Switching 3PL: a checklist that keeps orders moving

Updated 2026-10-31

Moving warehouses is mostly about timing. The stock has to be somewhere sellable every single day, and the old 3PL isn't always in a hurry to help you leave.

Here's the order we'd do it in.

Before you tell anyone

Read your current contract. Notice period, exit fees, who owns the packaging stock, and what they charge to pick stock out for transfer.
Pull your own performance numbers for the last few months. You'll want them for the new SLA and they help if there's a dispute about fees.
Pick a quiet period to move. Not right before your biggest sale.

Choosing the new one

Send the same order profile to a few 3PLs and compare like for like. Our comparison guide and list of questions help here. You can start a shortlist in the 3PL directory.

Plan the stock move

Agree a cut-over date with both warehouses.
Send a first batch of your best sellers to the new warehouse early, so you can ship from there on day one.
Let the old warehouse ship the long tail until the rest arrives.
Get a stock count from both sides and compare it to Shopify.

Integration and testing

Connect the new 3PL to Shopify and place real test orders. Check that orders reach them, that tracking comes back into Shopify, and that stock levels sync the right way. Check what happens with bundles, gift notes and split shipments.

The first month

Watch dispatch times daily for the first couple of weeks. That's when problems show up. Keep the old 3PL's final invoice and stock report until everything is reconciled.

If you track your 3PL in ForthMatch, you can see the before and after side by side, since the app compares both against the same SLA.

Questions people ask

How long does it take to switch 3PL?

It depends on your stock volume and notice period. Plan for the contract notice period plus time for the stock transfer and testing. Moving best sellers first lets you ship from the new warehouse earlier.

Can I keep selling while I switch 3PL?

Yes, if you split the stock. Ship best sellers from the new warehouse once they arrive, and let the old warehouse ship the rest until the transfer is done.