A recipe built around your brief
One agreed formula/flavor, bench formulation, flavor development, and feasibility work.
THE FORMULATION STUDIO
Custom powder
formulation services.
From a good idea.
To your formula.
You bring the product you want to make. We work through the recipe, flavor, and serving experience with you—until there’s a completed formula you can build on.
Opens an email to discuss your brief. No order or payment is placed.
Physical taste samples Up to six feedback rounds Completed-formula ownership
GOOD ON PAPER IS THE START.
How does
it actually taste?
A promising ingredient list still has to become something your customer wants to use. That’s why physical taste samples and your feedback are part of the work.
MAKE YOUR FEEDBACK USEFUL
“Keep the citrus. Less sweet.
A cleaner finish.”
Tell us how you mixed it, what stood out, and what you’d change. We can work with that.
01 / A FORMULA TAKES SHAPE
One clear brief.
A thoughtful process.
There’s a reason we don’t jump straight to production. First, we build the recipe. Then you taste it, tell us what you think, and help shape the next version.
Tell us what a good product feels like.
The ingredient list is only part of it. Who is this for? When do they use it? What should it taste like? We start by turning your idea into a brief we can develop against.
- Your part
- Your intended customer, product experience, target serving, ingredient preferences, flavor direction, and budget.
- What moves forward
- A shared direction, with the must-haves and tradeoffs on the table.
A reference product is useful. Tell us what you like about it—and what you would change.
Agree on the work before it starts.
We confirm the formula and flavor, development targets, and deliverables. The $3,500 fee covers one agreed development scope. Once that scope is confirmed, the formulation invoice is payable in full before development begins.
- Your part
- Approval of the brief and scope, payment, and any materials needed for development.
- What moves forward
- A clear scope and a ready-to-start formulation project.
100% upfront applies to the formulation fee. Manufacturing is a separate scope with separately confirmed payment terms.
Make the idea work in the blend.
Bench formulation, flavor development, and feasibility review bring the ingredients, serving, and intended experience together. This is where we work through the practical decisions behind the recipe.
- Your part
- Answers to open ingredient questions and any required materials agreed in your brief.
- What moves forward
- A sample direction to evaluate against the agreed targets.
A crowded ingredient list can make flavor, serving size, and cost harder to balance. We work through those tradeoffs with you.
Better feedback makes the next sample better.
Physical taste samples let you experience the direction for yourself. Your scope includes up to six sample-and-feedback rounds. We use your feedback to refine the formula within the agreed brief.
- Your part
- Specific notes on sweetness, acidity, aftertaste, texture, and how you prepared the sample.
- What moves forward
- A refined formula shaped by clear, practical feedback.
Use the same serving, water amount, and preparation each time. “Less sweet, same citrus intensity” is more useful than “try something else.”
A finished recipe. A next step you choose.
Receive the completed formula, including its flavor system, and supporting bench documentation. You own that completed formula and may manufacture with StickPax or take it elsewhere.
- Your part
- Confirmation of the completed development direction and your plans for the next stage.
- What moves forward
- Your completed formula and bench documentation.
Production materials, manufacturing, testing, stability studies, and regulatory work are separately scoped. Third-party ingredient technology rights remain separate.
Tell us what a good product feels like.
The ingredient list is only part of it. Who is this for? When do they use it? What should it taste like? We start by turning your idea into a brief we can develop against.
- Your part
- Your intended customer, product experience, target serving, ingredient preferences, flavor direction, and budget.
- What moves forward
- A shared direction, with the must-haves and tradeoffs on the table.
A reference product is useful. Tell us what you like about it—and what you would change.
Agree on the work before it starts.
We confirm the formula and flavor, development targets, and deliverables. The $3,500 fee covers one agreed development scope. Once that scope is confirmed, the formulation invoice is payable in full before development begins.
- Your part
- Approval of the brief and scope, payment, and any materials needed for development.
- What moves forward
- A clear scope and a ready-to-start formulation project.
100% upfront applies to the formulation fee. Manufacturing is a separate scope with separately confirmed payment terms.
Make the idea work in the blend.
Bench formulation, flavor development, and feasibility review bring the ingredients, serving, and intended experience together. This is where we work through the practical decisions behind the recipe.
- Your part
- Answers to open ingredient questions and any required materials agreed in your brief.
- What moves forward
- A sample direction to evaluate against the agreed targets.
A crowded ingredient list can make flavor, serving size, and cost harder to balance. We work through those tradeoffs with you.
Better feedback makes the next sample better.
Physical taste samples let you experience the direction for yourself. Your scope includes up to six sample-and-feedback rounds. We use your feedback to refine the formula within the agreed brief.
- Your part
- Specific notes on sweetness, acidity, aftertaste, texture, and how you prepared the sample.
- What moves forward
- A refined formula shaped by clear, practical feedback.
Use the same serving, water amount, and preparation each time. “Less sweet, same citrus intensity” is more useful than “try something else.”
A finished recipe. A next step you choose.
Receive the completed formula, including its flavor system, and supporting bench documentation. You own that completed formula and may manufacture with StickPax or take it elsewhere.
- Your part
- Confirmation of the completed development direction and your plans for the next stage.
- What moves forward
- Your completed formula and bench documentation.
Production materials, manufacturing, testing, stability studies, and regulatory work are separately scoped. Third-party ingredient technology rights remain separate.
Generally 6–8 weeks for the full process. The clock starts when payment, the brief, and required materials are ready. Complex blends, material availability, and feedback can extend the timeline.
Talk through your brief02 / KNOW WHAT YOU’RE GETTING
Clear scope.
No guessing.
The $3,500 fee is for developing one agreed formula/flavor. Here’s what belongs in that work—and what needs its own scope.
