Small Business Ecommerce Fulfillment: Boost Efficiency & Save Costs
By Macy -05/02/2025 UTC.
As a small business owner navigating the competitive world of e-commerce, efficient small business ecommerce fulfillment is crucial for your success. From managing inventory to shipping orders, optimizing your fulfillment process can help you reduce costs, improve customer satisfaction, and drive business growth. This blog will explore practical strategies to streamline your fulfillment operations and achieve a competitive edge.
1. What Is Ecommerce Fulfillment?
Ecommerce order fulfillment (also known as order fulfillment) process involves a series of steps to ensure that customer orders are completed successfully, and it marks the final stage of your ecommerce supply chain. It begins with receiving products into the fulfillment center, continues through order picking, packing, and shipping, and concludes with handling any returns.
The final stages of your supply chain often come with significant costs, making it critical to plan your ecommerce fulfillment carefully, which may include the option to outsource fulfillment tasks.
While ecommerce fulfillment is mainly linked to online orders from ecommerce sites and marketplaces, it can also be used to describe the transactions made directly with the manufacturer, including purchases via phone, email, or at physical retail locations.
For ecommerce businesses, order fulfillment depends significantly on technology, such as online logistics software and ecommerce fulfillment systems. Traditional order fulfillment, however, could still be performed manually with pen and paper if necessary.
The speed at which ecommerce businesses can scale is one of its greatest advantages. If you can connect with the right customers, your sales could see rapid growth. But without fast product delivery, you risk disappointing first-time customers and losing their trust.

2. 4 Key Benefits of Outsourcing Fulfillment for Small Businesses
Outsourcing your small business ecommerce fulfillment allows you to efficiently manage the increasing demands of your business. Here are some of the ways a 3PL can offer valuable support as your brand grows:
- Shift your focus to other critical areas of your business: Small business ecommerce fulfillment is fundamental for thriving in online retail, but it’s not always a strength for most ecommerce entrepreneurs. By outsourcing logistics, you can offload the tough tasks and focus on what you do best in your business.
- Let the experts handle the logistics for you: With logistics experts on your side, you tap into their wealth of experience. Warehouse personnel are trained to manage your products carefully, prevent shrinkage, and pack orders in a way that enhances the customer’s experience.
- Minimized shipping fees: Ecommerce warehouses, due to their high shipping volume, are in a position to negotiate better rates and share the savings with you. Their professional insights can also provide innovative solutions like package consolidation, offering you additional savings on shipping.
- Distribution center networks: Shipping from your own location is often restricted to your main business office, which might not be the best option for two-day delivery. When you partner with a 3PL, you gain the ability to store products in strategically placed warehouses, allowing you to better serve your customer base.

>>> Read more: Warehouse Fulfillment Centers: Understand The Differences
3. Top 7 Best E-Commerce Fulfillment Centers For Small Business
Let’s explore the top 7 small business ecommerce fulfillment centers, providing insights into their key features and suitability for various business needs.
3.1. Shopify Fulfillment Network
Launched to aid Shopify users, Shopify Fulfillment Network is a new fulfillment option tailored for smaller businesses. It allows merchants to handle anywhere from ten to thousands of orders per day, offering an efficient in-house fulfillment solution with ample room for growth.
To get started with Shopify Fulfillment Network, download the app, choose the products you want to ship, and send your goods. Shopify will take care of the fulfillment process and will suggest the most efficient storage locations for your inventory based on where your customers are located, ensuring faster shipping.
Rather than using its own facilities, Shopify provides storage through a network of 3PL providers across North America. These centers are pre-vetted by Shopify, and the pricing model is flexible, tailored to your needs, with no long-term commitment.
Pros:
- Shopify Store Integration
- Leverages machine learning to optimize inventory placement
Cons:
- Tailored specifically for Shopify customers
- May not offer as many features as long-standing networks
- Variable rates can create confusion for users

3.2. Fulfillment by Amazon
When you use FBA, the fulfillment fee covers order picking, packing, shipping, and packaging, and is calculated based on each product's size and weight. One of the advantages of using FBA is that sellers benefit from Amazon’s discounted shipping rates, which typically results in lower fulfillment costs compared to handling fulfillment on their own.
Amazon’s small business ecommerce fulfillment service can be complicated, and you might face unforeseen challenges along the way. One example is the relabeling fee if your products aren’t properly labeled. Also, long-term storage fees apply to unsold inventory. Before choosing FBA, it’s crucial to grasp all of Amazon’s fulfillment fees and the details of their service.
Pros:
- Expansive logistical network
- A large number of warehouses
- Highly regarded by shoppers
Cons:
- Pricing can be on the higher side
- Possibility of product overlap
- Orders from Etsy might be shipped using Amazon's packaging

