How the First Order Quantity Calculator works
The first order has to last until the second one arrives. That means covering the reorder lead time plus a safety margin plus however many months of sales you want to hold. Order less and you stock out during launch, exactly when ranking momentum matters most; order much more and cash sits in the warehouse.
If the supplier's MOQ is higher than the cover quantity, the calculator shows how many surplus units the MOQ forces on you.
Formula
- Cover days = Lead time + Safety days + Months of cover × 30
- Cover units = Daily sales × Cover days
- Recommended quantity = max(MOQ, Cover units)
- Investment = Quantity × (Unit cost + Shipping per unit)
Example
5 units/day needs 745 units for 149 days of cover; that beats the 500 MOQ, so order 745 (about $4,620), roughly 5 months of stock.
Frequently asked questions
How do I estimate daily sales before launch?
Use a research tool's sales estimate for comparable listings and take 30–50% of it for your first months.
Why 3 months of cover?
It balances stockout risk against cash and storage. Fast-moving, cheap products can hold less; long lead times (sea freight) need more.