One of the best things about the web is the way it lowers the barriers to entry for starting your own business.
The online world offers entrepreneurs an inexpensive way to do research, set up a store, build a following, find staff, and best of all, is a great channel for information products such as ebooks, courses, videos, and more which cost next-to-nothing but time to produce.
In fact, with online drop-shipping resources and affiliate programs galore, you may never actually hold any of the products you sell online in the real world.
But what if your new business idea, the things that fires you up every morning, revolves around a “real-world product”, one that needs to be produced, shipped and sold through different channels including brick-and-mortar retailers?
What does the web offer an entrepreneur who knows she can sell the finished product online, but needs to figure out how to have the product produced before that can happen?
As it turns out, plenty.
First step – research and learn
The first step you can take online is to conduct research. There are tons of helpful resources to be found just by searching, “find a manufacturer” on Google.
However, to kick-start this task, here are some of the more useful spots I found:
- Finding a Manufacturer – good overview of the subject and a great spot to get started.
- How To: Find and Work With a Manufacturer – good detail of the process you go through to find a manufacturer.
- How Can I Find a Manufacturer? – I love the way this article talks about not just solutions, but the process.
- Finding a U.S. Manufacturer to Make Your Product Idea – whether you go with a US manufacturer or not, this article lays out the steps to get prepared for your search nicely.
- Finding a Manufacturer vs. Licensing the Design – some solid advice exploring options.
- How to Find a Manufacturer – 44 great real-life tips straight from the mouths of entrepreneurs who have walked this road before you.
- Entrepreneur.com’s “Finding a Manufacturer” index page – couple of the articles listed above are listed on this spot as well, but more good reading awaits.
Second step – start your search
Now that you’ve read up on how to find a manufacturer and prepared for your search, below are some good spots to start looking for the right manufacturer:
If you’re into doing your own research, then take a look at, “Locating Manufacturers” which lays out a handy way to find manufacturers.
Don’t panic!
Choosing a manufacturer is a business management task like no other. Unlike accounting and marketing, it’s very likely that you are doing this for your first time. Add to that the fact that you are putting your baby in other folk’s hands and it’s no wonder many new entrepreneurs get overwhelmed!
The good thing is that you are not reinventing the wheel here; people create and get products manufactured everyday. Read the article listed above and arm yourself as well as you can with knowledge and know-how.
Also, don’t go it alone. The key point of advice I read over and over online is to find manufacturers through your relationships and, if you have no relationships connected to manufacturing, make some! Sounds like a good approach to me.
What about you?
And speaking of relationships: why don’t you take a moment to comment on this article below.
- Did you find it useful or did it leave you with more questions than ever? If you have questions, ask them below and we’ll try and get them answered for you.
- Have you gone through this process yourself? What was it like? What things (even just one or two) can you share with us below to help the folks trying to figure out the whole manufacturing thing?
I look forward to reading your comment, questions and answers!
Hi Matt, wonderful article indeed. The base of finding the right manufacturer for your products is doing a research. Thanks for sharing an useful writeup.
Thanks Sathish! Glad you enjoyed the post!
I think that research, even a little, is ALWAYS a good first step. When dealing with a decision as important as selecting a manufacturer, it’s vital.
Thanks for the article. I did find it useful given that I am new to product production and needed a little help in where to start. The hyperlinks to the subsequent articles were gold!
Kim,
So happy to have been of help! You are exactly for whom I wrote the post (well not YOU, but someone like you 🙂 ).
-Matt
Hello, thx for your wonderful article. it was very helpful. I have my biz ideas, designs, and portfolio already. But am scared because i don’t know the next person i should talk to, but i know i definitely need a manufacturer for my product and if i find one, then what? . Pls Help, am tired of sitting on my dreams, and talents.
I know how frustrating that can be Zenna! You’re all ready-to-go but not sure of the best way to proceed.
Why don’t you send me some info. via my contact form and I can try to point you in the right direction?
-Matt
Matt-
I have always been a person who has many ideas at once about many different areas. I am building a business around my knowledge of pets and animals, the products that can help support owners. I have printed your page and hopefully it will lead me to the information I need to get some of those products from thought into reality.
Ann Marie,
Glad to have been of help!
Best of luck with your endeavors and, please check-in sometime; I would love to hear about your experiences.
-Matt
Awesome information. I am totally new to products manufacturing. Great starting point.
Patricia,
Glad you found the post useful and, good luck!
-Matt
Thank you for this article. I’ve been searching the internet for some help and this has been the most help I feel I’ve found thus far so thanks for that!! I have come up with a new line of gift cards and items that I would love to see available in stores but have no idea where to start and I cannot produce the gift items myself so I need someone to do it for me. I’ll be using the information that you have provided.
You’re welcome Brandy and, good luck!
Hi Matt,
I have a product that I can make myself, but I know I will need a manufacturer soon for high volunes, I know my product will sell pretty easy. I did research in finding a manufacturer but I am a bit concerm about them coping my product. Can you with me some ideas or tips? Thank you
Vanesa – that’s a good question and one of the primary concerns of many business folks.
Here are some links from two sides (“don’t worry” and “protect at all costs” to help address your concerns. Hope this helps!
– http://sivers.org/multiply
– http://boss.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/19/stop-trying-to-protect-your-business-ideas/?_r=0
– http://guides.wsj.com/small-business/running-a-business/how-to-protect-your-product-or-idea-when-pitching-it-to-a-company/
– http://www.entrepreneur.com/inventing/protectingyouridea/archive116292.html
– http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/226595