What is MOQ (minimum order quantity)?
MOQ, or minimum order quantity, is the smallest number of units a supplier will accept for one order of a product.
Factories set an MOQ because every production run has fixed costs: materials are bought in bulk, machines are set up and packaging is printed. Below a certain quantity the run is not worth it for them.
MOQ is usually stated per product, and sometimes per color or size. Custom work such as your own logo, color or packaging normally raises the MOQ, while stock items in standard colors often have a lower one.
MOQ is negotiable more often than buyers expect. A sourcing agent can combine orders, find stock goods, or pick a supplier whose minimum fits your budget.