3PL First-Timer Tips

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What is a 3PL, Anyway?

A 3PL (third-party logistics provider) is a company that stores your inventory, picks and packs customer orders, and ships them on your behalf. Instead of fulfilling orders from your garage, spare bedroom, or rented warehouse space, you send inventory to a fulfillment center where professionals handle the entire process. Here’s how it works:

1. You send inventory to the 3PL’s fulfillment center(s)
2. When a customer places an order on your website, the order flows automatically to the 3PL
3. The 3PL picks the products from the shelves, packs them, and ships them to your customer
4. Your customer receives their order with tracking updates along the way
5. You pay the 3PL for storage, picking, packing, and shipping services

Think of a 3PL as your outsourced fulfillment team. They’re the logistics experts so you can focus on growing your business—marketing, product development, customer service, and everything else that requires your attention.

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Why Brands Make the Switch to 3PL Fulfillment

Most brands start with self-fulfillment (or dropshipping) because it’s simple and low-cost when order volume is small. But as you grow, the math changes. Signs you’re ready for a 3PL: You’re spending too much time on fulfillment If you (or your team) are spending 20+ hours per week picking, packing, and shipping orders, that’s time you’re not spending on growing the business. A 3PL gives you those hours back. You can’t keep up with order volume When orders start backing up, shipping delays hurt your customer experience. 3PLs have the staff, systems, and infrastructure to handle volume spikes without breaking a sweat. Shipping costs are eating your margins 3PLs negotiate discounted carrier rates due to their massive shipping volume. You benefit from those rates without needing enterprise-level order volume yourself. You want faster shipping With a 3PL like Jetpack that operates 65+ fulfillment centers globally, you can position inventory closer to customers for faster, cheaper delivery. You’re ready to scale Expanding into new markets, launching new products, or running big promotions requires fulfillment infrastructure you may not have in-house. 3PLs provide that scalability instantly. You need to focus on what you’re good at Let’s be honest: packing boxes isn’t your competitive advantage. Your competitive advantage is your brand, your products, your marketing. Let the fulfillment experts handle logistics.

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What to Expect When Working with a 3PL

If you’ve never worked with a 3PL before, here’s what the experience looks like:

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You’ll Send Inventory to Fulfillment Centers

Instead of storing products at your home or office, you’ll ship inventory to the 3PL’s warehouse. At Jetpack, you create a WRO (Warehouse Receiving Order) to tell us what inventory is coming and when to expect it. Learn more about sending inventory. What this means for you:

• You’ll need to coordinate with your suppliers or manufacturers to ship directly to Jetpack (or ship from your location to Jetpack)
• You’ll plan inventory levels more strategically since you can’t just walk to the shelf and grab a unit
• Jetpack proactively monitors inventory levels and alerts you when it’s time to replenish

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Orders Will Flow Automatically

Once you connect your ecommerce platform (Shopify, Amazon, BigCommerce, etc.) to Jetpack, orders sync automatically. When a customer orders on your site, the order appears in the Jetpack dashboard within minutes and enters the fulfillment queue. Learn about importing orders. What this means for you:

• No more manually exporting orders and printing shipping labels
• Orders ship faster because they enter fulfillment immediately
• You maintain visibility through the Jetpack dashboard without doing the physical work

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You’ll Configure Fulfillment Preferences

Jetpack needs to know how you want orders fulfilled. This includes:

• Which carriers to use (FedEx, UPS, USPS, etc.)
• What packaging to use (standard boxes, custom branded packaging, etc.)
• Whether to include inserts (packing slips, marketing materials, thank-you cards)
• How to handle returns

Your Jetpack Care team walks you through these decisions during onboarding. You’re not figuring it out alone.

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You’ll Pay for Storage and Fulfillment Services

3PL pricing typically includes:

• Storage fees – Monthly charges based on the volume of inventory stored (measured in cubic feet or pallets)
• Receiving fees – Charges for receiving and checking in your inventory shipments
• Pick and pack fees – Charges per order for picking products and packing them
• Shipping fees – Actual carrier costs to ship orders to customers

Jetpack’s pricing is transparent and customized to your business. No flat rates, no hidden fees. Your account manager will provide a detailed pricing breakdown during onboarding.

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You’ll Have Ongoing Communication with Your 3PL

Unlike self-fulfillment where you control everything directly, working with a 3PL requires communication and collaboration. At Jetpack, you get a dedicated Slack channel with your account manager for quick, real-time communication. You’ll communicate about:

• Inventory replenishment timing
• Order volume forecasts (especially around promotions or peak season)
• Special handling requests (gift messages, custom packaging, expedited shipping)
• Resolving discrepancies or addressing issues

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Common First-Timer Concerns (And Why They’re Not a Problem)

What if I lose control over my fulfillment quality?

This is the #1 concern for first-time 3PL users. You’ve built your brand on great customer experiences, and handing off fulfillment feels risky.Why this isn’t a problem with Jetpack: Jetpack operates fulfillment centers with strict quality controls, accuracy targets, and damage prevention protocols. Plus, your Jetpack Care team proactively monitors your orders and addresses issues before they impact customers. You actually gain visibility and control—with real-time tracking, detailed reporting, and a dedicated team watching your operations.

What if inventory gets lost or miscounted?

