Learn To Make A ProductTM Support Plans
The most comprehensive guidance available for bringing a product to life
STANDARD PLAN
$497
/month
2 Hrs Private Consulting
Email, Phone & Video Support
Use time whenever/however you want
< 2 Day Response Time
Product Launch Framework
Template Library
Factory & Vendor Lists
STARTER PLAN
$297
/month
1 Hr Private Consulting
Phone, Video & Email Support
Use time whenever/however you want
< 2 Day Response Time
Product Launch Framework
Template Library
Factory & Vendor Lists
PRO PLAN
$797
/month
5 Hrs Private Consulting
Email,Phone & Video Support
Use Time However/Whenever You Want
< 24 Hr Response Time
Product Launch Framework
Template Library
Factory & Vendor Lists
Your Plan Includes:
When you sign up, you'll receive our Product Launch Map, which outlines the entire process of launching a product-based business.
You’ll be able to see the big picture with clarity, along with each step you need to take to design, source, and launch your product. This checklist covers prototyping, sourcing, business set up, legal considerations, packaging, shipping, photography, building a website and much more. Use it as a master plan for your launch and you’ll be light years ahead of everyone operating without a plan!
The biggest value in joining Learn To Make A Product is having 24/7 access to your own personal, one-on-one consultant (at a fraction of the cost of actually having a full-time consultant!)
Our plans are designed so that you can get support (by phone, video or email) whenever you need help. Forget hour-long call blocks or inconvenient office hours… you can ask questions whenever you have them, with no time-minimum.
This allows time to “drip” off your package throughout the month, meaning that your time stretches very far!
Don’t make the mistake of entering a new industry and trying to figure things out totally on your own. This almost always translates to lost time and money! By investing in expert guidance, you’ll go further and faster, make fewer errors, and launch your product to success.
Here is a (non-exhaustive) list of everything we can cover with your support time:
Company Set Up:
Choosing a business structure, Formally outlining your product concept/business model, Basic financial management, Intellectual property considerations, Sales licenses and More!
Building A Brand:
Where to find affordable design solutions (designer referrals available!), Creative direction with logos, taglines, brand messaging etc, Reviewing/negotiating branding proposals, Competitive analysis, Proof of concept and more.
Strategy:
Budgeting, Setting a Target Price, Deciding between domestic and overseas production and more.
Product Design:
Outlining design "to-do's" for your specific project, Creating a design brief, Where to find design partners (vendor referrals available!), Reviewing/negotiating design proposals, Best practices for carrying out development work, Testing prototypes and more.
Sourcing:
Finding factories and suppliers (factory referrals available!), Vetting potential partners, Negotiating minimums and pricing and more.
Packaging & Labeling:
Cost considerations when choosing packaging, Packaging design, Understanding labeling requirements, Finding tag and label vendors (vendor referrals available!), UPC codes and more.
Production:
Test runs, Outlining pre-production tasks, How to properly manage production, Understanding payment terms, Issuing purchase orders and more.
Quality Control & Testing:
Making a quality control plan, Third party "QC" (vendor referrals available!), Understanding CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) requirements, Required and optional testing (lab referrals available!) and more.
Shipping & Logistics:
Choosing a shipping company (vendor referrals available!), Navigating importing, Understanding tariffs, Finding a small batch warehouse (vendor referrals available!), Fulfillment by Amazon, and more.
Costs & Pricing:
Outlining "Cost of Goods Sold", Choosing a pricing strategy, Establishing profit margins and more.
Sales Channel Set Up:
Best e-commerce practices, Finding website developers, copywriters, product photographer etc (vendor referrals available!), Establishing wholesale terms, Third party resellers (Amazon, Etsy etc), Creating a launch plan, Digital marketing support (vendor referrals available!) and more.
Funding:
Crowdfunding considerations, Non-traditional funding methods, Accelerator programs and more!
Launch Plan:
Choosing best-fit channels to market your product, finding marketing partners (referrals available!), media pitches, and more.
Finding the right partners to make your product a reality is hard work. How do you find the best people? How do you know if their pricing is fair? And who can you really trust with your time and money?
When you join Learn To Make A Product, you get access to our network of manufacturers and creative professionals.
Do you know where to find the right fabric for your product? Where to get super-affordable product photos? How to get consumer feedback in minutes? We'll give you resources like these and MUCH MORE!
We'll help you connect with the pros you need, and if we don’t have the right fit in our network, we give you clear instructions for locating the specific partners you need. We’ll also share insider tips for vetting partners and negotiating the best rates!
Get access to must-have templates for product entrepreneurs. Here are a list of the templates available in our library:
Cost Of Goods Sold:
Calculate the cost of making your product, your profit margins and more.
Competitive Research:
A template with the important info you should be getting from competitors.
Design Brief:
Create a formal outline of your design to share with factories and other partners. We show you everything you need to include.
Media Pitch:
Edit this swipe copy to pitch your brand to any media outlet.
