I signed up for Craftybase per your referral several months ago and I love it! I can't imagine not using it for my candle business. Easy to use and helps me keep track of expenses and imports orders from PayPal! I could go on and on.... thank you Wade and keep up the great videos! Also, happy belated birthday! :-)
Thanks for tuning in everyone! As I mention in the video, this will be the first of MANY in this series. In this video, I introduce you to craftybase and all the ways it can help. If you are already somewhat familiar, this will be partly a refresher and part new information. BUT.... all the videos following will be tutorials, tips, workflows, use cases, and so on. Enjoy and thanks for being here! :)
Trying to find the other videos thought there would be a lot more like you stated in the video considering it’s from 2 years ago but I’m not seeing them
Ok so I have been on a Black Tie Barn Video marathon All day today. I am persuaded you may not be an accountant or bookkeeper but in my opinion you are definitely the candle guru and hands down the real deal. Again can’t thank you enough. Really appreciate you, your time, and your knowledge!!!
Hi Wade. I just signed up for Crafty Base after watching your videos about it. I can't wait to see how it's going to benefit me by keeping up with all of my materials, recipes, etc. You're an excellent "teacher" and I can honestly say I love watching your videos. Keep up the great work!
I am so glad I found your channel! You are a great teacher. Love your videos! Thank you for this tutorial. I make balloon gifts and decor and have been patching together systems. I didn't know this existed! Looks like it is perfect for me! I'm signing up today!☺️
I just signed up for a yearly subscription (under your referral) yesterday! One way that I use the "Components" section for candle making is when I make embeds that I later use in my candles (just tossing that out there lol). I'm so excited for these videos from you! Thanks for all the info. 😊
Wonderful content so glad I came across your channel as I am planning on diving into candle business and was going to use another inventory tracking system but now I see this and it is exactly what I am looking for more efficient way to track inventory and P&L for taxes.
Wade WOW!!!! another awesome outstanding video. I will sign up with craftybase this coming week thank you, thank you and thank you for all you do for all of us
Thank you so much for making this tutorial series. I'm thinking of starting a wholesaling business with beads on Etsy, and hearing that something like this exists is so encouraging. I'll definitely consider signing up for the site when I get far enough along!
Thanks Wade I've signed up and it's just as you've said. I am currently just entering my goods purchased so far but it makes me see how much I've spent so far,😊
Okay, when's the next video? I'm so excited about this. I just decided to use Craftybase yesterday. I got on RU-vid to look for a video tutorial and found almost nothing. Even Craftybase itself only has limited videos. Between using those videos and just messing around, I think I've got kind of a good handle on it. But there is obviously still a TON of stuff I don't understand. Then, this evening I thought I'd take a chance and look again for video tutorials, and surprise, posted just two hours ago. The timing absolutely could not have been better. I'm a little nervous about moving forward, because like you said, I really want to think about how I want to plan things, and I don't want to mess things up and dig myself into a hole. So you can bet I'll be looking forward to your coming videos. I don't make candles, my product is a craft kit. I have a lot of materials and only a spreadsheet to keep track of them all. Your first video was great! Thanks!
Awesome. Thanks for the info and glad this was good timing. I'll be working on them as much as I can. They take a while and trying to work them into my normal video schedule (and normal business workload) is pretty tough. Lol. But I'm just as excited to do them as it sounds like you are to watch them. 😆
It might be that I just haven’t gotten far enough into the program but as I’m trying to add my old supply orders for 2021 it doesn’t seem like it wants to accept them but since it’s later in the year I need to add old stuff
Am excited you will be going in detail in these videos. This is something I want to use but couldn't figure out how to add supplies I've accrued over a 2+ yr period and partially used. (wasn't sure I wanted to sell to public so didn't keep up very well) If there is a way to add these, I would love to know. I just couldn't figure it out and let the trial go.
Thank you, Wade! So, our website isn't live yet, but our LLC was established in February 2021 and we have made some sales already (friends and family). I have invoices for all the sales and supplier orders. Where should I start with CB? I definitely have some catch up to do. Our target date for the website is the end of this month, so I figure the sooner the better.