Inventory accuracy is critical, and mistakes can happen. What if the warehouse loses track of your products?Why this isn’t a problem with Jetpack: Jetpack uses barcode scanning and warehouse management systems to track every unit from the moment it arrives. You can see real-time inventory levels in the dashboard, broken down by fulfillment center. If discrepancies occur during receiving, your account manager alerts you immediately so you can reconcile. Inventory audits happen regularly to ensure accuracy.

What if shipping is too expensive?

You might worry that outsourcing fulfillment means losing control over shipping costs or paying premium rates.Why this isn’t a problem with Jetpack: Jetpack leverages ShipBob’s massive shipping volume to negotiate discounted carrier rates—rates you’d never get on your own. Plus, MultiHub IQ intelligently distributes inventory closer to customers, reducing shipping distances and costs. In most cases, brands save money on shipping after moving to Jetpack.

What if I need to make last-minute changes to orders?

When you’re packing orders yourself, you can make changes instantly. With a 3PL, what if an order needs to be modified after it’s placed?Why this isn’t a problem with Jetpack: If an order hasn’t been picked yet, you can modify it directly in the dashboard (change the address, add items, hold the shipment, etc.). If it’s already in progress, your Jetpack Care team can intervene quickly via Slack. Near real-time communication means last-minute changes are manageable.

What if I'm too small for a 3PL?

Some 3PLs have high minimum order requirements or focus only on enterprise clients. What if you’re “not big enough”?Why this isn’t a problem with Jetpack: Jetpack is built for growing brands—those fulfilling at least 2,000 to 50,000 orders per month. If you’re in that range (or growing toward it), you’re exactly the type of brand Jetpack serves. We provide enterprise-level infrastructure with the personalized support smaller brands need.

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How Jetpack Makes Your First 3PL Experience Easy

Choosing Jetpack as your first 3PL means you’re not navigating this transition alone.

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Hands-On Onboarding

Your Jetpack Care team guides you through every step of onboarding—connecting integrations, configuring products, setting up shipping preferences, and sending your first inventory shipment. You’re not reading help docs and figuring it out yourself. You have a dedicated account manager walking you through it. Learn more about the onboarding process.

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Proactive Support, Not Reactive Troubleshooting

Most 3PLs operate on a reactive support model: you discover a problem, submit a ticket, wait for a response. Jetpack is different. We proactively monitor your operations and reach out before issues become problems. Low inventory? We’ll message you. Integration sync issue? We’ll fix it before you notice.

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Transparent Pricing with No Surprises

Many first-timers get burned by hidden fees and complex pricing structures. Jetpack provides transparent, customized pricing based on your actual needs—no flat rates that don’t reflect your business, no surprise surcharges.

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Built for Growth

Starting with a 3PL for the first time means you’re planning for growth. Jetpack scales with you—whether that means adding fulfillment centers, expanding internationally, or implementing automation. You won’t outgrow us.

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What You Need to Prepare

Before starting with Jetpack (or any 3PL), gather this information: Product Details

• SKU names and identifiers
• Product dimensions (length, width, height)
• Product weights
• Packaging requirements (fragile, HAZMAT, temperature-sensitive, etc.)

Order Volume Estimates

• Current average daily/weekly/monthly order volume
• Expected growth over the next 6-12 months
• Peak season order volume

Inventory Information

• How much inventory you’re planning to send initially
• Where your inventory is currently located (your warehouse, manufacturer, etc.)
• Replenishment frequency

Ecommerce Platform Details

• Which platforms you sell on (Shopify, Amazon, etc.)
• Current order management workflow
• Any custom integrations or special requirements

Shipping Preferences

• Preferred carriers (if you have any)
• Typical delivery speed expectations (standard, 2-day, next-day)
• Any special handling needs

Your Jetpack Care team will help you gather this information during onboarding. Don’t worry if you don’t have all the answers yet—we’ll figure it out together.

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First-Timer FAQs

How long does it take to get started with a 3PL?

Onboarding with Jetpack typically takes 2-4 weeks from kickoff to fulfilling your first orders. This includes connecting integrations, configuring products, sending your first inventory shipment, and validating that everything works correctly. Your account manager will provide a detailed timeline during your kickoff call.

Do I need a minimum order volume to work with Jetpack?

Jetpack works best for brands fulfilling 2,000+ orders per month, but there’s no strict minimum. If you’re growing toward that threshold or have seasonal spikes, we can still be a great fit. Your account manager will assess whether Jetpack makes sense for your current stage.

Can I still fulfill some orders myself while using a 3PL?

Yes. Some brands use a hybrid model—fulfilling certain orders in-house (like samples, B2B orders, or local deliveries) while routing most orders to Jetpack. Your account manager can help set up order routing rules.

What happens if I need to switch 3PLs later?

Jetpack doesn’t lock you into long-term contracts. If your needs change, you can transition out just as you transitioned in. We don’t hold inventory hostage. That said, we’re confident you’ll love working with Jetpack and won’t want to leave.

How do I know if I can trust a 3PL with my brand's reputation?

This is a valid concern. Look for 3PLs with transparent operations, real-time visibility, and responsive support. At Jetpack, you get a dedicated account manager, proactive monitoring, and a dashboard that shows exactly what’s happening with your inventory and orders. Trust is built through communication and transparency—both of which are core to how we operate.

Can I visit the fulfillment center where my inventory is stored?

Yes. Jetpack clients are welcome to schedule warehouse tours. Your account manager can coordinate a visit to the fulfillment center(s) where your inventory is stored. Seeing operations firsthand is a great way to build confidence in the process.

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