Get the template
The buyer brief is a two-page fill-in template. Print it, fill it in by hand, or fill it in on screen before you send it. Send the same completed brief to each manufacturer, and ask for every quote itemized, in writing.
Get the buyer brief template (PDF) →
What is in the brief
- Business info: business name, contact, business type, and sales channels.
- Product concept: product type and format, size, ingredient preferences and ingredients to avoid, scent and texture preferences. Ingredient direction is framed as preferences only, with no benefit or treatment claims.
- Volume: first-run units per product and reorder expectations, as blanks you fill in.
- Packaging: container type, cap or pump, outer carton, and label direction, as blanks and choices.
- Timeline: target launch date and how flexible it is.
- Budget band: blanks only — Budget band: $___–$___. State your target retail price and let the manufacturer advise on feasibility.
- Questions to ask the manufacturer: a checklist covering minimum order quantities, lead time, samples, testing, labeling responsibilities including the labeling rules (MoCRA), and reorder terms — phrased as questions, not answers.
How to use it
Start with the fields that drive a quote: product type, units per product, packaging, and timeline. If you do not know an answer, leave it blank or write that you would like the manufacturer to suggest options — an honest blank beats a guessed number. Keep the budget band to your own figures, and compare quotes like-for-like: same products, same units, same packaging, same buckets.
For the cost buckets behind a first launch, read our skincare line cost guide, and for how to judge a manufacturer, read how to choose a skincare manufacturer.
Not a quote. This template states no manufacturer prices, minimums, timelines, or terms. Every figure in it is a blank for you to fill in; the answers come from the manufacturer you contact.
Frequently asked questions
What should I send a manufacturer to get an accurate quote?
Send the same brief to each manufacturer: product type and format, units per product, packaging preferences, target retail price, and timeline, plus anything that changes the work, such as fragrance-free requirements or outer cartons. A manufacturer cannot quote accurately from a product idea alone.
Is the buyer brief a quote?
No. The template states no manufacturer prices or terms. The budget band is a blank for your own figures, and the questions at the end are for the manufacturer to answer. Ask for every quote itemized, in writing.
Do I need to fill in every field?
No. Fill in what you know and leave the rest blank, or write that you would like the manufacturer to suggest options. The fields that matter most for a first quote are product type, units per product, packaging, and timeline.
Ready to talk to a manufacturer?
Send your products, units, and packaging through the funnel — the conversation starts from real numbers, not ideas.