Island start with adding your relented in for your supplies. Those will have you create your materials on the fly as you go. One of the next videos I do will be discussing adding expenses. :)
Hi there! So I have a question. How you go about tracking your testing materials in crafty base? I test like this. I make the candles with out wicks first. Then add the wick once they have cured. That way if I have wicked wrong I can removed it and try another. How though do you account for thins in Craftybase? I would assume I'd make a product called "testers" but if I need to test another wick, can I go back and add that? I appreciate all you do. You have been such a help through eveyrthing!
This was a wonderful introduction to Crafty Base. I currently use a different software that I'm not totally satisfied with. I've been thinking of changing to Crafty Base for a year now and been afraid to jump. It will be a lot to transfer and that's why I haven't changed. Howeverrr this may be worth the hassel. I'd have to backdate to the 1st of the year. Leave last years on the old system files. Do you think that would be the easiest? I do a whole new inventory for each year so most my new materials were bought then. And all sales for this year are bought from 1st of the year materials as I sell all of last years products before December 31st. How do I do that, I simply quit making product in early November and I have an end of year sale. The small bits I have left family purchases at cost, however generally there is 0 left. So each new year I have to restock EVERYTHING. Yes I am totally wiped out the first 3 weeks of January and you don't see me online much. So I should be good backdating to January first, right? Sorry for the crazy questions, just want a best guess scenario, lol! Thanks Wade for answering a tough question! Your always awesome at getting back to me! Jill
Hey Jill. Wow, well first of all... let me just day that you have a a great system going. They way you are cycling inventory within the same accounting period is going to make things SO much easier for you. I'm jealous! 😆 And yes..... because you are handling it the way you are, I would think backdating to Jan 1st would be the best. That would have been my suggestion as well. Crafty base can take some getting used to because it is powerful and feature rich. Sometimes that can be overwhelming. Fortunately you have experience with systems like it as well as running your business so I wouldn't be concerned. Also, I do plan on a huge Playlist of craftybase help videos as time goes on. Hopefully those help if you ever need them. :) My suggestion would be to do a trial and spend with weeks hammering hard in the trial to make sure it works the way you want and you will be happy with it. :)
Hi Wade-I've also downloaded Craftbase following watching your videos and loving it so far. Is there a way to document the candles used for testing or products used but not sold? Thank you for sharing your experience, I really appreciate your video content. -Megan
I am sprinkling them in as I can but I've been so overwhelmed lately. Been tough staying up on all the requests and deciding on what videos first. :/ I'd hate to post on topics no one really needs so trying to aggregate everything. But it's mostly been a time availability issue. Thanks scott
I am having a problem with stocktakes. I put in the amount on hand but if something was miscounted, I cannot change it. How do I fix it while it's still in the '' in progress'' phase? Thank you
Will you please do an in depth tutorial on adjustments please. Im not understanding them at all. Even better if I can get a 1-on-1 with this. 😰😵😖 this is just super frustrating. Overall though I really ❤️ craftybase
This was more of an overview but the majority of the features are available on the basic plan. The other plans just give you more users, more integrations, etc. A few other things as well like stocking taking and Consignment but I didn't really discuss those here
Hi Wade. I'm planning to use this software very soon. Question... When a friend wants to Venmo or cash app you for a candle how do you handle that? Or, if drunk, Uncle Joe comes over and grabs a candle and throws 20 on the table? Or if you just make a candle for yourself? A video on all that would be great. Thank you! I bought a candle from you that will be here tomorrow:) Love the hot pink!
🥰 Thanks Jenn! Yes I will be covering all of that and so much more. There aren't many hard fast rules and it can vary on situation. But there are options. I take a lot of "offline payments" as I call them. You just create the order in CB, then mark as paid and "shipped". That is how it started and used to be before they built in some integrations anyway. :)
I would doubt it... but that's just a guess. And yes, I will for sure.... I've actually started using a workflow that does not include automatically imported from integration, and so far I'm liking it better. Will share more details when I can. :)
Question. So i make soap and body butter as well as candles. It this a smart system? Meaning if i put in my calculations for my products to make a sellable unit of soap or body butter, does it subtract from the individual bases to make the amount of units that went into those products?
