We use milestone-based pricing with fixed deliverables—so you know exactly what you're paying for and what you'll receive. Each phase (concept development, CAD engineering, prototyping) includes 2–4 iteration cycles to refine the design. If you need additional revisions beyond that, we quote them upfront so there are no surprises. This approach gives you complete control over scope and budget.

Tooling costs depend on several key factors: steel grade and material, part size and geometric complexity, number of cavities, surface texture requirements, and expected tool life (production volume). We provide transparent factory quotes and work with you on DFM (Design for Manufacturing) modifications that can reduce both cost and lead time. Our goal is to optimize tooling investment while ensuring quality and durability for your production needs.

We plan Landed Duty Paid (LDP) pricing early in the process by comparing shipping modes (air freight, LCL, FCL ocean freight), using our Duty Rate Offset approach to navigate tariff changes, and locking in logistics partners before purchase orders. This means you get accurate, all-in unit costs—including freight, duties, and fees—so you can budget confidently without hidden charges appearing later.

Yes, you retain full ownership of your designs and tooling. However, most clients choose to stay with IPS for production—and here's why: We manufacture significant volume across our network of vetted, audited Asia-Pacific factories. That portfolio leverage gives you volume pricing discounts, priority scheduling, and proven quality control programs from day one. While going solo might appear cheaper initially, IPS delivers lower total landed cost and substantially less risk over the product lifecycle.

Our manufacturing management covers factory coordination, quality control inspections, lab testing, compliance documentation, and local liaison services. We act as your on-the-ground team in Asia, handling communication barriers, time zone challenges, and cultural differences so you don't have to. This ensures production stays on schedule and quality standards are maintained throughout every run.

Budget varies by product complexity, but typical projects range from $20,000–$50,000 for one-time setup costs (design, engineering, tooling, setup) plus per-unit costs of $2–$15 for production. Use our interactive cost calculator above to estimate your specific project. We provide detailed Statements of Work with exact pricing once we understand your requirements—no surprise invoices.

We work on milestone-based payments for development phases, typically with deposits at project kickoff and payments upon delivery of each milestone (concept approval, engineering completion, prototype delivery, etc.). For production runs, standard terms are 50% deposit / 50% before shipment, though we can discuss alternatives based on order size and relationship history.

Yes. Higher volumes unlock better unit pricing through more efficient tooling (multi-cavity molds), optimized shipping (full container loads vs. LCL), and factory production scheduling benefits. We'll show you price breaks at different quantity tiers during quoting so you can plan your inventory strategy accordingly.

Timelines vary by complexity, but a typical product development cycle runs 4–8 months: 2–4 weeks for concept and industrial design, 3–6 weeks for engineering and prototyping, 6–10 weeks for tooling, 2–4 weeks for pilot production and approval, then 4–8 weeks for first production run and shipping. We provide detailed timelines in every Statement of Work.

Yes. IPS provides product liability insurance coverage at no additional cost as part of our manufacturing service. We also manage compliance requirements (FDA, FCC, CE marking, etc.) and can coordinate third-party testing and certification. This protects both you and your customers while ensuring your product meets all regulatory requirements for your target markets.

Minor changes can often be accommodated through tool modifications or texture adjustments. Major design changes typically require new tooling, which is why we invest heavily in the prototyping phase to catch issues early. Our iterative design process includes DFM reviews and prototype testing specifically to minimize the need for expensive tooling changes later.