Order minimums & cutoffs

Every supplier on LocalLine sets their own order requirements — how much you need to order to meet their minimums, and by when your order needs to be submitted to be included in the next delivery. Understanding these two things is essential to keeping your team's ordering smooth and predictable.

This article explains how minimums and cutoffs work, how to find them, and how to plan around them.

What order minimums are

An order minimum is the smallest order a supplier will accept from a buyer. Suppliers set minimums to make orders worth their time to pack, invoice, and deliver — particularly for small, direct-to-buyer wholesale.

Minimums apply only to the total order value (ex: $250), not the product quantity (ex: 50 cases). 

What cutoff times are

A cutoff time is the deadline for submitting an order to be included in a specific delivery date. Orders submitted before cutoff go into the upcoming delivery; orders submitted after cutoff roll into the next available fulfillment date.

Suppliers set cutoffs based on how much lead time they need for harvest, packing, and logistics. A produce supplier delivering on Wednesday might have a cutoff of Monday at noon. A meat supplier might need 5–7 days of lead time.

Cutoffs are always shown in the supplier's local time zone.

Finding a supplier's minimums and cutoffs

Each supplier's minimums and cutoffs are visible in several places: 

In your cart. As you build an order, the cart shows the running total for each supplier along with a visible warning if you're below minimum. You can't submit an order until all supplier minimums are met.

On the supplier's profile. From the Sourcing Network or your supplier list, click into any supplier's profile to see their full ordering requirements — including delivery schedule, cutoff windows, and minimums.

How cutoffs affect delivery dates

When you place an order, LocalLine assigns it to the next available fulfillment date based on the supplier's cutoff:

• If you order before cutoff → your order is included in the next scheduled delivery
• If you order after cutoff → your order rolls to the following fulfillment date

For example, if a supplier delivers every Wednesday with a Monday-noon cutoff:

• An order placed Monday at 11:00 AM → delivered that Wednesday
• An order placed Monday at 1:00 PM → delivered the following Wednesday

The delivery date is always shown at checkout, so your team knows exactly when the order will arrive before submitting.

What happens if you're below a minimum

If any supplier's portion of your cart is below their minimum order value, you'll see a warning at that supplier's cart section. You have three options:

• Add more items to reach the minimum
• Remove that supplier's items from the order entirely
• Reach out to the supplier if you have a specific arrangement that overrides the standard minimum

You can't submit an order that doesn't meet supplier minimums. Minimums are applied per supplier, not across your total cart — so a large order with one supplier doesn't offset being below minimum with another.

Planning your ordering around cutoffs

For multi-location operations ordering at scale, a few practices help avoid missed cutoffs:

• Build a standing weekly ordering calendar. Map each supplier's cutoff and delivery days so your team knows when to place orders for each.
• Set internal cutoffs earlier than supplier cutoffs. If a supplier's cutoff is Monday at noon, have your team's internal deadline be Sunday evening. This creates a buffer for review and adjustments.
• Use recurring orders for predictable purchases. For items your team orders every week, recurring orders eliminate the risk of missing cutoffs. See Recurring and standing orders.
• Communicate with high-volume suppliers about ordering rhythm. If you consistently order a large amount from a specific supplier, they may adjust their cutoff or delivery schedule to fit your operation.

Requesting exceptions

Occasionally you may need an exception — placing a rush order after cutoff, or ordering below minimum for a small trial. These are handled supplier by supplier:

1. Reach out to the supplier directly using the contact info on their profile
2. Discuss whether they can accommodate the exception
3. If yes, place the order in LocalLine as normal — the supplier can override cutoffs or minimums on their end

LocalLine doesn't route these requests automatically. They're a conversation between your team and the supplier.

Minimums, cutoffs, and multi-location ordering

If you operate multiple locations, minimums and cutoffs apply per location per supplier — not across your organization. This means:

• Each location must independently meet the supplier's minimum
• One location's order can't be combined with another location's to hit minimum
• Each location may have different cutoff and delivery dates depending on the supplier's routing

For high-volume buyers, some suppliers may offer negotiated minimums or consolidated delivery arrangements across locations. These are worked out directly with the supplier.

Need help?

For questions about specific supplier minimums, contact the supplier directly. For platform questions about how minimums and cutoffs are displayed or applied, contact sourcing@localline.ca.