Organize Sourcing Research:
Stay organized by tracking outreach, follow ups, findings and more when contacting factories and suppliers.
Supplier Contact Database:
Keep all your supplier's contact details handy!
Vetting Checklist:
Compare your factory options and end up with the best partner.
AND MORE!
Frequently Asked Questions
We’d love to chat! Set up a free consult here: https://Learntomakeaproduct.as.me/consult
An idea is actually the best place to start! At this stage you can do everything right from the beginning. We get far too many inquiries from people who have already made errors they regret - bad design decisions, disappointing suppliers, ineffective marketing campaigns etc. The earlier in the process we work together the better.
Yes! The main way we work with early-stage product entrepreneurs who have already launched is by conducting a Brand Audit. We will look at your supply chain, pricing, competition, website, branding, messaging, photography, and order experience, and then give you an overview of key takeaways, weak spots that need improvement, and specific to-do’s and next steps. We’ll also suggest vendors and resources to help you improve based on your budget.
Please contact support@learntomakeaproduct.com to discuss options for existing businesses.
Our platform is unique in several important ways:
- Unlike other services that require you to have monthly calls or use blocks of time at once, our help is “on-demand”. You can check it any time via phone or messenger, and there’s no minimum time amount. So if we spend 4 minutes and 20 second answering a question over email, or 10 minutes and 45 seconds on the phone, that’s all that comes off your support time! We’ve designed it this way so that you can get high-level advice - whenever you need it - in a cost and time efficient way.
- You are not limited to a certain manufacturing region! We’ll help you evaluate domestic versus overseas production and then guide you through the one that is right for you. You are not restricted to certain country, and you’ll be better informed knowing all of the pros and cons of various scenarios.
- Work with someone fully invested in your success. Our working relationship is not just about sharing technical advice; I understand the unique experience of running a company and all of the highs and lows that come with it. I’m here to coach you through each challenge you may face as a maker and help you come out on the other side feeling stronger and supported. (You can read more about my background here.)
- It’s affordable. Affordability is a relative term and of course not everyone can afford our packages, but we've designed them to be within reach for many new makers. You don't need to pay a consultant thousands of dollars or invest in an expensive program; because of the structure of our service, we can deliver value at a reasonable price.
- We help with more than just manufacturing! Production is where most people start, but it's just part of the puzzle! You need help with branding, business set up and launch strategies. We'll cover it all.
Yes, you’ll be working one-on-one with Liz as you launch your project!
Depending on the package you choose, you'll get 90 minutes or 5 hrs of personal support each month. You can access support via phone or email. There is no minimum time requirement for each call or message. If you only need 5 minutes of time to get some important info, that is all that is deducted from your package.
This system is specifically designed to give you high-level, ongoing support, whenever you need it. We want to move your project forward and complete actual tasks like finding trustworthy parters, negotiating prices, figuring out your packaging and so on. This is best accomplished by frequent contact rather than infrequent calls with a set time duration (which is how most consulting is done). We are here to help you get stuff done!
Yes! We have spent years finding and building relationships high-quality, reasonably priced vendors who are great for new and early-stage produce entrepreneurs. We are happy to introduce you to these people to help you succeed.
Yes, we can discuss funding options, however remember that there is no magic wand! We’ll discuss friends and family funding, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer lending and other strategies, as well as the ‘slow and steady’ approach where you self-fund over longer periods of time.
Most clients work with us for 6-12 months, however that is not a requirement. Some people come in for just a month or two to get high-level advice or introductions that move their project forward. There are other people who have been with us for 2-3 years as they grow their business because they find the insight and guidance valuable. However you choose to use the service is up to you.
We recommend that, if you are serious about launching a product, you consider at least one month of the 1 hour package. There are important, basic things you should know when it comes to protecting your time and money, and we can almost guarantee you will save this money in the long run by getting some initial guidance.
We are sourcing experts and have a wide network so it is very likely you will find a factory with our help. That said, we do not guarantee that you will meet partners, as each project is unique and sometimes certain design or budgetary requirements make it difficult to source a particular item. In this scenario, we will likely make suggestions about how to adjust your product or pricing goals to be more production-friendly.
Yes, this is absolutely something we’ll cover. We’ll discuss pricing, shipping considerations and other factors that will help you make a decision about if you should produce domestically or abroad. Sometimes we may suggest a hybrid strategy, where you use both domestic and overseas suppliers, and other times it may make sense to take a phased approach, where you start off manufacturing domestically with a plan to outsource in the future.
Probably, yes! Our framework is designed for a wide range of consumer products including apparel and sewn goods, home decor, toys, pet products, jewelry, furniture and more. We don’t service food, high-tech electronics, or heavy machinery.
We use software to track your time used down the second! If it takes just a few minutes to get you the info you need, that’s all that comes off your package. This is part of what makes our service unique - you get advice when you need it at a fraction of the cost of a full-time employee or consultant.
Our packages are designed to be flexible! You can upgrade, downgrade, pause or cancel your membership at any time. As long as you cancel before the date your plan renews, you will not be charged for the next cycle.
