Hypothetical example: 3,000-unit imported skincare order, import-to-wholesale-sale calendar
| When | Event | Cash out | Cash in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 0 | Place order; pay 30% deposit on $18,000 supplier invoice | $5,400 | |
| Week 5 | Pay $12,600 balance so the supplier releases the shipment | $12,600 | |
| Week 6 | Ocean freight booked on the container | $2,100 | |
| Week 8 | Customs broker fee and import duties | $2,340 | |
| Week 9 | Goods arrive and are counted into the warehouse | ||
| Week 10 | Ship 1,200 units at $12.00 to wholesale accounts, net 30 | $0, invoice $14,400 | |
| Week 12 | Ship 1,000 units at $12.00, net 30 | $0, invoice $12,000 | |
| Week 14 | Ship 500 units at $12.00, net 30; first invoice collected | $14,400 | |
| Week 16 | Second invoice collected | $12,000 | |
| Week 18 | Third invoice collected | $6,000 | |
| Total | Landed cost $7.48 per unit on 3,000 units; 300 units left in stock | $22,440 | $32,400 |
All figures are hypothetical; collected sales of $32,400 less $22,440 paid out leaves $9,960 in cash plus 300 unsold units worth $2,244 at landed cost, before funding cost and operating expenses.
How should the supplier deposit be handled?
Treat the supplier deposit as the first commitment you cannot undo, and confirm the product specification, production date and refund terms before you send it.
Overseas beauty suppliers commonly ask for a deposit when the order is placed and the balance before the goods ship. In the example, a 30 percent deposit on an $18,000 invoice is $5,400, and the $12,600 balance follows five weeks later. Ask for a proforma invoice listing each SKU, quantity, unit price and ingredient or packaging specification.
Check that the supplier can supply the paperwork your market needs, such as ingredient lists and labeling. Rules for cosmetics are set by regulators, so confirm requirements with your customs broker or attorney. Our guides on supplier deposits and final balances and overseas payment before shipment go deeper on the payment side.
What are the transit and landed costs?
Landed cost is the factory price plus freight, duties, broker fees and anything else paid before the goods reach your shelf, and it is the figure your wholesale price must beat.
The hypothetical order costs $18,000 at the factory. Ocean freight adds $2,100, and the customs broker and duties add $2,340, for $22,440 in total. Across 3,000 units that is $7.48 a unit, compared with $6.00 on the supplier invoice. That is nearly 25 percent more than the sticker price, which is why quoting only the factory number can mislead you.
- Ocean or air freight, plus origin and destination handling
- Duties and any tariff classification fees
- Customs broker and bond fees
- Inland delivery to your warehouse
- Insurance on the cargo
Ask your broker for the duty classification before you place the order, and ask your accountant how to record the costs. Our freight and duty cash gap guide covers timing for these bills.
Which SKUs will actually sell?
Not every item in an imported order sells at the same speed, so rank your SKUs by confirmed demand before choosing quantities.
Start with reorders from existing accounts, then pre-orders and sample requests, and only then your guess about new accounts. A bestselling cleanser might justify 1,200 units, while a new serum from the same supplier deserves a smaller test quantity. If the supplier has a minimum order per SKU, that sets the floor. See our guide on minimum order quantity gaps for what to do when the minimum is larger than the demand you can prove.
In the example, 2,700 of 3,000 units sell during the first nine weeks after arrival, leaving 300 units, or 10 percent, in stock. Those 300 units are worth $2,244 at landed cost, but they are not cash, and you should plan for the possibility that they sell slowly or need a promotion.
When do wholesale receipts come in?
Wholesale receipts arrive after the goods do, so on a net 30 customer base the cash comes back roughly four weeks after each shipment.
The calendar shows $14,400 invoiced in week 10 and collected in week 14, $12,000 invoiced in week 12 and collected in week 16, and $6,000 invoiced in week 14 and collected in week 18. The total, $32,400, covers the $22,440 outlay. The most exposed stretch runs from week 8 to week 14, when all $22,440 is out and nothing has been collected.
Change your customer terms in the calendar to see the effect. If one large account moves to net 60, the last collection slips by four weeks. When the schedule works, review working capital for inventory deals and wholesale distributor funding, then apply with the proforma invoice and your calendar.
Frequently asked questions
Can funding cover a supplier deposit on an import order?
Many owners request funding for the deposit and balance together. Prime's range is $25,000 to $5,000,000, depending on the product and the business, and the funder that reviews your file decides what it will offer.
Which documents are useful for an import request?
Bring recent business bank statements, government-issued ID, a voided business check and the supplier's proforma invoice. Freight quotes and customer purchase orders help show the whole plan.
How do I compare funding cost with import savings?
Calculate the total repayment minus the cash received from your written offer, in dollars. Add that amount to the landed cost and check that your wholesale price still leaves a margin.
What if the shipment is delayed at the port?
Delays stretch the time your money is out, and may add storage or demurrage charges. Build a version of the calendar that is two to four weeks slower, and ask your broker which charges you could face.
Do I have to accept an offer after applying?
No. There is no obligation to accept an offer, and checking options does not affect the owner's personal credit score. Compare any offer to your calendar before you decide.
Describe your purchase and deadline
Share the proforma invoice and shipping dates, and a funder reviews the file.
Updated October 17, 2026 · Prime Funding Now Funding Team