20 Questions to Ask a 3PL Before You Sign

Ask every 3PL the same 20 questions, in the same order, and get the answers in writing. The answers show what your first invoice will really look like, how the warehouse deals with mistakes, and how hard it is to leave. Most fulfilment problems show up in the contract, the rate card or the onboarding plan long before they show up in your customer emails.

This list works for a first 3PL or a move from a current one. If you are still deciding what to look for overall, start with our guide to choosing a 3PL and come back here for the sales calls.

Before you ask anything: get your own numbers ready

Providers can only quote what you tell them. Write these down first so every quote is built on the same facts:

• Orders per month, average and peak

• Number of SKUs and typical stock levels

• Average parcel size and weight

• Where your orders go, by country

• Special handling: liquids, batteries, food, temperature control, fragile or high-value goods

• Returns rate and how you want returns handled

• Sales channels and platform, such as Shopify, Amazon or TikTok Shop

If you cannot supply one of these, say so. A good provider will help you estimate it. A provider who quotes without asking is guessing, and the guess lands on your invoice.

Fit and capability

• 1. Do you work with brands like mine? Ask about product type, order volume and sales channels. Ask for two references from brands of a similar size, and call them.

• 2. What kind of brand is a poor fit for you? A provider that can name its limits is easier to trust than one that says yes to everything.

• 3. Which countries and carriers do you ship with? Check that your top three destinations are covered with delivery options you are happy to offer customers.

• 4. Can you handle my special requirements? Kitting, inserts, gift wrap, batteries, liquids, food or controlled temperatures. Ask to see any licences, accreditations or insurance your products need.

• 5. What happens at my peak? Ask how much notice they need before a promotion, how they add labour and what cut-off dates they set for Christmas. Our guide to preparing your logistics for peak season shows what good looks like.

Pricing and contract

• 6. Can I see every charge on one rate card? Receiving, storage, pick fee, pack fee, packaging, returns handling, account or software fees, onboarding and any minimum monthly charge.

• 7. How is storage charged? Per pallet, per shelf or per cubic unit, and when the clock starts and stops.

• 8. How are shipping rates set? Carrier rates passed through, discounted or marked up? How often do they change, and how much notice do you get?

• 9. What is the minimum monthly spend, and what happens in a slow month? Some contracts charge the minimum whether you ship or not.

• 10. What are the contract length, notice period and exit terms? Ask what it costs, and how long it takes, to get your stock back. This matters most if you ever want to move, and our guide on switching 3PL without disrupting your business shows why.

• 11. Which charges usually appear on invoices that were not on the quote? Ask it directly. Our posts on the hidden costs of the wrong fulfilment provider and pick and pack pricing list the usual suspects.

Systems and visibility

• 12. How does your system connect to my store? Native integration, a third-party connector or custom work? Is there a set-up fee or a monthly fee? If you sell on Shopify, our Shopify fulfilment guide explains what a good integration looks like.

• 13. What can I see in real time? Stock levels, inbound deliveries, order status and returns. Ask for a demo login or a screen share, not a screenshot.

• 14. Who is my day-to-day contact, and how fast do you reply? A named person and a response-time commitment beat a shared inbox.

Accuracy, returns and problems

• 15. What are your order accuracy and on-time dispatch rates, and how do you measure them? Ask for the last three months, not the best month.

• 16. What is your same-day dispatch cut-off? A noon cut-off and a 3pm cut-off lead to different delivery promises at your checkout.

• 17. What happens when an order is damaged, lost or picked wrong, and who pays? Ask for the process and the liability limits in writing.

• 18. How do you process returns? Ask how quickly returned stock goes back on sale, how items are graded, and what each step costs.

Onboarding and growth

• 19. What does onboarding involve, how long does it take and what do you need from me? Ask for a written plan with dates, a go-live date and a named person.

• 20. What happens when I grow, or when I need a second location? Ask about spare capacity, other sites and international options.

How to compare the answers

Put every provider into one sheet, one column each, with the 20 questions as rows. Score each answer 0 to 2: 0 for vague or missing, 1 for acceptable, 2 for clear and documented. The zeros matter more than the total. One zero on exit terms or pricing deserves more attention than high scores everywhere else.

Red flags to take seriously:

• No full rate card, only a headline price per order

• No references from similar brands

• Vague answers on exit terms or notice periods

• An accuracy figure with no time period behind it

• Pressure to sign before you have seen the contract

Get three to five quotes. Fewer leaves you without a comparison, and more turns selection into a project of its own. If you would rather not repeat the same brief to every provider, you can submit one RFP on FulfilQ and let matched providers respond.

People Also Ask

What should I ask a 3PL before signing a contract?

Start with pricing, exit terms, accuracy and systems. Ask for a full rate card, the minimum monthly spend, the notice period, how errors are handled and how the platform connects to your store. The 20 questions above cover all of them.

How many 3PLs should I get quotes from?

Three to five. That gives you a fair comparison without turning selection into months of work. Give each one the same numbers so the quotes can be compared line by line.

What is a red flag when choosing a 3PL?

A provider that will not share a full rate card, will not give references, or stays vague about how you leave. Each one points to a surprise that arrives later.

Finding the right 3PL partner

FulfilQ's advisor, Logan, matches brands to verified providers by order volume, product type and region. Tell Logan what you ship and where it goes, and you get a shortlist to compare using the questions above. Start at fulfilq.com or browse the full provider directory.