K-Beauty ODM Inquiry Guide — 16 Items Manufacturers Ask Before Quoting
May 18, 2026
TL;DR
When you first contact a Korean ODM manufacturer, you usually get this reply:
"Please share your product concept and order quantity so we can provide a quote."
But that alone is not enough. To generate an internal request to their development, raw materials, and production teams, manufacturers need 16 pieces of information. Miss one, and you get: "We'll follow up after checking further" — which means a 1–2 week delay.
This guide lists those 16 items split into required / optional, with examples.
1. Working Product Name — Required
Used as the internal project code. Even a placeholder name works.
Example: "Eye Cream A", "Hydrating Serum V2"
2. Distribution Channel — Required
Where you sell determines formula stability, packaging, and specification requirements.
| Channel | Impact |
|---|---|
| Online (DTC, Amazon) | Shipping shock resistance, temperature stability |
| Offline (multi-brand stores, drugstores) | Display appearance, preservation |
| Duty-free / department stores | Premium formula, unit price |
| B2B (hotel, spa) | Bulk packaging |
3. Export Countries — Required
Each country has different banned ingredients, registration processes, and labeling standards.
- USA (MoCRA): Cosmetic registration required. SPF products classified as OTC drugs.
- EU: 1,328 banned substances. CPNP registration.
- Japan: Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Act standards. Kanji ingredient names.
- Southeast Asia: Country-by-country ASEAN Cosmetic Directive compliance.
The more countries you list upfront, the more constrained the formula — but not specifying them now means overhauling the formula later.
4. Target Age and Gender — Optional (but impactful)
Determines skin type orientation and functional direction.
Example: "Women in their early 30s, office workers, sensitive skin"
5. Volume and Container Spec — Required
Directly tied to formula development and filling line setup.
| Item | Example |
|---|---|
| Fill quantity | 30ml, 50g |
| Container type | Glass pump / airless / tube |
| Formulation type | Aqueous serum / O/W cream / gel |
If the container isn't finalized, a directional note is fine: "Planning airless pump, 30ml."
6. Target Cost — Required
Without this, manufacturers don't know what ingredient tier to design toward.
- Lower cost = lower grade raw materials
- Higher cost = high-function, high-purity ingredients possible
- "TBD" = no formula direction = delayed quote
Example: "Fill cost target KRW 2,000–3,000 per unit"
7. Functional Claims — Required
In Korea, certain claims trigger functional cosmetic classification under the MFDS, which changes approval costs and timelines significantly.
| Claim | MFDS functional? |
|---|---|
| Wrinkle improvement | ✅ Yes |
| Brightening / whitening | ✅ Yes |
| UV protection (SPF) | ✅ Yes |
| Moisturizing, skin texture | ❌ No |
| Pore care, soothing | ❌ No |
8. Vegan — Optional
Determines raw material sourcing scope.
- Vegan: Excludes all animal-derived ingredients (squalene, collagen, carmine, etc.); separate certification process required
- Not vegan: Broader ingredient options
9. Concept Ingredients — Optional
The ingredients you want to include or emphasize in marketing.
Example: "0.1% retinol, triple hyaluronic acid complex, peptides"
Specifying concentrations lets the manufacturer estimate raw material costs immediately. Name only means more manufacturer discretion.
10. Texture Characteristics — Optional
Describe it however feels natural.
Example: "Instantly absorbed when applied, no stickiness, silky finish"
Listing a reference product is far more precise.
11. Reference Product — Optional (highly useful if available)
Example: "Innisfree Green Tea Serum texture, but different scent"
Manufacturers can analyze commercial products to quickly establish a formula direction.
12. Fragrance — Optional
- Fragrance-free: Targets sensitive skin, reduces cost
- Specified scent: Source from a fragrance supplier or use the manufacturer's library
- Essential oils: Natural scent + functional image, higher cost
13. Restricted Ingredients — Optional (required if applicable)
Example: "Paraben-free, sulfate-free, no artificial fragrance"
More restrictions narrow formula options and may increase unit cost.
14. Expected Order Volume — Required
Determines filling line allocation and raw material sourcing unit size.
| MOQ Range | Meaning |
|---|---|
| < 1,000 units | Limited to Private Label / off-the-shelf formula |
| 1,000–5,000 units | Standard ODM range |
| 5,000+ units | Dedicated line allocation negotiable |
Including first order + estimated annual volume lets manufacturers propose long-term pricing.
15. Target Launch Date — Required
Used to back-calculate from ODM lead time (8–12 weeks) to determine when development must start.
- Undecided launch date → lower manufacturer priority
- Very tight timeline (under 4 weeks) → off-the-shelf formulas only
Example: "Target launch September 2026"
16. Other Requests — Optional
Certifications (EWG Green Grade, COSMOS ORGANIC, etc.), packaging preferences, sample quantity, NDA requirements.
Pre-Send Checklist
Check these 5 items before sending your brief:
- At least one export country specified?
- Target cost stated as a number?
- Order volume is concrete?
- Decision made on functional claim classification?
- Target launch date included?
Missing any of these = "We'll follow up after checking further" in response.
Auto-Fill Your Brief via AI Chat
Talk through your product concept in the Totaro AI chat and the system automatically extracts these items from the conversation and fills in the inquiry form. Click "Write ODM Brief" at the bottom of the chat window to see what's been captured.