How Much Does It Cost to Start a Skincare Line in Australia?
You can start a small skincare line in Australia for well under $1,000 in product costs if you use white label manufacturing. A three-product range (cleanser, serum and moisturiser) costs about $390 for 10 of each from us, plus around $60 for samples first. Most of a realistic launch budget goes on everything around the product: branding, photography, a website, insurance and marketing. A custom formula changes the picture: expect development and testing costs and a first run of around 1,000 units per product.
Quick answer: product costs for a 3-product range
- Test launch, 10 of each (30 units): about $390, plus about $59 for samples
- Small launch, 50 of each (150 units): about $1,755
- Growth order, 500 of each (1,500 units): about $11,700
Our white label prices in AUD including GST, formula, packaging, label printing and application included; shipping extra. November 2026.
The example range
To keep the numbers real, we've priced a simple three-step routine from our white label range:
| Product | Sample | 10-49 units | 50-99 units | 500+ units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hydrating Ceramide Cleanser, 125 mL | $22.99 | $14.99 | $13.50 | $9.00 |
| Hyaluronic Acid Serum, 30 mL | $16.99 | $10.99 | $9.90 | $6.60 |
| Daily Skin Defence Cream, 50 mL airless | $18.99 | $12.99 | $11.70 | $7.80 |
| One of each | $58.97 | $38.97 | $35.10 | $23.40 |
Prices include the formula, the bottle or jar, your label printed and applied, and the SDS, CoA and PIF for each product. Volume discounts also apply at 100 and 250 units. Check each product page for current prices.
Three launch budgets
1. Test launch: about $1,000 to $2,500 all in
For a salon, clinic, studio or creator who already has customers.
- Samples of each product: $59
- 10 of each product (30 units): $390
- Label design: $0 if you design it yourself in our free Canva templates, or a few hundred dollars for a designer
- Business set-up (ABN, business name, trade mark search): mostly free or low-cost; registering a trade mark costs more
- Product liability insurance: varies by insurer and turnover
- Photography and a simple online store: from a few hundred dollars if you do it yourself
2. Small launch: about $4,000 to $8,000 all in
For a new online brand that needs stock for marketing and a few stockists.
- 50 of each product (150 units): $1,755
- Professional label design and product photography
- Website build and launch marketing (ads, influencer product seeding)
- Optional printed boxes (see below)
3. Growth order: from about $12,000 in product
For a brand that has proven its products and is buying for retail or wholesale.
- 500 of each product (1,500 units): $11,700, a unit cost of $7.80 on average
- Printed boxes, screen printing (from 1,000 units) or a fragrance-free version (from 500 units) become worth considering
The "all in" ranges are rough guides for the costs around the product, which depend heavily on how much you do yourself. The product costs are our actual prices.
The costs new brands forget
Printed boxes
Boxes are quoted and supplied by our box partner, The Packaging People, who already have our bottle and jar dimensions. Printing takes about 4 to 6 weeks express or 10 to 12 weeks standard. If you'd like us to assemble and pack them, that's from $2 a unit; packing them yourself costs nothing extra from us. See Custom boxes.
Shipping
Shipping from our Gold Coast facility is quoted at checkout on weight and destination. Domestic orders go by Australia Post, and larger orders by freight.
GST
Our prices include GST. Once your turnover reaches $75,000 a year you must register for GST yourself and charge it on your sales; if you register earlier you can claim the GST on your stock back as a credit.
AICIS registration
If you buy finished products made in Australia, you generally don't need to register with AICIS. If you import cosmetics or ingredients, you do. For 2026-27 the lowest registration level costs $85.
Payment fees, discounts and returns
Card and platform fees, wholesale discounts for stockists, free samples for influencers and the odd damaged parcel all come out of your margin. Build them in from the start.
How to price your products
Work backwards from what your customer will pay, then check the margin covers everything above.
- Find your retail price by comparing products your customer already buys.
- Take out GST if you're registered: divide the retail price by 1.1.
- Subtract your landed unit cost: product, box, packing and inbound shipping per unit.
- Check what's left covers payment fees, marketing, your time and, if you sell through salons or shops, their margin.
Example: a 30 mL hyaluronic acid serum retailing at $49. At 10 units your product cost is $10.99 a unit; at 500+ it's $6.60. Selling direct, both leave room for fees and marketing. Selling wholesale to a salon at half the retail price ($24.50), the 500-unit price leaves a much healthier margin than the 10-unit price. That's usually the point to move up a volume tier.
White label vs custom formula: the cost difference
| White label | Custom (private label) formula | |
|---|---|---|
| Development | None: formula already developed | Quoted: lab work and sample rounds |
| Testing | Already done (stability, preservative efficacy) | Stability and preservative efficacy testing for your formula |
| First order | 10 units per product | Typically 1,000 units per product |
| Payment | Paid at checkout | Orders over 5,000 units: typically 50% deposit, 50% before shipment |
Many brands launch with white label, then invest in a custom version of their best seller once sales justify it. Send us a brief through our custom formulation service for a quote.
Ways to keep start-up costs down
- Start with two or three products, not a full range.
- Design your own labels in our free Canva templates (check the Label guide first).
- Choose one packaging style across the range so your photos and branding look consistent.
- Skip printed boxes for the first run.
- Reorder small and often until you know your sales.
- If you have your own packaging or supply salons, compare bulk prices from 1 to 20 L.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to start a skincare line in Australia?
With white label manufacturing, product costs for a three-product test range start at about $390 (10 units each) plus samples. A realistic launch including branding, photography and a website usually runs from about $1,000 to $8,000 depending on how much you do yourself. A custom formula costs more because of development, testing and a larger first run.
What's the cheapest way to start a skincare brand?
White label at a low MOQ: order samples, design your own label, launch two or three products at 10 units each and reorder as you sell.
Are there set-up fees for white label?
No. Our product page prices include the formula, packaging, label printing and application. There are no extra labelling or compliance charges.
How much does it cost to manufacture a custom skincare product?
It depends on the formula, actives, packaging and quantity. Expect development and testing costs plus a first run of around 1,000 units. Send us a brief for a quote.
Do prices include GST?
Yes, our listed prices are in Australian dollars and include GST. Shipping is calculated at checkout.
Prices are from our store in November 2026 and may change; product pages always show the current price. Cost ranges for services we don't provide are general guides only.
