Is my online store big enough to outsource fulfillment?

This is the most frequently asked question, and the answer to when outsourcing becomes worthwhile isn't based on the number of orders. It comes down to the ratio between what you ship and the minimum cost of the partnership.

How the minimum invoice works

At Cenfil, there is a minimum invoice amount of 350 euros, excluding VAT, for regular fulfillment services per four-week period. This is not an additional charge on top of your invoices, nor is it a hidden cost. It is a minimum purchase requirement.

If your order processing costs exceed 350 euros during those four weeks, you simply pay for what you actually used. If you stay below that amount, the difference will be charged as a minimum fee. Transportation, shipping costs, packaging materials, and special services are not included in this calculation; those are billed separately.

The reason behind this is practical. Without a minimum order requirement, an online store could fill a warehouse and then hardly ship anything, effectively getting free storage. This comes at the expense of space for online stores that do receive orders on a daily basis.

Check the numbers using your own figures

Look at the number of orders you ship every four weeks and the average number of items per order, because charges are calculated separately for each order and each order line. Then request a calculation based on your own order profile: this will show you which tier you fall into and whether you’re above or below the minimum.

What matters more than the number of orders

If you’re operating near capacity, look beyond your monthly bill. How many hours is this costing you right now, and what could you have done with those hours? Are you renting storage space, or is your own space filling up? Can you handle peak periods without compromising on delivery times? Do you want to expand into Belgium or the rest of Europe?

Those questions often carry more weight than whether or not you end up just above the minimum. Outsourcing rarely yields immediate financial returns; it yields time and scalability.

And if you're not there yet

In that case, not outsourcing anything is a great choice. In the meantime, make sure your products have a scannable barcode and that your product information is in order. That’s exactly what makes a future transition go smoothly, and it saves you the receiving fees at Cenfil that would otherwise apply to items without barcodes.

Cenfil does not require a minimum contract term, so you can always join later.