Hi Wade, I recently signed up based on your videos. Question, where do you put all your sample products in Crafty Base. I won't be able to sell the samples since most of my work is personalization. Also I burn a lot of the samples for photos, etc. I don't enter a production item until I get an order, and items are imported from etsy. Thanks.
I am so glad you are making theses videos. Just starting out with my soap and candles. Tried my hand at a restaurant 10 yrs ago so I understand why this is so important but I have a few questions. So when using CB do you inventory every FO from each supplier separately? Is there a limit to how many items and materials can be used? And I noticed in inventory invoices there was a spot for shipping, how does CB expense that? Does it attach to that order or get added to overhead for cost of business? Thanks again.
Yes.... I enter every FO separate from different suppliers. Because they are indeed different. Even if named the same. Shipping on an order imported is usually added as an expense tied to that order. But you don't have to do it that way. Particularly if you manually add your orders. You can account for shipping how you choose. If you ate talking about shipping on expenses, it is averaged out across all the materials you purchased as part of that expense
@@BlackTieBarn Thanks so much for the info. Also it can explain how you would need adjustments at the end if the year if you used most of a batch of wax from one supplier and finished it off with a new box from a diff one.
@@katralla01 I dont add each wax (same wax) from different suppliers like I do FOs. The waxes are the same regardless of supplier as they are made by the same manufacturer. IGI 6006 is the same regardless of where you get it. Whereas a fragrance Oil might have same or similar names between suppliers but each is a unique FO. They must be tracked separately. However, just because waxes from different suppliers should be the same (if they are the same wax) doesn't mean you might not notice an issue with one batch vs another. So, its a good idea to track LOT #s or Batch #s in case you ever have a problem with a particular batch or lot.
I just signed up for Craftybase thanks to your recent video. Because we are already in October and I have to backtrack to January will this be difficult to do and do you recommend it?
It's really up to you. I am kind of a nerd and want am the insight so I backtrack. But you may ask their support what they would recommend. This late in the year, that's a tough one
Hi Wade, I love your videos and the business side you show us. I tried Craftybase, then paid the monthly subscription and HATED it. I worked for a medium-size, handcrafted candle maker in the UK so I am pretty used to stock/inventory systems. As a small business, we tried different systems in the UK so I have seen some; started from scratch all of them..... Saying that I'd like to share my experience, and I think Craftybase is not good if you want inventory integration with your store. It can be good for making the candles but you need help on the sales/stock-flow side. You have to put your lists individually on your website/Etsy, add the variations, then import to Craftybase and manually adjust each item. Every time you add a new product you have to do the same time-wasting process. It is timing-consuming. Craftybase is not as good as they say they are.
Thanks. Correct. It isn't meant to update your store. It's not a two way sync and I never try to explain it that way. I think people think inventory is inventory. But there is a difference between finished goods and raw materials as you know. The biggest benefit to using CB, for me, is managing raw material inventory, created manufactured based off recipes, which deducts those raw materials at cost and tracks your cost of goods sold all the way through. Without spending thousands of dollars or more, I haven't found another system that does all that. Not one. But I think most who don't like CB are for one of two reasons: 1) complexity and time. It takes time to configure and get used to. 2) Using it for the wrong reasons (managing and syncing finished goods inventory). Because you are right, definitely not what it's meant for. :) It isn't perfect and there are things I don't love or would change. But small business can't afford corporate or enterprise inventory systems that cause thousands or hundreds of thousands. I've seen some that small businesses have made themselves and they were not created well and didn't track things correctly. The average person and system doesn't track inventory correctly. (Not using fifo, lifo, or wac for example). Trying to create this cheaply is just not a good option for small businesses. That is why I tried CB 6 years ago. And while not perfect definitely been solid for me. :) Thanks again
Hello, I am just starting my business and I am super excited I am in the beginning phases where I am choosing vessels figuring out scent and testing my products..... I wanted to know should I be tracking what I'm using for Learning and testing and charge it against the business or should I just be learning and just using the products out of my own pocket
I'm starting up my business and looking for an inventory system. I've heard about Inventora and just learned about Craftybase. Do you know how these two compare? I want to make the best decision.