We do not typically sign NDA’s. We hear from lots of people and do not want to be liable for two ideas being the same! That said, if you have privacy concerns we encourage you to reach out directly to discuss at support@learntomakeaproduct.
We have worked with hundreds of makers like yourself and developed a proprietary framework for taking a product idea from concept to launch. We are experienced in a variety of product categories and with both domestic and overseas supply chains. Our process has been used or featured by MIT, Forbes, Babson, General Assembly, HOW Design University and other leading organizations.
Testimonials
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"I can 100% say that I would not have made it as far and as fast as I did with my product idea if it wasn't for Learn To Make A Product. I got help with everything: sourcing, vetting, comparing quotes, choosing materials, quality control, and more!"
Suzanne, Private Packs
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Hiring Liz is hands down the most important decision I’ve made for my business. She has laser focus and is the most resourceful person I’ve ever met. I’m amazed at what I’ve been able to accomplish with her help, and I no longer feel alone in my efforts!
Corrin, Little Love Jar
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"You’ll get the contacts necessary to launch your business and learn where to invest your money so that you don’t waste it. Totally recommend this service!"
Javier, 1205
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"I cannot speak highly enough about this service.The knowledge and guidance I’ve gotten has connected me with great factories and also helped me get the exact product that I expected and invested in. The support has been immeasurable, worth every penny and more."
Carey, LotsaBravePeople
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"With Liz’s guidance I found awesome vendors for my unique product. I feel like i’ve increased the probability of my project’s success by 100%!"
Colette, Thermal Pockets
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"I love being able to check in anytime I have an issue with my business. Liz is a brilliant sounding board and her advice has been priceless. She has a rare sense sense of sound business and marketing judgement, matched by great intuition. She is the ultimate professional with a network worth its weight in gold... not to mention a pure joy to work with!"
Lynn, Lynn Taylor Belts
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"Having access to this knowledge is like having my very own production department. I feel like someone is looking out for my best interest every step of the way!"
Elyse, Elyse Maguire
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"If you want knowledgeable industry expertise, look no further! I will never forget my official launch date when my goal was made a reality. Many thanks!"
Bryanette, Lemonade and Sweet Tee
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"The launch framework helped us move step-by-step to get our product built and ready to be manufactured. We’re extremely grateful!"
Adam, Badass Backpacks
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"I felt so lost and exposed with my lack of knowledge in the apparel manufacturing industry. Liz and her team gave me a feeling of security and real, practical advice. I have a very small budget and I so glad I invested in this! I think I would have quit had it not been for Liz’s guidance. She tells it like it is, but in a gentle, kind, professional way. She's prompt and quick to respond. A great resource, with lots of knowledge and connections. Highly recommend!"
Natalie, Pants for Peanuts
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"As a newbie in the design world, this info was literally a lifesaver while going through the manufacturing process. It helped me figure out where to start and connected me to amazing resources!"
Bianca, Magnifeetcent
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"The best decision I ever made when starting my business was hiring Liz. She is such an asset to have on your team when navigating the manufacturing industry. Without her guidance, weekly check-ins, advice and coaching, I would still be dreaming about my business. I'm so grateful for the support of her and her team!"
Ashley, Citrus & Sage
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"With Liz’s help I found a factory and got the information and confidence I needed throughout the vetting and negotiating process to assure it was the right home for my business."
Colin, Blue Grit
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"As someone who knew what I wanted but was completely foreign to the manufacturing process, this guide walked me through each step and I could not be happier with where I am."
Ryann, Charlie Rowan
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"Liz's deep knowledge of manufacturing is invaluable for entrepreneurial makers! She knows her stuff and equally important, she knows how to make it understandable for others."
Cyndie, The Collective (Of Us)
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"This service has been awesome! We spent months trying to do a sourcing project. We also spent a bunch of money on a consulting firm to help us do sourcing. Liz and her team outperformed both of those projects in 2-3 hours. It was really amazing. We will continue to use her help whenever we source something new."
Josh, Sudden Coffee
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"Liz and her team have been wonderful to work with. Without having Learn To Make A Product guide me through starting this business, I would be lost. Very grateful to have found this service!!!"
Erin, Pittie Clothing Co.
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"Liz’s deep knowledge of what I needed to do - and her teaching me the steps to get there - have been fantastic."
Mary, Be Kind Bra
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"I could not have found a better advisor, counselor, and teacher. There’s no one better than Liz!"
Bruce, Lund Leather
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"My vision was in its infancy stage when I was lucky enough to cross paths with Learn To Make A Product. This knowledge and expertise saved me so much time and money!! I’m so grateful to Liz and her team!!"
Heidi, Newborn Nest
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"I would strongly recommend that one of the first investments you make, BEFORE you launch a product, is to work with an industry consultant. It will save you time and money! I could NOT be where I am today without Liz’s support and industry experience."
Oksana, Blue Surfer Girl