Do I Need a Barcode for My Private Label Product? A Guide for Barbershops, Tattoo Shops & E-Commerce Startups
When you’re launching your own branded product—whether it’s Private Label Beard Care or Private Label Tattoo Aftercare—you’re probably going to ask this question:
“Do I need a barcode, and can you provide one?”
Let’s clear that up and break it all down for barbershops, tattoo studios, and small startups looking to get their own products into customers’ hands (and retail shelves).
What Is a Barcode, and Why Do I Need One?
A barcode (typically a UPC in North America) is a 12-digit number turned into a scannable image that helps retailers identify and track products. It’s used for inventory systems, point-of-sale scanning, and online marketplace listings.
If you're planning to sell your private label products online or in retail stores, a barcode is often mandatory.
For barbershops, tattoo shops, or in-person sales: barcodes are optional and not mandatory depending on how you track inventory. If you grow, you can add it later!
Can You Provide the Barcode for Me?
No, we don’t provide the actual barcode number.
As a private label manufacturer, we focus on crafting your product and designing the label—but the ownership and registration of the barcode must come from your business. This ensures the barcode is unique to your brand and acceptable for retail and marketplace listings.
💡 Good to know: We can create the barcode image for your label using a valid UPC that you provide.
Where to Get a Barcode: GS1 vs. Resellers
This is where things get a little technical but super important:
Option 1: GS1 (Recommended for larger businesses)
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Barcodes purchased from GS1 Canada and/or GS1 US are globally recognized and registered to your business.
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Required by most major retailers (like Amazon, Walmart, Target).
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Gives you full ownership and credibility.
- Annual Costs
Option 2: Barcode Resellers
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These are third-party vendors who resell barcode numbers. Example - Speedy Barcodes
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Often cheaper, but the barcode is not registered to your company. Often a One-time purchase with no annual fees.
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May not be accepted by certain platforms, especially Amazon.
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You’ll need to manually add the product information into retail systems.
How We Use Your Barcode in Private Label Production
Once you’ve secured a barcode number, here’s what happens next:
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You send us the UPC number.
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We create the scannable barcode image using a barcode maker tool.
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We add it to your product label design during the branding stage.
This ensures your Private Label Beard Oil, Tattoo Aftercare Balm, or Face Wash is retail-ready and professionally packaged.
Common Barcode Questions from Private Label Clients
🔹 Can I use one barcode for multiple products?
No. Each size, scent, or product type needs a unique barcode.
🔹 What if I don’t have a barcode yet?
No problem. We can complete your label design and leave space for it. Once you have the barcode, we’ll add it in—just keep in mind that reprints or updates may be required.
🔹 Do I need a barcode at all?
If you’re only selling in-person or direct-to-consumer (no retail scanning), a barcode may not be necessary. But if you’re planning to grow, we recommend starting with one—it future-proofs your brand.
Why It Matters for Your Brand
Whether you're a barbershop offering your own line of beard care, a tattoo shop packaging aftercare kits, or an e-commerce startup launching your first product, having a barcode system that works for your business ensures smoother scaling, inventory tracking, and retail expansion.
✅ At First Element, we help you build your brand from concept to shelf—but we make sure you retain full control over assets like barcode ownership.
Need Help? We’re Here.
If you’re unsure whether you need a barcode or how to get one, we’re happy to guide you. While we don’t sell or register barcodes, we’ll make sure your label design is ready to showcase your brand—barcode and all.
Looking to launch your own Private Label Beard Care or Tattoo Aftercare brand?
👉 Contact us today to get started, or ask us about label design, low minimums, and packaging support for barbershops, tattoo studios, and e-commerce entrepreneurs.
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