INCLUDED IN FORMULATION
Samples you can actually taste
Physical taste samples and up to six sample-and-feedback rounds within the agreed scope.
The completed formula
Your finished recipe, including its flavor system, and supporting bench documentation.
03 / YOUR RECIPE. YOUR NEXT MOVE.
A formula you own.
A manufacturer you choose.
You own the completed formula, including its flavor system. Manufacture with us or take it elsewhere. You receive supporting bench documentation so the work has a life beyond the sample.
Ownership of the completed formula does not transfer rights to third-party ingredient technologies.04 / WHEN THE RECIPE IS READY
Plan the
production run next.
Development and manufacturing are separate. Explore the tolling estimate for your first run, then configure the materials and services you need.
$3,500 formulation feeManufacturing
estimated separately
estimated separately
The calculator is tolling only for one SKU. You supply ingredients and packaging. Formulation, powder analysis, materials, and other services are additional.
Online quantities: 7,500–100,000 sticks, with 1–12 g fills. Volume pricing starts above 25,000 sticks. Ask about other quantities or fills.
See how manufacturing worksYOUR RUN, ESTIMATED8 g fill
Your manufacturing estimate.
Estimated starter tollingUSD
7,500 sticks · 8 g each$0.73 / stick
7,500 sticks at 8 grams: $5,500, $0.73 per stick.Tolling only · one formula / flavor.
You supply ingredients and packaging.
Starter runs
Volume pricing Above 25,000
Enter a whole number from 7,500 to 100,000 sticks.
Tolling only · 8 g fill. Includes blending, filling and retail packout. You supply ingredients and packaging. Materials and additional services cost extra. Displayed prices are rounded estimates.
What does this estimate include?
Blending, filling/sealing and retail packout for one formula or flavor at your selected 8 g fill. Estimate any quantity from 7,500 to 100,000 sticks; volume pricing begins above 25,000. You supply suitable ingredients, stick film and retail packaging. Powder analysis, blank-stick samples, formulation, sourcing, testing, freight and taxes are excluded. Configure your full quote to add SKUs / flavors at $400 for each one after the first. Your complete quote confirms the scope.
The $3,500 development fee is not included here. You can explicitly add formulation in the full quote.
Below 25,000 total sticks, you supply all production ingredients and the complete flavor system. Ingredient sourcing is available by separate quote at 25,000+ total sticks across all SKUs / flavors, subject to formula review and supplier requirements. Packaging sourcing and formulation sample development remain available for smaller runs.
GET CLEAR BEFORE YOU START
Before the first sample.
Who develops my formula?
Our partner EnviroStar carries out formulation and flavor development in Minnesota. StickPax manages your brief, scope, feedback and project updates, so you have one main point of contact throughout development.
Who supplies ingredients for production?
Below 25,000 total sticks, you supply all production ingredients and the complete flavor system. Ingredient sourcing is available by separate quote at 25,000+ total sticks across all SKUs / flavors, subject to formula review and supplier requirements. Standalone bulk blending requires customer-supplied ingredients. Formulation and its sample development are unchanged, and packaging sourcing remains available below 25,000 sticks.
How much does custom powder formulation cost?
Formulation is $3,500 per formula/flavor for one agreed development scope. This includes bench formulation, flavor development, feasibility work, physical taste samples, up to six sample-and-feedback rounds within scope, and the completed formula with supporting bench documentation. Additional formulas, flavors, or changes outside the agreed brief are separately scoped.
When is the formulation fee due?
The $3,500 formulation fee is payable 100% upfront after scope confirmation and before development begins. Starting an email or configuring a website estimate does not place an order or collect payment. Production is a separate scope with its own confirmed payment terms.
How long does formulation take?
Generally 6–8 weeks for the full formulation process, once payment, the brief, and required materials are ready. More complex blends, material availability, and the time needed for feedback can extend that timeline. We confirm expectations for your specific project rather than assigning every formula an identical weekly schedule.
How many revisions or sample rounds are included?
Up to six sample-and-feedback rounds within the agreed development scope. Be specific about sweetness, acidity, aftertaste, texture, and preparation so each round has a clear direction. A new flavor, a different product concept, or other changes outside the agreed brief need a separate scope.
Do I own the formula, and can I manufacture elsewhere?
Yes. You own the completed formula, including its flavor system, and receive supporting bench documentation. You can manufacture elsewhere; there is no manufacturing requirement attached to this formulation service. Rights to third-party ingredient technologies are separate from ownership of your formula.
What if I want more than one flavor?
The formulation fee is $3,500 per formula/flavor for an agreed scope. Each additional formula or flavor needs its own development scope. The $400 fee per additional manufacturing SKU/flavor covers the extra manufacturing SKU; it does not pay for another formulation. We confirm the flavor split and development work separately.
Is formulation the same as powder analysis?
No. Formulation develops the recipe and flavor through physical taste samples. Optional powder analysis evaluates a blend you supply and includes preproduction samples in blank sticks. You must supply the blend or ingredients for analysis, even if we source materials for later production. Powder analysis is not included in the $3,500 formulation scope.
Does the formulation fee include ingredients for production or finished sticks?
No. Production ingredients, packaging, and manufacturing are separate, as are laboratory testing, stability studies, regulatory work, and optional powder analysis. The calculator below estimates tolling labor for a manufacturing run. It does not add formulation unless you explicitly select it in the full quote.
LET’S PUT A BRIEF BEHIND THE IDEA.
Something worth making.
Let’s work on it.
Tell us what you have in mind. We’ll talk through the formula, the flavor, and the scope before development begins.
Start formulationhello@stickpax.comText us: 320.200.4108
Already have your formula?
Configure full quote Choose your scope. Download your estimate. Send it to us.