 15 qualified briefs a month, instead of an inbox full of requests for 200 jars.
What a brand checks before handing over its formula
The founder of a skincare brand selling online from London, the product lead of a US direct-to-consumer label or a pharmacy chain launching its own range all ask the same questions. Can the manufacturer formulate or only fill? What minimums apply? Can it produce certified organic? How long from brief to first delivery? A site that answers these four questions clearly does the screening for the sales team.
| Product type | Typical minimum order | Unit manufacturing cost, 2026 order of magnitude | Indicative brief to delivery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Face cream, 50 ml jar | 3,000 to 5,000 units | £2.20 to £5.20 / $2.80 to $6.80 | 14 to 20 weeks |
| Serum, 30 ml dropper bottle | 3,000 to 5,000 units | £2.60 to £6.50 / $3.30 to $8.50 | 14 to 20 weeks |
| Shampoo, 250 ml bottle | 5,000 to 10,000 units | £1.00 to £2.60 / $1.30 to $3.40 | 12 to 18 weeks |
| COSMOS certified shower gel | 5,000 to 10,000 units | £0.95 to £2.40 / $1.25 to $3.20 | 14 to 22 weeks |
| Body oil, 100 ml bottle | 3,000 units | £1.70 to £4.30 / $2.20 to $5.60 | 10 to 16 weeks |
| Solid bar | 5,000 units | £1.30 to £3.00 / $1.70 to $4.00 | 12 to 18 weeks |
Publishing these ranges, even wide ones, changes lead quality. A brand hoping for 500 units at £1 drops out on its own; one that budgeted 5,000 units at £3.50 fills in the brief seriously.
The 6-step product brief: the qualified lead engine
The brief form replaces a 45-minute discovery call. It guides the brand step by step and hands the project manager a usable file.
| Brief step | Information captured | Value for the manufacturer |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Project | Existing brand or launch, sales channels | Maturity level |
| 2. Products | Number of SKUs, categories, textures | Formulation workload |
| 3. Formula | Supplied, to adapt or to create | R&D time to plan |
| 4. Requirements | COSMOS organic, vegan, fragrance-free, export markets | Regulatory feasibility |
| 5. Volumes and budget | Quantity per SKU, target unit cost | Minimum order fit |
| 6. Timeline and files | Launch date, moodboard, spec sheets | Production planning |
Each brief arrives with an automatic score based on volume, budget and timeline. Sales calls back the briefs above the threshold first, within 48 hours.
The certification page covers ISO 22716 Good Manufacturing Practice, COSMOS certification for organic ranges, and the regulatory files brands need: the product information file and safety assessment under EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its UK equivalent, with notification on CPNP for the EU and SCPN for Great Britain. For US brands, it can explain how the manufacturer supports facility registration and product listing under MoCRA. For a young brand, knowing the manufacturer guides these steps often matters more than the unit price.
The three Kolonell tiers for a contract manufacturer
| Tier | Kolonell budget | What is delivered | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | 1,220 to 1,830 EUR (800,000 to 1,200,000 FCFA) | 5 pages: lab, capabilities, certifications, minimums, contact | 7 weeks |
| Growth | 1,830 to 3,050 EUR (1,200,000 to 2,000,000 FCFA) | Starter plus product category pages, regulation blog, analytics | 8 to 9 weeks |
| Premium | 3,050 to 5,340 EUR (2,000,000 to 3,500,000 FCFA) | Growth plus scored 6-step brief, animation, in-depth SEO | 9 to 10 weeks |
| Maintenance | 53 / 114 / 183 EUR per month (35,000 / 75,000 / 120,000 FCFA) | Updates, security, backups | Monthly |
| Monthly SEO | 100,000 / 200,000 / 350,000 FCFA per month | Private label content, rank tracking | Monthly |
A beauty specialist agency in London or New York quotes a 2026 order of magnitude of £10,000 to £22,000 or $14,000 to $30,000 for a B2B site of this kind. Additional languages for continental European brands are priced in the quote: languages are set in the quote, whatever the tier. To reach 15 qualified briefs a month, Premium is the logical tier, since the scored brief is its engine.
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Daniel Hughes, founder of a contract manufacturing lab in the north of England, receives around 30 requests a month, only 4 of them usable. He picks Premium at 5,340 EUR with Standard maintenance at 114 EUR a month: 6,708 EUR in year one (5,340 + 114 × 12).
With 15 qualified briefs a month and a 10 % signing rate, he signs 1.5 new projects a month. A typical first order is 5,000 units at £3.50, so £17,500. Over twelve months, given 14 to 20 week lead times, about 9 projects ship their first order within the year: 9 × £17,500 = £157,500. The site cost is a small fraction of that revenue, before the reorders that follow successful launches. Time saved matters too: 26 fewer unqualified requests a month at 30 minutes each free up 13 hours of sales time.
FAQ
Should minimum order quantities be on the site?
Yes, it is the most effective filter. A clearly stated minimum of 3,000 to 10,000 units sharply reduces unsuitable requests and lifts the quality of the 15 target briefs.
How do we protect brands' formulas?
The brief can offer an NDA before spec sheets are uploaded. Files stay in encrypted storage, accessible only to the project manager.
Which Kolonell tier fits a lab making 2 million units a year?
Premium, from 3,050 to 5,340 EUR, includes the scored 6-step brief. Growth is enough if the lab prefers a simple form and a discovery call.
Should the site cover regulation?
Yes, because young brands worry about the safety assessment, product information file and CPNP or SCPN notification. A clear page on regulatory support reassures more than a 5 % discount.
How long does the project take?
Allow 7 to 10 weeks, including 2 to 3 weeks for cleanroom production photography and technical content sign-off.
Let's scope your project. Tell us about your capacity, certifications and target brands, and we will scope the brief journey and the launch schedule. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
