How do you find a manufacturer to make your product?

Q: How do you find a manufacturer to make your product?

A: For startup entrepreneurs, there may be no more important question to ponder.

"Selecting the right manufacturing partner is going to save you a tremendous amount of headache," says Ashton Udall, a founder of Global Sourcing Specialists, a Manhattan Beach, Calif.-based firm that helps startups find manufacturers and develop their products.