5 Questions to Ask Before Ordering Custom Furniture from a Factory

Ordering custom furniture from a factory — especially overseas — requires due diligence. Whether you are a designer specifying for a hospitality project or a retailer building a private label line, these five questions will save you from costly mistakes.

1. What Is Your Minimum Order Quantity?

MOQs vary wildly. Some factories require 100 pieces per SKU, others will do 20. Clarify this before investing time in sampling.

2. Can You Provide Material Certifications?

For commercial projects, you need FSC certification for wood, BIFMA testing for durability, and CA TB 117 for fire safety. A reliable factory will have these ready.

3. What Is Your Production Lead Time?

Standard lead times range from 30-60 days after sample approval. Rush orders are possible but expect 15-25% surcharges.

4. How Do You Handle Quality Control?

Ask about in-line inspections, pre-shipment checks, and their defect rate. Factories with less than 2% defect rates are considered excellent.

5. Do You Offer Design-to-Production Support?

The best manufacturers can take your concept sketches and engineer them for production. Furniture Origin is one example of a factory that provides full OEM support from design through delivery.