In-House Fulfillment Guide for D2C Ecommerce Brands
Last Updated: July 8, 2025 | ⏱ 7 min
You’ve just launched your D2C eCommerce brand. Your product is polished, your branding is dialed in, and the first orders are finally rolling in. You might be packing those shipments in your garage or spare room, with music on in the background and boxes piling up around you. Maybe you’ve recruited a few friends or family members to help. It’s chaotic—but exciting.
For many D2C businesses, handling fulfillment in-house is the natural first step. It keeps costs down, gives you directly visibility into your customer experience, and keeps you closely connected to your product during those crucial early stages. Whether you're shipping beauty kits, lifestyle products, or everyday essentials, doing it yourself can build a strong foundation—while setting the stage to scale efficiently with the right 3PL partner down the line.
At Coast to Coast Fulfillment, we understand the challenges that come with in-house fulfillment. That’s why we created this guide and checklist, to help you stay organized, avoid costly mistakes, and build a process that supports growth until you're ready to partner with a 3PL (third-party logistics provider).
Let’s see when sticking with in-house for your eCommerce startup might be a good idea.
Why Many D2C eCommerce Startups Choose to Fulfill In-House at First
If you're just getting started, you're probably better off packing boxes yourself at first. In fact, trying to outsource too early can be expensive, and therefore restrictive.
Here are six clear signs that fulfilling orders yourself (at least for now) is the smarter, more sustainable choice.
Low Order Volume
At low volumes, it’s usually faster and cheaper to pack boxes yourself. You don’t need the overhead or complexity of a third-party partner just yet.
You’re Trying to Keep Costs Down
Startups need to stay lean. Fulfilling in-house helps avoid 3PL minimums, storage fees, and setup costs while you validate your business model.
Storage Needs
If your inventory fits in a garage, spare room, or small storage unit, there's no reason to pay for commercial warehouse space before you need it. Skip the overhead and stay nimble while you focus on product-market fit.
Building Processes from Scratch
Packing your own boxes forces you to create systems (checklists, timelines, inventory routines) that become invaluable when you’re ready to outsource later.
Flexibility and Learning
If your box contents change frequently or you’re still dialing in the customer experience, doing fulfillment yourself gives you more flexibility to make adjustments on the fly.
Learn What You’re Looking for in a 3PL Partner
Handling fulfillment in-house gives you firsthand insight into your operations. When it’s time to scale, you’ll know exactly what you need in a 3PL partner.
So, if you’re not ready to outsource just yet, Coast to Coast Fulfillment has put together a handy resource to help up-and-coming D2C and eCommerce brands build a fulfillment process they can feel confident in —and grow with— until it’s time to team up with a 3PL.
What You Need For In-House D2C Fulfillment
Getting started is simple. You must first determine where your fulfillment space will be and what supplies you will need. Then, you can use our In-House Fulfillment Checklist to optimize your workspace to support your fulfillment.
Space Planning
Choose a space that’s affordable and gives you room to grow. Some options are:
Spare Room
Ideal for low-volume fulfillment, offering a clean, climate-controlled environment.
Basement
Great for keeping inventory out of sight, with plenty of space for shelving and packing stations.
Garage
A convenient and accessible space that can be transformed into a functional mini-warehouse with some organization.
Storage Unit
A great option for larger order volumes or oversized products, offering more space while keeping overhead costs manageable.
Must-Have Supplies
Here’s a list of must-have supplies for in-house fulfillment:
Boxes or mailers
Void fill
Labels
Tape
Scale
Printer
Consider these optional tools to make your in-house fulfillment faster and more efficient
Barcode scanner
Racking
Carts
Worktables
The D2C In-House Fulfillment Checklist
The D2C In-House Fulfillment Checklist is designed for early-stage D2C and eCommerce brands that are ready to get serious about fulfillment. Maybe your order volume is starting to grow, or you’re tired of scrambling to pack and ship without a real system.
Either way, this checklist will walk you through how to set up your space, organize your inventory, streamline your packing process, and create a more professional operation. By the time you’re finished, you’ll have created a fulfillment process that supports growth, increases speed, reduces errors, and frees more time to focus on what matters—building your brand.
Best of all, the checklist is completely free. At Coast to Coast Fulfillment, we’re more than a trusted 3PL partner—we’re also a resource for growing D2C brands. We’ve packed this guide with the same tips and tricks we’d use ourselves, so you can get off to a strong start. Whether you're fulfilling from home or preparing to scale, we're here to help you deliver a seamless customer experience—no matter what stage you're in.
What You’ll Learn
Space Planning and Must Have Supplies
Learn how to set up your fulfillment space with the tools and layout you need to keep things organized, accurate, and scalable.
Setting Up Your D2C Fulfillment and Packing Workflow
Develop a step-by-step system for packing and shipping that improves consistency, reduces errors, and saves serious time.
Managing Inventory and Relevant Technology
Staying on top of inventory ensures you never run out of stock, mis-ship an item, or lose track of what you’ve got on hand.
Nailing the Unboxing Experience
Your packaging is part of your marketing, customer retention strategy, and brand storytelling. A memorable unboxing experience can turn one-time buyers into life-long customers (and brand advocates).
Shipping Strategies
Choosing the right carrier and shipping strategy can significantly cut costs and improve delivery speed, especially when margins are tight.
Handling Customer Service & Returns In-House
Build systems for smooth, in-house customer support and hassle-free returns that keep your customers coming back.
Signs You've Outgrown In-House Fulfillment
Upgrading to a 3PL is a natural next step for many growing D2C eCommerce brands. Knowing when to make the switch can help you avoid burning out, eliminate bottlenecks, and prevent errors that slow down your momentum. If any of the signs below sound familiar, it might be time to reach out to Coast to Coast Fulfillment.
You're spending more time packing orders than marketing or product development
Order surges throw your team into scramble mode
You’ve maxed out your space and need room to grow
You want to expand into retail, B2B, or international orders
You're ready to focus on growth, not logistics
At Coast to Coast Fulfillment, we help growing D2C eCommerce brands streamline their operations and take the stress out of order fulfillment. Whether you need fast, accurate shipping, custom kitting and assembly, or real-time inventory management, our experienced team has you covered.
We make it easier for you to focus on product development, marketing, and scaling, while we handle logistics. When you're ready to go beyond in-house fulfillment, book a free consultation with one of our specialists to see how Coast to Coast Fulfillment can help take your D2C brand to the next level.