3.3. Red Stag Fulfillment
Red Stag Fulfillment excels in large-scale B2C and B2B order fulfillment, focusing on oversized and heavy products that need careful attention. While their average parcel weight is around 20 pounds, they are fully capable of managing and shipping even more substantial items.
The usual monthly minimum for Red Stag is 200 shipments, but they offer flexibility for businesses with lower volumes. This setup allows you to carry a broader selection of products, as you’re not bound by strict SKU criteria.
Red Stag Fulfillment offers a range of services, including international shipping, Seller-Fulfilled Prime, and Amazon Prime, making it a great option for small businesses. They also offer a 30-day risk-free trial and integrate smoothly with platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce.
Pros:
- Focuses on handling bulkier and heavier items
- Strong accuracy track record
- Offers reimbursement for damaged goods
Cons:
- More costly compared to other services
- May not work well for businesses with smaller inventory

3.4. ShipHero
ShipHero doesn’t impose setup fees, similar to many other 3PL providers. They instead offer two useful ecommerce solutions. First, the fulfillment service starts at $5.29 per order, including picking, packing, and shipping. but storage costs are extra. However, storage fees apply, starting at $0.65 per cubic foot per day, billed for each SKU. Second, the warehouse software is priced at $1,850 monthly.
Over 5,000 brands, including Burst, an oral care company, have turned to ShipHero for their fulfillment needs. According to Brittany Stewart, President and COO of BURST, the company achieved a 35% reduction in costs, while American Tall, a clothing brand, boosted its fulfillment by 400% thanks to ShipHero’s services, according to Jake Rajsky, Vice President of American Tall.
Pros:
- Scalable solution for growing businesses
- No setup fees
Cons:
Storage fees and costs

3.5. ShipBob
ShipBob is a popular platform for over 5,000 ecommerce businesses, especially startups. ShipBob offers clear and upfront pricing with no hidden fees. Their “Growth Plan” is perfect for small businesses, allowing you to ship under 400 orders monthly without a minimum order commitment. This flexible, self-service plan charges only for the services you need, with no onboarding fees involved.
ShipBob offers integrations with top eCommerce platforms like Amazon, Shopify, BigCommerce, and Squarespace. They provide worldwide shipping options, utilizing carriers like DHL, FedEx, UPS, and USPS to deliver to global locations.
Pros:
- Fast shipping service
- Overseas shipping solutions
- Branded packaging with personalized designs
Cons:
- Poor customer service response speed
- Late deliveries or missing products

3.6. Fulfillify
Fulfillify offers an exceptional e-commerce fulfillment service, particularly for small businesses. Their extensive nationwide warehouse network, clear pricing, smooth integrations with online store builders, and ultra-low minimum order requirements make them ideal for startups. Their online pricing tool even allows businesses with no orders to get started.
Fulfillify stands out in the field of subscription box fulfillment, specializing in customized "unboxing" experiences. Their skilled design and printing team can help you develop affordable, branded packaging that makes an impression. Additionally, their kitting services ensure that your products are packed flawlessly in every box.
Pros:
- Can be canceled with ease
- Pricing on a monthly basis
- User-friendly software
- Live tracking dashboards
Cons:
- Limited integration choices
- Specializes in serving high-volume merchants

3.7. Ezbuy Japan
Ezbuy Japan utilizes powerful order and warehouse management tools to optimize the fulfillment process for greater efficiency. Their system is purpose-built for e-commerce, with every element, from warehouse design to software, ensuring seamless and effective direct-to-consumer order processing. The solution also supports seamless omnichannel integration for handling orders across multiple sales channels.
Ezbuy stands out in both B2C and B2B logistics, expertly managing case-level and piece-level shipments. They offer valuable services like gift wrapping, pop-up stores, and a user-friendly returns portal to enhance customer satisfaction.
Their solutions are flexible and scalable, growing in tandem with your business needs, and their pricing is transparent with no hidden charges. Thanks to their control over logistics infrastructure, they offer competitive rates, along with actionable supply chain insights and real-time inventory visibility through advanced analytics.
Pros:
- Omnichannel integration
- Value-added services
- Scalability and flexibility
- No minimum order fulfillment requirement per month.
Cons:
Tech-driven systems may require training

