Fulfillment Business: compare the models.
Look at the operating differences before comparing financial projections.
Back to all fulfillment business models| Model | Earns from | Capacity constraints | Key distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared Multi-Seller Fulfillment Warehouse | Storage position-period, order and additional pick | Storage positions, labor throughput and dispatch cutoffs | Combines custody with order-level labor and carrier handover, rather than storage alone. |
| Client-Warehouse Operating Team | Client contract-month, billed hour or service unit | Required shift coverage and agreed service levels | The paying customer is the host organization and the operator supplies defined physical coverage. |
| Physical Returns Processing Center | Processed return unit and approved added service | Inspection benches, repair capacity and disposition queues | The product is inspected and routed under client ownership rather than purchased for resale. |
| Storage-Only Warehouse Service | Occupied storage-unit-period | Usable storage positions and handling throughput | Storage sells custody and capacity rather than merchandise or professional treatment. |
Compare like with like
Use consistent periods, geographic assumptions, owner labor treatment and financing assumptions. These operating descriptions are not a profitability ranking.
Understand financial assumptions