"How much does a 3PL cost?" is the first question every ecommerce founder asks — and the hardest to get a straight answer to. Here's how pick and pack pricing actually works in Australia, and what to watch for.

The main components

Most 3PL pricing is built from a few parts. Pick and pack is the fee to pick each order's items and pack them ready to ship — Sendi's starts from $2.95 per order. Storage is a charge for the warehouse space your stock occupies, usually per pallet or shelf. Shipping is the carrier cost, often at rates lower than you'd get on your own thanks to the 3PL's volume. And receiving is a one-off cost to unload and check your stock when it arrives.

Why cost per order is the number that matters

Bundled quotes make comparison hard. The figure that actually matters is your all-in cost per order — pick, pack and ship combined. Ask every 3PL to quote it for your real order profile, then compare like for like.

Watch for hidden fees

Some providers add account fees, minimum monthly spends, or surcharges for peak periods. Ask directly whether there are any fees not shown on the quote. Sendi prices transparently, tailors pricing to your volume, and doesn't lock you into a contract.

Is it cheaper than doing it yourself?

Once you factor in packaging, postage, and — crucially — your own time, outsourcing is often cheaper than in-house fulfilment. Twenty hours a week packing orders is twenty hours not spent growing the business. Want your exact numbers? Get a free quote from Sendi and we'll calculate your true cost per order, down to the cent.