Hi Renee. I've tried both but have stuck with Craftybase for 6+years now. Some day inventora is a little easier to understand and get going. But for me, the reason is because it does far less. In fact I couldn't use it as it was missing critical function for me both operationally and also come tax time. It may be at par eventually..but it isn't right now. So I prefer Craftybase much more. Like any system, take time learning it and setting it up first before you start going crazy adding things until it out it will just get messy. Take your time and then it's a major blessing! I couldn't "not use it" at this point. Lol
When you adjust inventory and transfers in craftybase does it sync with our connected accounts (shopify/etsy) or do you also have to adjust inventory in your online stores as well?
It's a pull/import system. As far as I know it doesn't push back to different systems. So I just update those myself of I were to manually adjust craftybase
@@BlackTieBarn I was hoping could streamline and get rid of inventory sync app with craftybase. Would be great f someday they were able to integrate that into the software!! I'm loving it otherwise. Thanks for the reply.
Hi have a question? Once you create a product, recipe and manufactures. If you create the same product again how do you added to inventory? Do you need to create the same steps? Thanks Sandra
In your opinion would this be something I should use before starting to sell? I’m still making and testing lots of things. All of my LLC paperwork is done. I still need to build a website, get insurance and all of that. Also need to work on labeling and packaging. Do you think it would be beneficial to start using Craftybase now? Thank you! Very helpful video and looking forward to the rest of the series!
do you have a video on what ecommerce platform you prefer. i started with Weebly and having a heck of a time linking it to squareup, which is taking forever for them to send my card reader so i will be using point of sale paypal with no website for now.
Can CB replace QuickBooks come tax time? I am just starting out so I have no knowledge of what either one does. Do you use both as well or just crafty base? I just wanna make sure I’m doing the right thing from the get go. Thanks for the videos I look forward to watching the rest.
for bookkeeping yes... for full accounting, no. It is really best for tacking inventory, cogs, and expenses if you want to. (among other things). But, your accountant will use a full accounting suite to track assets, all revenues, equity, etc. I use both. :)
@@BlackTieBarn so for someone starting out on their own you recommend this plus quick books? Just trying to minimize cost if I can as a starter business
@@halfbakedcafe Hey Amy - Good question. IF you wanted to limit costs starting off I would start with Craftybase first and here is why. It is is very difficult to backtrack inventory a ways and then try to catch it all up later. Its doable but much easier from the start. Also, managing inventory is much easier with a dedicated system than without. Basic bookkeeping (tracking expenses, assets, etc) is not too hard to on with a spreadsheet and then enter into QBO later when your ready to purchase it. Also, Craftybase does MOST of what you would be doing in QBO anyway. Its just that the stuff Craftybase does for you is much harder to do without it. Also, where QBO will come in handy later is for your accountant when you file taxes. But if you dont have it, you can still get them what they need. Expenses from craftybase, cost of goods sold from craftybase, revnue from craftybase (you can track all sales with it), etc. There are reasons to get QBO later... and I certainly would (assets, depreciation, reconciliation, and on an on). So I would do both when you can, but start with CB. That is what I would do anyways. But I am not a CPA, that is just my preference. Also, I do plan on doing some classes on this as well as maybe some mini courses when I get a chance. Those will be helpful in me working with others on process and workflow. Hope this helps.
@@BlackTieBarn thank you Sir, I really appreciate your detailed approach. Coming from an inventory background in auto parts. Inventory control is a priority to me.
Hey Man, how does craftybase do with having online sales + a store or 2 with candles on consignment? I want to be able to import from Shopify but then also add my sales from a retail store and have it all pull out of the same inventory and supplies does that sound like something craftybase can do well? Thanks for the help!
Yes. It handles that! I don't think the base plan handles consignment. But I know some of the plans do because I've used it. You create "Locations". You track inventory per location of course which is great. But you can have it all pull from same manufacturers and inventory. It's up to you how you want to do it, but yes it can and it did it well in my opinion. