Frequently Asked Questions

  • First of all, congratulations on your new brand!
    Yes - first time founders are one of our core client profiles. Building something from scratch can feel daunting, especially when overseas manufacturing is part of the picture. Think of us as the extra team member who’s already navigated this terrain - we’ll handle the operational side so you can stay focused on the brand you’re building.

  • All our formulation partners are based in South Korea.

  • Start by identifying your target customer and price point.
    Premium brands ($60-200) target luxury skincare enthusiasts with high percentage of potent ingredients or patented formula.
    Accessible brands ($15-50) focus on functional and trendy ingredients with bigger social media marketing. Clinical brands ($40-150) emphasize scientific data, clinical tests and dermatologist recommendations.

  • AI search engines like ChatGPT and Perplexity now recommend products directly to consumers. To get cited, your website needs structured FAQ pages, detailed blog content that answers specific questions, and Schema markup. Traditional SEO alone is no longer enough.
    If you are interested in AI-powered PR services, reach out to partnerships@altameet.com It’s part of our add-on, a-la-carte service but also a stand alone service that will boost your brand’s presence online. It will build an online foundation for your brand.

  • Define your brand identity, target customer, and product line strategy first. Know your positioning (premium, accessible, or clinical), have a realistic budget, and prepare a brief describing your desired products, ingredients, and packaging preferences.

  • Plan to spend at least 30-40% of your total launch budget on marketing. For a $50K launch, that means $15-20K for branding, website, social media content, influencer partnerships, and initial advertising.

  • Yes. We can also help with beauty entrepreneurs with brand positioning, product line strategy, and connecting with the right Korean ODM partner. Our goal is to be your complete K-beauty brand building partner from concept to shelf. We’ll be our outsourced team - based in NYC though!

  • We charge a flat retainer (3-month minimum, sized to your scope) plus a clearly disclosed commission on order management. There are no hidden mark-ups on factory pricing - you see the manufacturer’s quote, and you see exactly what we make on top of it. After product development is complete, if you need ongoing support for reorder management or cross-border communication with the factory, we can continue working together on a smaller monthly retainer. We’ll really be teammates!

What languages do you support?

We provide full support in English and Korean.

What services does ALTA MEET offer?

We offer end-to-end support for launching your K-beauty product: product development, sample management, and production coordination.

What products can you help manufacture?

We specialize in facial skincare, body care, hair care and make up products as well.

Where is ALTA MEET located?

We are based in New York City, USA. This allows us to work on the same time zone as our US and European clients.

Regulatory & Import FAQs

  • Cosmetics in the US do not require FDA pre-market approval, but they must comply with MoCRA requirements enacted in 2022. This includes facility registration, product listing, labeling, adverse event reporting, and GMP compliance.

  • Under MoCRA, every cosmetic product sold in the US must have a designated Responsible Person (RP) — the manufacturer, packer, or distributor whose name appears on the product label. The RP is responsible for facility registration, product listing, adverse event reporting, and ensuring GMP compliance. For Korean-manufactured products imported to the US, the US-based brand owner or importer typically serves as the Responsible Person.

  • As of 2025, Korean cosmetics imported to the US are subject to a 25% reciprocal tariff. The de minimis exemption (which previously allowed duty-free imports under $800) has also ended. These tariffs add approximately 10-25% to the landed cost of Korean-manufactured products. ALTA MEET helps brands optimize their import strategy through bulk shipping, proper tariff classification, and exploring first-sale valuation where applicable.

  • Intellectual property ownership depends on your agreement with the manufacturer. With ODM (Original Design Manufacturing), the base formula is typically owned by the manufacturer, but your customized version and branding are yours. However you can negotiate with the manufacturer to purchase the full right or the IP. ALTA MEET helps negotiate clear IP terms in your manufacturing agreement before production begins.