Shopify Ops Glossary

3PL (Third-Party Logistics)

An outsourced fulfillment partner that stores, picks, packs, and ships orders on your behalf.

Definition

A 3PL provider takes over the physical fulfillment of your orders — receiving inventory at their warehouse, storing it, and fulfilling orders as they come in from your Shopify store.

Why It Matters for Shopify Brands

Moving to a 3PL typically becomes worthwhile at 50–100 orders per day. Benefits: faster shipping (major 3PLs have strategic warehouse locations), more time for brand-building, and lower fulfillment cost at scale.

Benchmarks

3PL costs include storage fees ($0.50–$2.00/cubic foot/month), pick fees ($0.20–$1.00/item), and packing fees. Compare to the fully-loaded cost of in-house fulfillment.

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