For DTC founders, retail brand marketers, and procurement leads, selecting a 3PL partner involves understanding how pricing and implementation impact your supply chain. This guide breaks down 3PL pricing models, onboarding workflows, key SLAs, and how All Points’ Atlanta-based network delivers quality and speed to fuel your growth.        

What Is 3PL Pricing and Implementation — And When Should You Use a 3PL?

Third-party logistics (3PL) providers act as the operational backbone of your supply chain, managing everything from warehousing and inventory to order fulfillment and returns. Understanding 3PL pricing and implementation is essential for DTC brands, startups, and retail marketers who want to optimize costs and ensure smooth, scalable fulfillment.        

What is 3PL Pricing?

3PL pricing typically covers a range of core services, including:

               
  • Storage: Fees based on pallet, shelf, or bin space usage, usually charged monthly.
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  • Pick & Pack: Costs per order or per item picked, often with surcharges for fragile or complex products.
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  • Shipping: Carrier fees passed through, plus any handling or platform-specific charges.
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  • Returns: Charges for inspection, restocking, or disposal of returned items.
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  • Technology Fees: Set-up and integration costs for connecting your sales channels and inventory systems with the 3PL’s platform.
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  • Additional Services: Kitting, custom packaging, assembly, quality control, and special handling usually come with separate pricing lines.
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Pricing transparency is critical. Hidden fees or convoluted contracts can erode margins and cause growth bumps.

When Should Startups and Retail Brands Use a 3PL?

Outsourcing to a 3PL is a strategic choice. Generally, startups and brands will find 3PL benefits when:

               
  • Order volumes reach 200+ monthly: Handling surge demand without adding fixed labor costs.
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  • Multi-channel selling requires EDI or specific routing: Complying with retailer and marketplace requirements.
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  • Seasonality or promotions drive spikes: Fluctuate capacity without long-term infrastructure investments.
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  • Kitting, assembly, or customized packaging is needed: Scale production and fulfillment together with branded experiences.
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  • Faster delivery regions are required: Atlanta-based logistics providers can often reach 80% of the U.S. in 2-day ground transit.
           

Why Implementation Matters

Choosing the right 3PL isn’t only about cost; execution is equally important.

               
  • Onboarding: Careful data collection and expectation-setting avoid costly errors like mis-shipments or inventory inaccuracies.
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  • Integrations: Seamlessly syncing your e-commerce, ERP, and inventory management systems ensures order accuracy and real-time visibility.
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  • Training & SOPs: Well-documented picking, packing, and return workflows protect brand experience and customer satisfaction.
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  • Contract Flexibility: Short-term agreements with scalable pricing protect your growth trajectory and keep costs in check.
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           Effective implementation sets the stage for a long-term partnership that adapts as the business evolves.        

Step-by-Step 3PL Implementation Workflow

Implementing a 3PL involves a structured process designed to integrate your operations smoothly and minimize disruptions to customer fulfillment.

               
  • Initial Consultation and Needs Assessment
    Begin by defining goals such as monthly order volume, SKU counts, sales channels, and fulfillment complexities like packaging or kitting. Collect item data including dimensions, weights, bills of materials for bundles or kits, and historic order and return patterns.            
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  • Proposal Review and Contract Signing
    Receive a transparent rate sheet, highlighting all billable events, with short-term, flexible contract terms to accommodate your business growth. Agree on Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and reporting frequency to set clear expectations.            
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  • Technology Integrations
    Connect your sales platforms (Shopify, Amazon, wholesale EDI), inventory management, and ERP software. Define order routing logic, shipping methods, and returns workflows. Run sandbox tests to identify edge cases such as backorders, bundled products, or split shipments.            
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  • Custom SOPs Setup
    Develop detailed standard operating procedures for each process stage:                
                       
