Set your wholesale minimum order

Set a wholesale minimum from the cost of fulfilling an order and the way buyers use your stock. A minimum that covers your work is useful; a large minimum that keeps suitable buyers from testing your supply may not be.

# Specify what the minimum measures

Rule	Example	What buyers need to know
Minimum quantity	40 pieces per order	Whether categories can be combined
Minimum order value	$400 in merchandise	Whether shipping counts toward the threshold
Category minimum	20 tees per mix	Whether it applies alongside an order minimum
Pack increment	Add pieces in packs of 10	Which quantities can actually be ordered

These are illustrative terms. Avoid displaying a single “minimum” without its unit and scope.

Shopify's MOQ guide explains minimum quantities, while its B2B quantity-rule documentation distinguishes minimums and increments. References checked October 28, 2026. You can use those distinctions regardless of your sales software.

# Work out the smallest sustainable order

Start with the variable cost per piece: acquisition, sorting and preparation. Then identify work that happens once per order, such as administration, selecting a mix and packing.

Suppose a hypothetical mix sells for $8 per piece and has $5 per piece in variable costs, leaving $3 before order-level costs. If order handling costs $30 and you want another $60 toward overhead and earnings, you need 30 pieces: ($30 + $60) ÷ $3.

Include selling and payment fees in the model, as well as any shipping subsidy. If they reduce that contribution, the calculated minimum rises. The example is a planning method, not a recommended market price or margin.

# Make the pack match the minimum

If packing happens in tens, state that. A 25-piece minimum with ten-piece increments needs an explicit definition of which totals are valid; a 30-piece starting pack may be clearer.

Separate a mixed-category minimum from a single-category minimum where the work differs. A customer choosing every item may require more selection time than a pre-packed mix of the same size.

# Offer a useful first order

A test pack should let a buyer evaluate the condition and mix they can expect later. Explain any difference from your main wholesale offer. Avoid using unusually strong sample stock that makes normal repeat orders look disappointing.

If small orders cost more per piece, show the actual price instead of hiding the difference in an ambiguous handling charge. Review whether first orders lead to repeat business before changing the minimum.

# Put the terms next to the stock

Minimum: 40 pieces per order, in packs of 10. Categories can be combined. Merchandise prices exclude shipping. A delivery quote is confirmed before payment.

Adapt that sample to your actual operation. Include it on your wholesale line sheet, alongside condition, availability and processing time.

Stockhouse is accepting US seller applications ahead of launch. If you plan to supply it, describe the lots you can fulfill reliably; live marketplace quantities and prices are not yet available. See where to sell vintage wholesale for sales channels.