>>> Read more: Comprehensive Guide to Japan Warehouse Service
4. How To Choose The Right E-commerce Distribution Center For Small Businesses?
A distribution center or fulfillment center is tailored for ecommerce, offering greater efficiency than a conventional warehouse by handling inventory storage, order picking, packing, and fast shipping all in one place.
Step 1: Organize your data.
A common obstacle for small businesses is dealing with disorganized data. In order to get a proposal from an e commerce distribution center for small business that includes service details, costs, and features, you'll need to provide them with the right information. So, what data should you share with distribution centers to ensure an accurate quote?
- The list of your SKUs: The fulfillment center’s storage space allocation depends on the variety of SKUs in your inventory, with more SKUs requiring more space.
- Your order volume and history: To estimate the required scale of operations, the fulfillment center needs to know your sales volume over various timeframes (daily, weekly, monthly). A simple distribution of which SKUs sell in what amounts during these periods is sufficient, without needing every transaction detail.
- The product weight details: Anything under 16oz ships at a standard rate nationwide, but once the weight exceeds 1 lb, the shipping costs can fluctuate dramatically. This is also connected to the second step.
To avoid any discrepancies in your comparison, provide each fulfillment center with identical data, so you're comparing their offers on equal terms.
Step 2: Determine a fulfillment center location.
Which areas do you ship to the most? By identifying your main shipping zones, you can focus on finding fulfillment centers in those areas. National logistics firms may have warehouses scattered across various regions, while others might only serve particular zones. If a smaller fulfillment provider with limited locations provides a strong proposal, it can be a great temporary solution until your business expands.
Step 3: Find fulfillment centers in your niche.
Many fulfillment centers specialize in certain kinds of products. For example, a company dealing with heavy machinery may not be the right choice if you're selling small health-related products. Once you've found fulfillment centers that meet your requirements, request a proposal from them. Supply the relevant data they need, and take the time to compare their proposals to find the best match for your business.
Step 4: Analyze the proposals.
Your goal is to find a fulfillment center that aligns with your business benefits. Ideally, it should focus on your specific niche, but a broader focus can still work. Be sure to check if their shipping provider covers all the areas where you need to send your products. If the provider doesn’t offer complete regional coverage, it may not be the best fit.
Using the rates and fees information, it's important to run sample calculations to evaluate the overall cost. Reflect on these questions:
- How does the cost of this fulfillment center compare to your current system based on the last month of sales?
- How will the costs change as your business grows, and when do fees increase?
- Are there sales volume thresholds to ensure the best pricing?
Also, confirm that the fulfillment center can integrate with any specialized order processing tools you're using.
Step 5: Make your selection.
Once you’ve looked over all the proposals, it’s time to make a decision. Just make sure your expectations are practical. If your business isn’t aiming for international markets in the near future, there’s no need to choose a fulfillment provider with global capabilities.
5. FAQs
5.1. How Much Will Ecommerce Fulfillment Services Cost My Business?
Different 3PLs have their own pricing structures for ecommerce fulfillment, which are influenced by factors like the size of your shipments, the volume of orders, and the amount of stock in the warehouse. Typical costs include pick-and-pack fees, shipping charges, storage fees, and box prices.
Some providers may require a monthly fee if your order volume is too low or if you're using multiple locations for fulfillment. Extra services, such as kitting and barcoding, are usually charged separately.
5.2. Should I Consider Outsourcing My Ecommerce Fulfillment?
Many ecommerce businesses thrive by using fulfillment services. These providers offer expert order fulfillment without the need for in-house staff, and flexible warehouse space without committing to a lease. By teaming up with a 3PL, you bring on a professional team that can drive your business to new levels of success.
5.3. What Are The Benefits Of Using Ezbuy For Ecommerce Fulfillment?
Ezbuy helps simplify and streamline your order fulfillment, cut down on shipping expenses, improve delivery timelines, and effortlessly scale your operations. They focus on professional packing, quick processing, and smooth logistics to keep your business running efficiently.
6. Conclusion
In conclusion, small business ecommerce fulfillment is more than just a logistics function, it's a strategic advantage. By making smart choices in fulfillment, small businesses can optimize their supply chains, improve customer experiences, and save on costs.
Whether you’re handling hundreds of orders or thousands, the right fulfillment partner can help you grow and succeed in a competitive marketplace, making this investment an essential step for the future of your business. If you're looking to cut costs or improve order accuracy, Ezbuy is perfect for small businesses. Get in touch with us today to start optimizing your fulfillment!
Website: https://ezbuy.jp/