How you fulfill orders affects your delivery time, your cost structure, your brand experience, and how much time you spend on operations vs. growth. The right model depends on your volume, your product type, and your growth stage.
Model 1: Self-Fulfillment (0–500 orders/month)
You pack and ship from your own space — home, office, or rented warehouse. Lowest cost, most control over brand experience. Ceiling: typically 500 orders/month before it consumes too much founder time.
Model 2: Third-Party Logistics / 3PL (200–5,000 orders/month)
A 3PL warehouses your inventory, picks, packs, and ships on your behalf. You integrate with their system, send a PO when stock is low, and pay per-order fulfillment fees. Indian 3PLs include Shiprocket Fulfillment, WareIQ, and Loadshare.
| Model | Cost per Order | Control | Scalability | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Self-Fulfill | ₹0 labor + courier | High | Limited | <500 orders/month |
| 3PL | ₹30–80 + courier | Medium | High | 200–10,000/month |
| FBA/FBF | ₹50–150 + courier | Low | Very High | Marketplace-first brands |
Choosing a 3PL Partner
- Minimum monthly volume requirement (some require 500+ orders)
- Per-pick and per-pack fees (compare total cost per order)
- WMS (Warehouse Management System) quality — can it integrate with LetBuyy?
- Returns handling capability and cost
- Locations — do they have warehouses in your target zones?
Hybrid Model
The best-performing Indian brands use a hybrid: self-fulfill in your home region (where you have most control) and 3PL in remote zones (where you have poor logistics). This minimizes cost while maximizing reach.
