When you’re running a small e-commerce startup, you want to be as efficient as possible. Handling inventory, picking and packing, carrier drop-offs, and returns can quickly become overwhelming — especially if you don’t have logistics experience.
That’s where fulfillment services for startups come in. With the right setup, you can streamline your shipping, meet customer expectations, and free up your time to focus on growth.
Here’s a roadmap for building your logistics from day one and knowing when to partner with a fulfillment service provider.
Step 1: Get shipping software that syncs with your website
As an e-commerce retailer just starting your journey, you want to make sure you are managing things well from the beginning.
There is a lot of info you will need to track, compare, and send to your buyers, so you will need to use some sort of shipping software to manage everything.
Get an account with shipping software that synchs with your platform, such as Pirate Ship, Shipo, Shipstation, or another similar software. The shipping software will help you compare rates, organize orders, and send tracking info to your buyers.
Picking carriers as a startup
Shipping has gotten very pricey these days, so you’ll want to spend some time shopping for the best rates.
This can easily be done through your shipping software. Plus, once things are up and running smoothly with your business, you can apply for a commercial account with the carriers themselves to get better pricing.
Step 2: Invest in shipping materials
While you are in the early stages and fulfilling orders on your own, you’ll need to invest in a few items to facilitate the process.
The first thing you will need is a thermal label printer. Printing off labels and affixing them with tape wastes time and is a huge hassle. Getting a label printer will save you a lot of headaches.
Next, you will need a scale for weighing packages. Depending on your product and shipment types, it might be a good idea to invest in two scales; one for larger parcels, and a more sensitive scale for smaller ones.
Weigh everything carefully and be sure to read the fine print to know how your carrier will charge. For instance, in the US and many other countries, you can be charged using the dimensional/ volumetric weight of the parcel.
Figure this out before you start shipping to avoid wasting money on bulky, expensive packaging that eats up your margin.
When you are starting off, you want to be careful where you invest your money, but there is one area you definitely should not go cheap on as a new brand: Packaging.
Starting out is your time to make an impression on customers and build your brand. Packaging that looks “homemade”, or worse, falls apart during shipping, can make a poor impression right off the bat.
You don’t need to get top-of-the-line boxes, but you need quality packing supplies, and you need an efficient packaging method. Get good-quality tape, boxes, mailers, and fillers.
Pro tip: To save time, have multiple sizes and types of boxes you use on hand, put together and ready to fill. You can also pre-pack stock as it arrives to save time while fulfilling orders
Step 4: When you’re ready to grow
As orders grow, fulfilling them manually becomes unsustainable. That’s when you should consider fulfillment services for startups.
Signs you’re ready for fulfillment services:
Order volume exceeds your daily capacity
Logistics tasks consume too much time
You want to expand into new markets
At this stage, you’ll choose between:
3PL (Third-Party Logistics): Handles warehousing, fulfillment, and shipping.
4PL (Fourth-Party Logistics): Manages your entire supply chain, integrates multiple 3PLs, and acts as your logistics consultant.
What to Look for in Fulfillment Services for Startups
When evaluating providers, prioritize:
Technology integration – Centralized platforms for order and inventory visibility.
Flexibility – Ability to scale fulfillment, warehousing, and shipping as your startup grows.
Partnership approach – Providers that work as an extension of your team.
Ready to grow? Choose Wayfindr to bolster your business
Do not own warehouses or trucks — instead, we connect you to a network of vetted global providers.
Integrate all providers into one central control tower (Bundle) for end-to-end visibility.
Manage and consult on your entire logistics setup so you can scale without bottlenecks.
This makes 4PL the most agile fulfillment service for startups, giving you the flexibility to expand across markets without needing to switch providers.
Building logistics as a startup is challenging, but fulfillment services for startups make it easier to manage shipping, improve customer experience, and scale efficiently.
Whether you start small with software and packaging or grow into full-scale 3PL/4PL solutions, the key is choosing a partner who helps you save time and expand confidently.
Ready to grow your e-commerce startup? Book a free consultation with Wayfindr to learn how our 4PL fulfillment services can support your next stage of growth.
About Author
Nick Bartlett
Co-founder & Director
Nick co-founded Wayfindr to help brands design and build market-leading carbon-neutral D2C logistics. As Director, he brings 15+ years of experience across logistics, marketing, supply chain and retail from Asia Pacific to the world.
We’re here to make things simpler for you – we won’t spam your inbox or blow up your phone. When you enter your information:
(Within 24 hours) A member of the Wayfindr team will read your request and schedule a meeting by email. A more in-depth form will be attached to the email.
We will ask you about your needs and specific logistics requirements.
We will take your information and put together a plan designed for your business.
