Before a first custom bag order a brand pays a sample fee, a one-time tooling fee for any custom hardware or moulds, and, only for new constructions, a development fee for pattern work. At Elandmake the sample fee includes one revision round and is deducted from the bulk-order payment after order confirmation; tooling is charged once as a separate line and is not built into the unit price. Sampling is generally 3-7 days, bulk production 15-30 days for light customization or 20-45 days for heavy customization, and standard payment is a 30% deposit with 70% before shipment.
Before the first production order of a custom pet carrier, organizer bag or backpack, a brand pays for three different things, and inquiries routinely mix them up: the sample fee, the tooling fee for custom hardware or moulds, and, for new constructions, a development fee for pattern work. This guide sets out what each one covers at Elandmake, which are one-time charges, and what is credited back against the bulk order. Our sampling process guide explains the sequence of steps; this article is about the money.
The Three Charges and What They Are For
| Charge | What it pays for | Charged when | Credited against bulk? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sample fee | Making one physical sample of your specification on our own line, including one revision round | Before sampling starts | Yes, deducted from the bulk-order payment after order confirmation |
| Tooling fee | Custom metal badges, logo-engraved sliders and pull tabs, custom buckles, EVA or moulded base tooling, embossing plates | Before the tooling is made | No. Charged once as a separate line; not built into the unit price |
| Development fee | Pattern making and construction work for a new structure that no existing pattern covers | Quoted per project after the tech pack review | Handled per project and stated in the quotation |
The distinction matters when you compare suppliers. A quotation that shows a low unit price with tooling folded into it looks cheaper on the reorder than it is; a quotation that lists tooling once and keeps the unit price clean is easier to compare and easier to reorder against.
Sample Fee: What Is Included and What Is Not
At Elandmake the sample fee covers the sample itself and one revision round. That means the first sample, your consolidated revision list, and the corrected sample. Further revision rounds requested by the buyer are quoted separately. If a sample fails to follow the confirmed specification because of our error, we correct and resample it without an additional sample fee.
Sample fees can be deducted from the bulk-order payment after order confirmation. The applicable amount and freight are confirmed in the quotation. Sample fees are not refunded on their own; the credit is against the order.
Not included in the sample fee:
- Sample freight. International courier is normally paid by the buyer, either on your own DHL, FedEx or UPS account or added to the sample invoice.
- Tooling for any custom hardware the sample needs. A sample with a custom metal badge requires the badge tooling first.
- Third-party testing on the sample, if your market requires it before you approve.
Sampling is generally 3–7 days for an existing pattern once the specification, files, materials and sample payment are confirmed. Special materials, custom hardware or new tooling add the tooling lead time in front of that.
Tooling Fee: One-Time, Separate, Yours to Reuse
Tooling covers physical tools made for your design: the die for a metal logo badge, the mould for a custom slider or pull tab, an embossing plate for a logo on PU, an EVA mould for a shaped base. Each is charged once, listed as its own line in the quotation, and is not built into the unit price. On reorders the tooling line does not appear again unless the design changes.
| Tooling item | Typical trigger in a pet bag brief |
|---|---|
| Metal logo badge die | Handbag-style small-dog carriers with a branded plate |
| Custom slider or pull tab mould | Brands that want the logo on the zipper pull rather than a stock YKK pull |
| Embossing or debossing plate | Logo pressed into PU or leather panels |
| EVA or moulded base | Semi-rigid organizer bases, structured carrier floors |
| Custom buckle or D-ring | Colour-matched or shaped hardware not in the standard catalogue |
If your first run is small, tooling is the line to look at hardest. A custom badge on a 300-piece launch is a real cost per piece; a stock hardware set with a woven label is not. Many brands launch with stock hardware and add tooled parts on the second order once the colourway is proven.
Development Fee: Only for New Constructions
A development fee applies when the product needs a pattern that does not exist yet: a modular pouch system, a docking interface, a fold-out mat, a semi-rigid body. It pays for pattern making and construction engineering before the first sample can be cut. It does not apply when you are adjusting an existing pattern with your colours, logo and pocket changes, which is the route most first orders take. Our private label development guide explains how to tell which route you are on, and OEM vs ODM bag manufacturing covers the broader distinction.
Sequence of Payments Before the First Order
- Quotation, listing unit price by quantity tier, sample fee, any tooling lines, any development fee, packing data and validity.
- Sample fee and any tooling or development fee paid; sampling starts.
- Sample, one revision round, approval in writing.
- Order confirmation: 30% deposit on order confirmation, 70% balance before shipment for standard custom orders; highly customized or complex projects normally use 50% / 50%. The sample fee is deducted from the bulk-order payment at this stage.
- Bulk production: generally 15–30 days for light customization or 20–45 days for heavy customization, counted from written sample approval and deposit.
The standard MOQ is 300 pieces per style and colorway. Our MOQ guide explains how colourways count separately.
Want a quotation that separates sample, tooling and unit price? Contact Elandmake with your reference or tech pack, the hardware you have in mind and your first-run quantity. Reference products: custom cat carrier, pet carrier wholesale, dog treat pouch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the sample fee refundable?
No. It is deducted from the bulk-order payment after order confirmation; the applicable amount and freight are confirmed in the quotation. Without a bulk order there is no refund.
How many revisions does the sample fee include?
One revision round: the first sample, your consolidated revision list, and the corrected sample. Additional buyer-requested rounds are quoted separately. Corrections of our own errors against the confirmed specification are resampled without an extra sample fee.
Is the tooling fee included in the unit price?
No. Custom hardware, mould and pattern tooling is charged once as a separate line and is not built into the unit price. It does not recur on reorders unless the design changes.
Do I pay a development fee for a colour and logo change on an existing bag?
No. A development fee applies only to a new construction that needs its own pattern. Colour, logo, label and pocket changes on an existing pattern are covered by the sample fee.
