Free worksheet · First production run

What will your first run really cost?

A first commercial run for a bar or snack typically costs $80,000 to $150,000 all-in, and co-packers rarely schedule below 10,000 units per SKU. This two-page worksheet walks through every line item, so you know your number before you talk to a plant.

  • The eleven costs that make up a first run, from formulation and co-packer onboarding to packaging minimums and contingency
  • A six-point checklist of what a co-packer needs to see before it says yes
  • The four places first-run budgets usually break, and how to see them coming

Get the worksheet

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From Glenn and Liz Ward, who built and ran a 36,000 ft² SQF-certified snack plant and have worked with more than 150 brands. Rather talk it through? Book a 20-minute call.