Frequently Asked Questions

Raw ingredients are only part of manufacturing costs. Supplement companies must also pay for third-party testing (typically $500-2000 per batch), GMP facility certification (annual costs), quality control, insurance, and basic processing. Industry data shows these overhead costs typically add 30-100% to raw ingredient costs.

We use 50% as a conservative middle estimate. This means our cost calculations likely underestimate true manufacturing costs, giving brands the benefit of the doubt. Even with this generous allowance, many products show markups exceeding 1000%.

Our overhead allowance covers only unavoidable manufacturing requirements: testing, compliance, QC, insurance, and basic processing.

It does NOT include:

• Marketing and advertising costs
• Influencer partnerships and sponsorships
• Celebrity endorsements
• Retail placement fees and distribution markups
• Brand premium or luxury positioning
• Executive compensation or profit margins

These discretionary costs are reflected in the markup percentage we calculate.

The supplement market has diverse price points for legitimate reasons. A product with 600% markup isn't necessarily "bad"—it may include extensive marketing or premium distribution that some consumers value.

Our tier system acknowledges this reality while still exposing predatory pricing. A Tier 3 product (Fair Value) costs more than Tier 1, but both can be reasonable choices depending on your priorities. A Tier 5 product (Excessive) has markup so extreme it's hard to justify under any circumstances.

We also have a separate Validation Status (Validated/Not Validated) based on overall score (≥7.0). A product can be "Validated" overall but have poor value, or vice versa.

No. Our scoring methodology is fixed and applies equally to all products. We do not accept payment from brands for reviews, consultations, or score adjustments.

The only way to improve a score is to change the product itself: better pricing, improved formulation, additional certifications, or more transparent practices.

Our estimates are conservative approximations based on verified wholesale quotes and industry-standard overhead calculations. Actual manufacturer costs may be higher or lower depending on scale, ingredient sourcing, and business model.

We intentionally err on the side of underestimating costs (50% overhead is on the low end of industry standards). This means if anything, we're being generous to brands—and many still show extreme markups.

We welcome feedback from brands. If a company can provide documentation showing our cost estimates are significantly off (e.g., they use premium ingredients we didn't account for, or have unique manufacturing costs), we'll review and potentially update our analysis.

However, general disagreement about our 50% overhead allowance or tier boundaries isn't grounds for adjustment—these are methodological decisions we've made transparently and apply consistently to all products.

A product is Validated if its overall score is 7.0 or higher on our 10-point scale. This considers pricing, dosing, transparency, and quality. Validation means the product meets our standards across all categories —not just one.

We monitor prices and formulations periodically. Major changes (reformulations, significant price changes) are updated within 30 days of discovery. Minor fluctuations may take longer. If you notice outdated information, contact us at corrections@validora.org.

We do not conduct our own laboratory testing. Our analysis is based on publicly available information, wholesale pricing research, and brand-provided documentation (like Certificates of Analysis). We rely on brands' claims about third-party testing and note when COAs are available or unavailable.

Yes! Email us at suggestions@validora.org with the product name and brand. We prioritize products based on consumer interest and market popularity.

We may earn affiliate commissions when users purchase products through our links. However, our scoring methodology is fixed before any affiliate relationships exist, and commission rates do not influence scores.

Brands that pass validation (score 7.0+) can become Featured Partners with premium placement. Partnership status does not affect scores—only visibility on the site.