Transparent Labs Creatine HMB
Validated on Feb 2, 2026
Value Analysis
Manufacturing Cost Breakdown
| Raw Ingredients | $1.13 |
| Manufacturing Overhead (50%)testing, compliance, QC | $0.56 |
| Packaging | $0.60 |
| Total Manufacturing Cost | $2.29 |
Retail Price
$49.00
Est. Manufacturing
$2.29
Markup
2039.7%
Pricing Score
0/10
With a markup over 1600%, this product has predatory pricing. We strongly recommend alternatives.
What does the 50% overhead cover?
Our 50% overhead allowance is intentionally conservative and accounts for unavoidable manufacturing costs:
- Third-party testing: Heavy metals, microbiological, potency ($500-2000/batch)
- GMP compliance: Facility certification and ongoing requirements
- Quality control: Batch-to-batch testing and documentation
- Insurance: Product liability and facility coverage
- Processing: Labor, utilities, equipment depreciation
What's NOT included in 50% overhead:
- Marketing and advertising costs
- Influencer partnerships and sponsorships
- 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 above.
Our 50% overhead is conservative—actual manufacturing overhead may be higher. This means our cost estimates likely underestimate true costs, giving brands the benefit of the doubt.
Read our full methodology →Ingredient Analysis
| Ingredient | Amount | Clinical Dose | % of Clinical |
|---|---|---|---|
| Creatine Monohydrate | 5 g | 5 g | 100% |
Validation Notes
Contains HMB + BioPerine + Vitamin D in addition to creatine. Premium formula.
Certifications: Third-Party Tested
Form: Unflavored Powder
Serving Size: 5g
Servings: 30
Total Creatine: 150g
Cost Breakdown:
- Ingredient cost: $1.13 (150g × $0.0075/g)
- Packaging cost: $0.60
- Manufacturing cost: $1.73
- Retail price: $49.00
- Markup: 2741%
- Cost per serving: $1.63
What Would Improve This Score?
Based on our analysis, this product's score could be improved by:
- Pricing:Reducing retail price or increasing serving size to improve cost per effective dose
This analysis is provided for informational purposes. Brands may contact us with evidence of formula updates for re-evaluation.
Context & Tradeoffs
Our validation scores measure clinical dosing accuracy, ingredient cost efficiency, transparency, and quality signals. The following factors may justify higher pricing or different formulations but are not included in our scoring methodology:
Not Scored:
- • Premium packaging or presentation
- • Flavor systems and taste optimization
- • Convenience formats (gummies, liquids, packets)
- • Sustainability or sourcing practices
- • Brand reputation or customer service
- • Additional lifestyle or wellness features
Why Not Scored:
These factors vary in importance by consumer preference and cannot be measured consistently across all products. Our score focuses on objective, comparable metrics. Consumers should weigh these additional factors based on their own priorities.
A lower score indicates less efficient ingredient dosing or pricing, but may still be the right choice if other factors (convenience, taste, format) matter more to you.
Overall Score
Mixed results - see details
Based on estimated ingredient cost vs. retail price
Comparison to clinically effective doses from research
Third-party testing, source documentation, disclosures
Manufacturing standards, certifications, ingredient sourcing
Validated Alternatives
No other validated products in this category yet.
How We Score Products
Our validation methodology is transparent and reproducible. Learn how we calculate each score.
Read our methodology →