Research

Research Suppliers

Search for suppliers for a product phrase when Launch Fast has none.

Field	Value
MCP tool	`research_suppliers`
Behavior	Starts research work. It does not contact suppliers.
Cost	1 credit. Free when the phrase was searched in the last 30 days, or when you join a search of the phrase that is already running.
Permission	Research and insights (Launch Fast tools)
Amazon connection	Not necessary
App view	`ui://launchfast/v2/suppliers`

What It Does

research_suppliers searches for suppliers for one product phrase. It returns unit prices in US dollars, MOQs, and supplier details.

A search usually takes under a minute. The tool waits up to 40 seconds. If the search is not done by then, the answer gives a job id for get_job. If you joined a search that was already running, the answer tells the assistant to call research_suppliers again in about 30 seconds instead. That call is free.

When To Use It

Use research_suppliers only when find_suppliers finds nothing for the phrase. find_suppliers reads the suppliers that Launch Fast has, for free.

Inputs

Input	Required	Values	Example
`phrase`	Yes	What the product is, 1 to 200 characters	`silicone spatula`

What The Answer Contains

The answer is the same list that find_suppliers gives for that phrase. It has the count of supplier listings, the unit price and MOQ ranges, and up to 50 listings with labels s1 to s50. A notice says whether the search spent 1 credit or was free.

A search that you start here does not show in the search history of the Launch Fast web app. The suppliers show for that phrase in Launch Fast.

Limits

Limit	Value
Your supplier searches that run at the same time	3

App View

When the search finishes and your AI app supports MCP Apps, it shows the result in this view. The image shows example data.

Launch Fast suppliers view with example data: unit price range, minimum order quantity, and five suppliers by unit price

Example Prompts

Launch Fast has no suppliers for bamboo cutting boards. Search for some.

Find suppliers for "stainless steel garlic press" and show the cheapest ones first.

Common Errors

Error	What it means	What to do
`credit_limit`	You used all your credits for this billing period.	See credits used and left on the usage page.
`cap_reached`	You have 3 supplier searches running.	Wait for one to finish, then call again. See them with `get_job`.
`invalid_input`	The phrase is empty, longer than 200 characters, or has no words that Launch Fast can search.	Give a short product phrase.
`plan_required`	Your plan does not include supplier research.	Check your plan on the usage page.

find_suppliers reads and filters the suppliers that Launch Fast has.
get_job checks a search that takes more than 40 seconds.

Research Suppliers

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