GlossaryRetail & Inventory
Minimum Order Quantity
Also called: MOQ
What is Minimum Order Quantity?
Minimum order quantity, or MOQ, is the smallest quantity a supplier is willing to sell in a single order. It exists to make production or delivery worthwhile for them, and it constrains how finely a buyer can order.
Why Minimum Order Quantity matters
A high MOQ on a slow-moving item creates dead stock by design. It is often the real reason a shop has three years of some SKU sitting in the back.
How Minimum Order Quantity works in practice
Compare the MOQ against your monthly usage before agreeing to stock a line. Where the MOQ exceeds a few months of sales, negotiate, share the order with another buyer, or decline the line.
Frequently asked questions
Often yes, especially for a first order or in exchange for a longer commitment on faster-moving lines.