    • Receiving and putaway with ASN/EDI processing and quality checks.
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    • Picking and packing workflows with scanning and quality control.
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    • Kitting and assembly instructions detailed by bill of materials.
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    • Returns processing and disposition protocols (restock, refurbish, discard).
  • Staff Training and Soft Launch
                   Train the fulfillment staff on your specific SOPs and quality standards. Conduct internal audits through trial order processing. Begin limited channel go-live to validate system stability and operational efficiency.            
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  • Full Go-Live and Ongoing Optimization
                   Open all sales channels and ensure carrier service mappings are configured correctly. Conduct frequent business reviews in the first month, moving to monthly. Continuously fine-tune slotting, packaging, and exception handling to improve throughput and customer satisfaction.            
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Typical Timelines for Implementation

               
  • Simple DTC setups (Shopify, small SKU count): 1–2 weeks.
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  • Moderate complexity (bundling, light kitting, multi-channel): 2–4 weeks.
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  • Complex retail/EDI or advanced kitting: 3–6 weeks due to testing and validation needs.
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Throughout the process, access to expert support and clear communication channels enables quick decision-making and problem resolution.      

Key SLAs and KPIs For 3PL Performance

Defining and monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs) is crucial to maintaining excellent fulfillment standards.

A successful 3PL partnership rests on meeting or exceeding these benchmarks and transparent reporting to identify and resolve issues proactively.        

Pricing Drivers — What Moves 3PL Costs Up or Down?

3PL pricing depends on several variables, many of which relate directly to your product profile and order behavior.

               
  • Storage Duration and Volume: Pallet versus bin storage affects your monthly fees significantly. Long-term storage of slow-moving SKUs inflates costs.
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  • Order Complexity and SKU Count: High SKU diversity and bundled orders increase pick times and risk of errors, which raises fulfillment costs.
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  • Kitting and Assembly Requirements: Custom kits or multi-component products require additional labor, quality checks, and often dedicated space. For scalable solutions, All Points offers custom kitting and assembly services.
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  • Packaging and Special Handling: Custom prints, fragile or delicately packed items need specialized materials and processes that increase cost.
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  • Shipping Distances and Zones: Shipping farther increases transit costs; Atlanta’s location advantage lets you reach 80% of the U.S. population within 2-day ground transit, reducing this expense.
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  • Return Rates: Frequent returns add labor for inspection, repair, or disposal fees, impacting your total cost of fulfillment.
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  • Technology and Integration Complexity: Number of connected sales channels, ERP systems, and EDI setups influence your initial and ongoing tech fees.
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  • Seasonality and Volume Fluctuations: Peak demand can bring surcharges; flexible labor deployment plans help manage these periods cost-effectively.
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Managing Cost without Sacrificing Quality

               
  • Right-size packaging to cut dimensional weight (DIM) fees and reduce material waste.
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  • Use kit prebuilds during off-peak times to smooth labor demand during spikes.
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  • Slot popular SKUs closer to packing stations to reduce pick time and errors.
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  • Turn inventory quickly by focusing on fast movers and removing slow sellers to cheaper storage zones.
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  • Leverage All Points’ Atlanta location for lower average zone count and faster replenishment.
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Risks to Watch and How to Mitigate Them

Working with a 3PL has inherent risks, but being proactive protects your customer experience and brand equity.

               
  • Hidden Fees or Unclear Pricing Tiers: Always demand a fully transparent rate card and sample invoices. Understand every billable event before signing a contract.
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  • Poor Technology Integrations Causing Order Errors: Ensure compatibility with your sales channels and ERP through sandbox testing and error handling rules.
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  • SLA Breaches: Include clear, measurable KPIs in contracts and agreed-upon penalties. Schedule capacity planning ahead of seasonal spikes.
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  • Inflexible Contract Terms: Avoid locking yourself into long commitments; opt for short-term, scalable contracts that grow with your business.
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  • Lack of Communication or Support: Choose 3PLs with a “whatever it takes” mindset and a reliable communication cadence to solve issues quickly.
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  • Incomplete SOPs or Training: Require detailed process documentation and reinspect SOP compliance regularly to minimize errors.
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Transparent partnerships and mutual accountability reduce operational risks and build toward scalable success.        

The Atlanta Advantage — Fast, Cost-Effective Distribution to 80% of the U.S.

