RFQ Generator

The RFQ (Request for Quotation) Generator in Hive is a powerful tool designed to simplify how creators communicate with manufacturers. Instead of juggling spreadsheets, scattered notes, and emails, Hive gives you a structured, integrated way to build and send professional RFQs.

With this tool, you can:

• Create detailed RFQs linked directly to your projects and SKUs.
• Break down components by printing, plastic/other materials, or tooling.
• Get accurate cost breakdowns across multiple production quantities.
• Download a complete XLS to send directly to your manufacturer.
• Instantly see production totals, profit margins, and pricing tips.

By managing RFQs inside Hive, you ensure your manufacturing planning stays connected to your campaign data, your fulfillment setup, and your financial goals.

To begin, go to the RFQ Generator tab and click Add New RFQ. You’ll see the following form:

• Title: Add a descriptive name (for example, “Omerta – Main Game – Panda Factory”).
• Project: (Optional) Link the RFQ to one of your existing Hive projects.
• SKU: (Optional) Connect the RFQ to a specific SKU so exports and inventory align automatically.

Once the RFQ is created, you can start breaking down your game into components.

• Printing Components: Define cards, boards, rulebooks, or other printed items. Specify dimensions, process, material, finish, and coating.
• Plastic/Other Components: Add custom dice, tokens, miniatures, or unique parts. Define material, packing, and colors.
• Molds/Tooling: For plastic components requiring molds, add the mold name, cost, and linked components.

This level of detail ensures your manufacturer can provide precise quotes with no surprises later.

Once you’ve added all your components, Hive automatically calculates production totals across multiple batch sizes (for example, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, and 5000 units). This gives you an at-a-glance understanding of how costs scale with volume and allows you to prepare for different manufacturing scenarios.

In addition to totals, Hive provides built-in pricing guidance to help you set realistic campaign goals and retail prices:

• Recommended MSRP: Hive suggests a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) based on multiplying the 1000-unit cost by six. This ensures you’re leaving room for profit after production, shipping, and retailer margins.

• Profit Per Backer: The system shows your profit per unit, factoring in KS fees, freight, production, and estimated ad spend. This helps you understand how much money you actually make per backer.
• Break-Even Analysis: Hive tells you how many backers you’ll need to cover minimum production runs (including molds, if applicable).
• ROAS Guidance: With a suggested Return On Ad Spend (e.g., x3), you get a realistic sense of how much you’ll need to spend on ads to achieve sustainable growth.

Freight Estimates: Built-in assumptions (like $1 per unit from China to the US or EU for standard-size games) help you avoid underestimating one of your biggest costs.

Together, these tools make sure you don’t just get quotes — you get actionable insights into how those quotes impact your business model. Before you launch, you’ll already know if your pricing structure is viable, what your margins look like, and what backer numbers you need to succeed.

Background

A creator is preparing to launch their board game on Kickstarter. They know manufacturing costs can make or break a campaign, so they want clear numbers before launch: unit costs, profit margins, and how many backers they’ll need to break even.

The Challenge

Without a structured system, it’s easy to underestimate costs or set pledge levels too low. Factories give quotes in different formats, spreadsheets get messy, and profit margins become guesswork.

The Hive Solution

Using Hive’s RFQ Generator, the creator sets up their quote request directly in the platform, linking all components (cards, rulebook, miniatures, game mats) under one project. The system automatically calculates production totals at different scales (1,000–5,000 units) and applies pricing insights.

Here’s the example:

• Producing 1,000 units costs $8 per unit.
• Hive recommends setting MSRP at $48 (6× the unit cost).
• After Kickstarter fees and freight, the creator sees they’ll clear about $15 profit per backer.
• The system instantly calculates how many backers they need to hit their minimum order quantity — no guesswork, no surprises.

The Result

With one dashboard, the creator now has:

• A professional RFQ to send directly to manufacturers.
• Transparent costs across different production volumes.
• Real profit-per-backer analysis before launch.
• Break-even clarity to set pledge levels with confidence.

Why It Matters

Instead of hoping margins hold after the campaign, Hive lets creators validate their numbers before they press “launch.” The RFQ Generator turns manufacturing prep from a gamble into a strategy — helping campaigns stay sustainable and profitable.