Thanks everyone. This is exactly the practical info I needed. Follow-up question: for those using the US distributor route, which distributor(s) are you using? And is the catalog/pricing visible online or do you need to request quotes?

I primarily use their partnership with Vivitide (formerly New England Peptide). They carry a selection of GL Biochem catalog products and can also route custom synthesis orders. Pricing is available upon request — they don't list GL Biochem products with prices on their website, but a quick email gets you a quote within a day. Another option depending on your location is to check if GL Biochem has set up distribution through Fisher/VWR. Some of their catalog peptides are available through major lab distributors in certain regions, though the markup is higher. For custom synthesis quotes, I always get quotes from both GL Biochem direct and through the distributor, then factor in the wire transfer fees and time cost to determine which route is actually cheaper for that specific order.

One more thing I should mention: if you're doing work that might lead to publications, having a formal entity also helps with institutional affiliations on papers. "Independent researcher" raises fewer eyebrows when there's a registered company or lab behind it. And re: the ordering process — once you're set up as an account, subsequent orders are straightforward. The initial setup is the friction point. After that, it's email a sequence/catalog number, get a quote, confirm, pay, receive peptide. Very routine. Don't let the corporate facade intimidate you. GL Biochem is large but their sales team is pragmatic. If you're a paying customer with legitimate research needs, they'll find a way to work with you.

Adding to this thread for completeness — if you're affiliated with a university in any capacity (adjunct, visiting researcher, collaborator), check whether you can route orders through that institution's purchasing system. Many PIs are happy to facilitate peptide orders for active collaborators, especially if it's charged to a shared grant or the collaborator is covering the cost. This gives you institutional pricing, PO-based payment, and simplifies the logistics. It's how several of our external collaborators source peptides through our account. Just make sure it's properly documented for accounting and grant compliance purposes.