Location is vital in controlling shipping cost, improving delivery speed, and maintaining a competitive edge.

               
  • Strategic Hub: Atlanta’s geographic position offers efficient 2-day ground access to roughly 80% of U.S. consumers, far surpassing coastal hubs in reach and cost-efficiency.
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  • Reduced Zone Counts: Lower average shipping zones translate into lower freight rates and more predictable delivery times.
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  • Flexible Carrier Options: Access to a wide range of parcel and LTL carriers ensures redundancy and negotiation leverage.
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  • Seasonal and Subscription Support: The Atlanta network excels at handling seasonal spikes and subscription box fulfillment with tight SLAs.
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  • Rapid Replenishment: Critical for retail and marketplace growth, enabling quick restock and avoiding costly out-of-stock situations.
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           For startups and growing DTC brands, leveraging Atlanta’s geographic advantage offers a key competitive advantage in delivery speed and cost control.        

What You Get with All Points

Partnering with All Points delivers a full suite of services designed for DTC brands seeking quality, speed, and flexibility:

               
  • End-to-end logistics: Comprehensive warehousing, ecommerce order fulfillment, distribution, returns, and real-time reporting. Discover our e-commerce order fulfillment services.
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  • Custom kitting and print: We handle assembly and quality-check kits, subscription boxes, and retail sets, plus in-house printing of labels and marketing materials, maintaining your brand experience with precision. Learn more at our custom kitting and assembly services.
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  • Operator-grade SOPs and KPIs: Rigorous quality standards enforce consistent pick/pack accuracy, fast cycle times, and efficient returns processing.
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  • Proven capability: Trusted by premium brands including Porsche for exacting print-and-kitting executions.
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  • Transparent pricing and flexible contracts: No surprises, with short initial contracts that scale alongside your business.
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  • Atlanta-based, family-owned since 1995: Deep expertise in DTC and retail logistics, backed by a partnership mindset and “whatever it takes” approach.
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Ready to Get Started?

Get tailored support from a trusted Atlanta 3PL partner:

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FAQ: 3PL Pricing and Implementation

What are the typical pricing components for a 3PL?
Expect pricing for storage, inbound receiving, pick & pack fees, packaging, shipping, returns processing, and technology fees. Always request a clear, itemized rate card and sample invoice.

How long does 3PL implementation take?
Simple Shopify setups with few SKUs launch in 1–2 weeks; moderate complexity with bundling or multichannel requires 2–4 weeks, while retail/EDI or complex kitting takes 3–6 weeks due to testing and validation.

What SLAs should I expect from a 3PL?
Industry standards include pick accuracy ≥99.5%, order cycle time 24–48 hours, dock-to-stock <24 hours, on-time shipment ≥98%, inventory accuracy 97–99%, and return processing within 48–72 hours.

How does All Points leverage its Atlanta location?
Our strategic location enables 2-day ground shipments to 80% of U.S. consumers, lowering shipping costs and speeding delivery. It offers strong carrier options and accommodates seasonal business flexibility.

Can All Points handle custom kitting and printing?
Yes. We assemble kits, subscription packs, and retail sets, and print branded inserts, labels, and marketing materials in-house, ensuring a consistent, scalable brand experience.

Image alt text suggestion: 3PL pricing and implementation workflow at an Atlanta-based 3PL (All Points)

Disclaimer

All Points is an Atlanta-based, family-owned 3PL founded in 1995. We deliver end-to-end logistics—from custom kitting and ecommerce fulfillment to warehousing, distribution, and printing—so your brand ships accurately, on time, and at scale. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Please consult with your professional advisors when making logistics decisions.        

Additional Resources and References

For industry insights and further reading, consider these resources:

Conclusion

Discover how DTC brands can optimize their supply chains by understanding 3PL pricing, implementation workflows, key SLAs, and cost drivers. Learn why Atlanta’s strategic hub and All Points’ transparent, flexible services help startups scale fulfillment efficiently and deliver faster, cost-effective shipping nationwide.

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