Move once you have traction and a specific reason to be different that a factory's stock catalogue can't give you, a proprietary actives blend, a patentable mechanism, a category-defining format. Contract manufacturing needs real volume to make sense economically (higher MOQs, R&D cost, longer lead times), so most serious Indian brands ride private label for 6-12 months before graduating.
3 resources, 1 India-specific, 2 link-checked.
Goes deeper than the beginner comparisons on the economics, where each model's MOQ, upfront investment and IP ownership actually diverge.
From rspinc.com by RSP
Focused specifically on formula ownership and control, the exact question founders ask once they realise 'exclusive' doesn't always mean 'owned'.
From wonnda.com by Wonnda
A real Indian founder story showing the private-label-to-own-manufacturing decision in action, when the couple couldn't find a clean/vegan skincare maker, they built the capability themselves.
From yourstory.com by YourStory (SMBStory)
The same ground, over in Build the product, our Starting Up track.
