GTIN Registration - AgTag USA

How to Register for a GS1 Company Prefix and Get Your GTIN Numbers

A Step-by-Step Guide for Produce Shippers & Packers

If you're in the produce business - or any business that ships products through the supply chain - you've probably heard the terms "GS1," "GTIN," and "UPC barcode" tossed around. Maybe your buyer just told you they need a GTIN for every item you ship. Maybe you're setting up traceability and realized you need proper identification numbers. Either way, you're in the right place.

In this guide, we'll walk you through exactly how to register with GS1 US and get the GTIN numbers you need - no jargon overload, just clear steps you can follow today.

📋 First Things First: What Are GS1 and GTINs?

GS1 is the global organization that manages the standards behind barcodes and product identification. When you see a barcode on any product at the grocery store, that's GS1's system at work.

A GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) is the unique number assigned to each of your products. Think of it as your product's fingerprint - no two products in the world should share the same GTIN. This is the number that lives inside your UPC barcode and is essential for traceability, retail compliance, and supply chain management.

Do You Need a Single GTIN or a Company Prefix?

Before you start the registration process, you need to decide which option is right for your business. GS1 US offers two paths:

📦 Option A: Single GTIN License

Best if you only have one or a handful of products. Each GTIN costs a one-time fee of $30 with no annual renewal. Simple and affordable, but you'll pay $30 per product, so costs add up quickly if you have many items.

🏢 Option B: GS1 Company Prefix

Best if you have multiple products (or plan to grow). A Company Prefix lets you create GTINs for anywhere from 10 to 100,000 products under your own unique company identifier. Initial fees range from $250 to $10,500, with annual renewal fees from approximately $50 to $2,100 depending on your tier.

Here's a quick breakdown of the Company Prefix tiers:

Number of Products	Initial Fee	Annual Renewal	⭐ AgTagUSA Setup Service
1 (Single GTIN)	$30	None	$100
Up to 10	$250	~$50	$150
Up to 100	$750	~$150	$300
Up to 1,000	$2,500	~$500	$500
Up to 10,000	$5,000	~$1,050	$1,500
Up to 100,000	$10,500	~$2,100	$4,500

Pricing is current as of early 2026. Visit gs1us.org to confirm the latest rates.

💡 Pro Tip: For most produce companies, the "up to 100" tier ($750) is the sweet spot. Even if you only have 20 commodities today, you'll want room to add varieties, pack sizes, and new items without buying a whole new prefix down the road.

📝 Step-by-Step: How to Register and Get Your GTINs

Go to the GS1 US Website

Head over to www.gs1us.org and click on "Get Started" or navigate directly to their online store at store.gs1us.org. This is where you'll purchase either a single GTIN or a Company Prefix.

Choose Your License Type

Select either a GS1 Company Prefix (if you need multiple GTINs) or a Single GTIN (if you just need one). If you go the Company Prefix route, choose the capacity tier that matches the number of unique products you plan to identify.

💡 Pro Tip: Every unique product variation needs its own GTIN. That means if you sell Roma tomatoes in a 10 lb box and a 25 lb box, those are two separate GTINs. Factor in all your pack sizes when choosing a tier.

Fill Out the Application

GS1 US will ask for your company information including your legal business name, address, contact details, and the type of products you sell. Have your business details handy - this part is straightforward. You'll also create an account if you don't already have one.

Pay and Receive Your Prefix

Complete your payment (credit card accepted) and GS1 US will issue your Company Prefix. This usually happens within minutes for online applications. You'll receive a confirmation email with your prefix and login credentials for the GS1 US Data Hub - the online portal where you'll manage everything.

💡 Pro Tip: Save your GS1 login credentials somewhere safe. You'll need them every time you want to create new GTINs, download barcodes, or renew your membership.

Log In to the GS1 US Data Hub

Once you have your prefix, log into the GS1 US Data Hub. This is your command center for creating products, assigning GTINs, and generating barcode images. If you purchased a single GTIN, you'll get a free lifetime Data Hub subscription.

Create Your Products

In the Data Hub, click "Create Product" and enter the details for each item - product name, description, brand, and other relevant attributes. Be thorough here, because this information is tied to your GTIN globally.

Assign GTINs to Your Products

Click "Let Us Assign Your GTIN" and the Data Hub will automatically assign the next available GTIN from your Company Prefix to that product. You'll see your GTIN displayed in both GTIN-12 format (for UPC barcodes) and the full 14-digit GTIN format (which is how most databases store them).

💡 Pro Tip: The 14-digit GTIN is what you'll use in most traceability and supply chain systems, including case labels. The 12-digit version is your standard UPC for retail scanning.

Set Your Product Status to "In Use"

This is an important step that people sometimes skip. Click "Set Status to In Use" to officially activate the GTIN. Once you do this, that GTIN is permanently tied to that product - it can't be reassigned. This is by design. GTINs should never be reused for different products.

Put Your GTINs to Work

Now that you have your GTINs, it's time to integrate them into your operations. Add them to your packing labels, enter them into your traceability platform (like AgTagUSA!), and share them with your buyers so their systems can receive your shipments smoothly.

🍊 A Few Extra Tips for Produce Shippers

⚠️ Don't buy barcodes from third-party resellers. You might see websites selling "cheap UPC codes" for a few bucks each. These are often recycled or unauthorized numbers that can cause serious problems with retailers and traceability systems. Always get your GTINs directly from GS1 US.

📅 Remember your annual renewal. If you have a Company Prefix, GS1 US will send you a renewal notice each year. If you don't renew, your prefix can eventually be deactivated - and that means your barcodes stop working. Mark it on your calendar.

📊 Keep your Data Hub updated. If you add new products or discontinue old ones, update your Data Hub records. Good data hygiene keeps your supply chain running smoothly and helps with traceability audits.

🤝 Talk to your buyers. Some retailers and foodservice distributors have specific requirements for GTIN formatting on case labels. Check with your customers to make sure your labels meet their specs before you print a big batch.

Wrapping Up

Getting set up with GS1 and GTINs might feel like a lot the first time, but once you're registered, the process for adding new products is quick and easy. And having proper GTINs in place means smoother transactions with your buyers, better traceability from field to fork, and compliance with industry standards like PTI.

If you're already using AgTagUSA for your pallet tracking and shipping, your GTINs plug right into the system - making your operation that much more buttoned up.

Need Help Getting Set Up?

Our team can handle the entire GS1 registration and GTIN setup for you. Check out our AgTagUSA Setup Service pricing in the table above, or reach out to get started.

Contact Our Team