Operations
Canning Minimum Order Quantities Explained
Why 200 cases is our floor and what economic ladder kicks in at 500 / 1,000 / 5,000. Read this before you ask for a quote.
📖 4 min read
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Good Liquid Bev Co
Every founder who calls us eventually asks the same question: "What's your minimum?" The answer is 200 cases — but that number alone tells you nothing useful. What matters is understanding why minimums exist and how your cost-per-unit changes as your volume scales. This guide breaks down the full economic picture so you can make a real business decision, not just shop for the lowest floor.
Why Minimums Exist
Contract canning runs have substantial fixed costs that get amortized across every case produced. The major fixed costs are:
- Line setup and changeover — Sanitizing, rigging, and dialing in a canning line for your specific product takes 2–4 hours of labor and materials regardless of run size. That cost is the same whether you produce 50 cases or 5,000.
- Quality control samples — Lab pulls at the start, middle, and end of a run are non-negotiable for a licensed facility. The number of samples doesn't scale linearly with volume.
- Packaging material overages — Cans, lids, and labels are purchased in quantities tied to run size. Short runs require more material overage percentage-wise to account for waste at startup.
- Scheduling overhead — Our production scheduler, sales contact, and quality team touch every order. A 200-case order and a 5,000-case order require roughly the same amount of back-and-forth.
When you understand these fixed costs, the minimum isn't arbitrary — it's the volume below which a run doesn't pencil for either party.
The Cost Ladder: What Changes at Each Tier
Pilot / Entry
200–499 cases
Highest cost/case
Ideal for sampling, retail tests, and proof-of-concept
Growth
500–1,999 cases
Mid-tier pricing
Where most expanding brands land in year one or two
Scale
2,000–4,999 cases
Meaningful savings
Unlocks better per-unit rates and scheduling priority
High Volume
5,000+ cases
Best rates
Volume contracts with locked pricing and dedicated production slots
Real numbers example: A 200-case pilot run might cost $333 per case all-in ($28/unit for a 12-pack). The same product at a 5,000-case run might land at $110–$140 per case ($9–$12/unit). That's not an exaggeration — fixed cost amortization is genuinely that powerful at volume.
What Goes Into "Cost Per Case"
When co-packers quote a per-case or per-unit rate, here is what is typically bundled in — and what might be quoted separately:
| Included (usually) | Billed separately (watch for this) |
|---|
| Filling and seaming labor | Ingredient sourcing and raw materials |
| Line setup and changeover | Packaging materials (cans, lids, labels) |
| Quality control pulls | Cold storage / warehousing after production |
| Basic compliance documentation | Rush scheduling surcharges |
| Palletizing and shrink-wrap | Out-of-spec reformulation runs |
Always ask for an itemized quote, not just a cost-per-case headline. Two quotes at "$14/unit" may include completely different scope.
Format Factors That Affect Minimums
Can size
12-ounce slim cans are the category default and have the lowest minimum at most facilities. 16-ounce tallboys require a different seamer head and often a higher minimum. 8-ounce and 250 mL sizes are specialty formats with limited co-packer support.
Brite cans vs. printed cans
Brite (plain) cans with a shrink sleeve or paper label have no can-side artwork MOQ — you are not buying custom cans. Printed CDL (Coated Drawn and Ironed) cans have artwork lithographed on the aluminum at the can plant, typically requiring 3,000–5,000 case orders from the can supplier. This is a separate MOQ from the co-packer's MOQ. You can mix: use brite + sleeves at pilot, then transition to printed cans at scale.
Number of SKUs per run
If you are running multiple flavors in one production day, each flavor is a separate sub-run with its own changeover. A "200-case minimum" usually means 200 cases per SKU, not 200 cases total split across four flavors. Confirm this with your co-packer upfront.
Negotiation tip: If you are ordering multiple flavors and the per-SKU minimum is holding you back, ask about a blended run minimum — some co-packers will accept a lower per-SKU floor if your total order exceeds a certain threshold.
When Should You Scale Up?
The right time to step up to the next volume tier is when your velocity data supports it. Specifically:
- You have consistent re-orders from at least 3 retail accounts
- Your distributor is placing predictable orders (not just an opening order)
- Your current case cost is squeezing your margin below 40% gross (retail pricing less cost of goods)
- You have enough working capital to finance 30–60 days of inventory sitting in a warehouse
Scaling production before you have proven velocity is one of the most common — and most expensive — mistakes in early-stage beverage. Inventory that doesn't move is cash that can't work for you.
Requesting a Quote: What to Have Ready
To get an accurate quote from any co-packer, have these details ready:
- Product type — carbonated, still, kombucha, beer, hard seltzer, juice, etc.
- ABV (if alcoholic) — this determines licensing and excise tax implications
- Target fill volume — 8 oz, 12 oz slim, 12 oz standard, 16 oz, etc.
- Cases per run — your target quantity and your maximum if pricing jumps
- Number of SKUs — flavors or varieties in the same run
- Packaging format — brite + sleeve, brite + paper label, printed CDL cans
- Who supplies ingredients — you or the co-packer (ingredient sourcing changes the quote significantly)
- Target first production date — lead time availability affects pricing
Get Your Quote
Share those details with us and we'll turn around an itemized quote within 48 hours. No pressure, no vague ballparks.
Request a Quote →