MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity)
The smallest quantity of a product a supplier will manufacture or sell in a single order, expressed as a unit count.
MOQ is the standard manufacturing industry term for a minimum order quantity -- the smallest batch size a supplier is willing to produce or ship. It is usually expressed per SKU (e.g. 500 units of one flavor or formula), not as a total order value.
MOQ is the term to ask about directly when a supplier's marketing says "low minimum" or "no minimum" without a number attached. A supplier can technically have "no order minimum" in dollars while still enforcing a 1,000-unit MOQ per SKU.
Example
A capsule manufacturer sets a 1,000-unit MOQ per formula, meaning a buyer must order at least 1,000 bottles of a single product to place a custom order.
Worth Knowing
MOQ can differ between a stock (pre-formulated) product and a fully custom formula. Custom formulas almost always carry a higher MOQ than white-label stock products.