Amostimeline · GMP / ISO 22716 laboratory · FDA FEI 3015135152
Toll manufacturing for cosmetics: you supply the materials, we manufacture
What is included, what moves the price and what to send for a quote
Toll manufacturing (also called tolling or CMT) means your brand supplies the formula, raw materials and packaging, and the manufacturer provides the plant, the people and the quality system: receiving, compounding, filling, sealing, coding and packing. You pay only for the conversion. It is the model fast-growing brands use when they already own their formula and supply chain and need more capacity.
Toll manufacturing vs. full-service private label
| Toll manufacturing | Full-service private label | |
|---|---|---|
| Formula | Yours | Ours or co-developed |
| Raw materials and packaging | You buy and ship them | We source them |
| Price per unit | Conversion only (labor, QC, overhead) | Everything included |
| Best for | Brands with volume and an established supply chain | New and growing brands |
| Your control | Full control of suppliers and costs | Less purchasing work |
What a toll price should include
- Receiving, sampling and inspection of your materials, and inventory control with lot traceability.
- Weighing and compounding the bulk (hot or cold process), with in-process checks: pH, viscosity, appearance and odor.
- Filling and sealing (tubes, bottles or jars), capping, batch coding and expiry.
- Case packing, palletizing and shipping documents.
- Batch records under GMP / ISO 22716, retained samples and microbiological release testing.
What usually is not included: the materials themselves, freight, import duties, stability studies and third-party testing. Ask every manufacturer for the same scope, or you will compare prices that do not match.
What moves the price per unit
- Batch size and run length: longer runs dilute set-up and cleaning time.
- Filling speed and container type: tubes need a filler-sealer; jars and pumps need different tooling.
- Number of variants (fragrances, labels, sizes): each changeover costs line time.
- Secondary packaging such as cartons or kits.
- Your release specifications and testing frequency.
What to send for a quote
- Formula or INCI list and the percentage of water and heat-sensitive ingredients.
- Specifications (pH, viscosity, appearance) and your QC release requirements.
- Packaging components with drawings or samples.
- A 6 to 12-month forecast and preferred lot size.
- Target start date.
Lead times and ramp-up
A typical sequence is: technical review of the brief, a pilot batch with your own materials and packaging for approval, and then regular production lots. The pilot is the step that catches viscosity changes at scale and filling or compatibility issues before they cost a full batch. Read more in our formulator-led development lab.
Manufacturing in the Dominican Republic for U.S. brands
Our plant in Santo Domingo is GMP / ISO 22716 certified and registered with the U.S. FDA (FEI 3015135152), with a U.S. entity in New York. Sea freight to South Florida takes days, not weeks. Two things to plan early: U.S. import duties on finished goods from the Dominican Republic (check the current rate with your customs broker), and the customs regime for your materials entering the Dominican Republic for re-export, which we review with you. See also our contract manufacturing services and curly hair products we manufacture.
Under MoCRA, who is responsible?
Your brand remains the responsible person for product listing, labeling, safety substantiation and adverse event reporting. The manufacturer provides the registered facility, batch records and GMP compliance. A written quality agreement sets out who does what.
Frequently asked questions
What is toll manufacturing in cosmetics?
The brand supplies formula, raw materials and packaging; the manufacturer receives them, compounds, fills, seals, codes and packs, and charges only for the conversion.
What does a toll manufacturing price include?
Usually receiving and inspection, compounding, filling and sealing, coding, packing and batch QC. Materials, freight, duties and stability testing are usually excluded.
How long does it take to start?
After the technical review, a pilot batch with your own materials is made for approval; regular production starts once it is approved and materials are in stock.
Can you scale with a fast-growing brand?
Yes. Capacity grows with additional shifts and filling equipment, planned against your forecast.
Who is the responsible person under MoCRA?
The brand. The manufacturer provides the FDA-registered facility, GMP batch records and a quality agreement.
Who writes this guide?
Juan Román Sánchez, a chemical engineer with more than 30 years formulating hair and personal care products, and Technical Director of Amostimeline, a GMP / ISO 22716 certified laboratory in Santo Domingo Este, Dominican Republic, registered with the FDA (FEI 3015135152).
Need more capacity for your brand?
Send us your brief and forecast and we will reply with an initial estimate.
Related:
👉 Cosmetic contract manufacturer in the Dominican Republic
👉 Private label hair care manufacturer
👉 Private label curly hair products
👉 Maquila por servicio (español)