How to Choose a Cosmetic Manufacturer: A 10-Point Checklist for New Brands

To choose a cosmetic manufacturer, check ten things: quality certifications (ISO 22716 / Cosmetic GMP), in-house R&D, minimum order quantity (MOQ), the sample process, communication, packaging support, quality control, documentation, confidentiality and formula ownership, and a site visit. A factory that answers all ten clearly and in writing is usually safer than one that simply quotes the lowest price.

This guide turns those ten points into a practical checklist you can use when comparing factories for skincare, haircare or body-care products. It is written for first-time brand owners, so each point explains what to ask and why it matters.

What does a cosmetic manufacturer actually do?

A cosmetic manufacturer is a factory that formulates, blends, fills and packs cosmetic products on behalf of brands. Two common models exist. OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturing) means the factory produces a formula that you or a lab supply. ODM (Original Design Manufacturing) means the factory also develops the formula and often helps with packaging, so you can launch without owning a laboratory.

Many new brands prefer a one-stop OEM/ODM partner because formulation, sampling, packaging, production and QC all sit under one team, which reduces hand-offs and mistakes.

The 10-point checklist for choosing a cosmetic factory

1. Certifications: ISO 22716 and GMP

ISO 22716 is the international guideline for Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) in cosmetics. Ask whether the factory is certified, and ask to see the certificate, its scope and its validity date. Related management-system standards such as ISO 9001 are a helpful signal of organised processes, but they are not a substitute for cosmetic GMP. MPC Innovation Lab, for example, works under ISO 9001:2015, ISO 22716:2007 and CODEX GHPs.

2. R&D capability

Ask who develops the formulas and what their background is. A team of experienced cosmetic scientists can adjust texture, stability, fragrance and active ingredients to your brief. Ask how many formula directions they typically propose and how they handle revisions.

3. Minimum order quantity (MOQ)

MOQ is the smallest batch a factory will produce. Standard (ready-made) formulas usually have a lower MOQ than custom formulas. At MPC, standard formulas start from 100 pieces, while custom formulas are typically around 300 to 1,000 pieces. Always ask whether the MOQ is per product or per colour, scent or size.

4. The sample process

Ask how many sample rounds are included, how revisions are handled, and what you must approve before production starts. A clear process looks like this: brief and concept, formula, sample, confirmation, packaging and artwork, production, QC, delivery.

5. Communication

Pay attention to how quickly and clearly the team replies before you sign anything. Do you have a named contact? Do they use a channel you actually use, such as LINE? Good communication before the order is the best predictor of good communication during production.

6. Packaging support

Ask whether the factory can source bottles, jars, tubes, boxes and labels, and whether it can check artwork for regulatory and printing issues. Packaging is a common source of delay, so a factory that supports it end to end saves you coordination work.

7. Quality control (QC)

Ask what is checked on incoming raw materials, during production and on finished goods. Typical checks include appearance, odour, pH, viscosity, fill weight and packaging inspection. Ask how batches are recorded so any lot can be traced.

8. Documentation

Ask which documents the factory can provide to support your product file, such as ingredient lists, batch records and product information. Requirements for notification and labelling in Thailand can change, so confirm current requirements with the Thai FDA or with the factory's documentation team.

9. Confidentiality and formula ownership

These questions should be answered in writing before you share your brief:

• Will you sign a confidentiality agreement (NDA)?
• Who owns a custom formula once it is developed, and can you move production elsewhere?
• Will the factory sell the same formula to other brands?

Do not assume the answers. Ask for them in the contract or quotation terms.

10. Site visit

Visit the factory if you can, or ask for a video walk-through. Look at cleanliness, separation of areas, labelling of materials, staff hygiene and how records are kept. Our factory is in Krathum Baen, Samut Sakhon, and brands are welcome to arrange a visit.

Red flags to watch for

• Reluctance to show certificates or let you visit.
• Vague answers about who owns the formula.
• Promises of unusually fast results or guaranteed effects.
• No written quotation, or terms that keep changing.
• No clear process for sample approval before production.

How should you compare two or three factories?

Send each factory the same short brief: product type, target customer, desired claims, rough quantity and packaging idea. Then score the replies against the ten points above. Compare the clarity of the answers as well as the numbers. A factory that asks good questions about your brand is usually showing the same care it will apply to your product.

If you are choosing between OEM and ODM, a one-stop partner such as MPC Innovation Lab can start from a concept and carry it through formulation, packaging, production and delivery, with the option of a standard formula for a lower starting quantity.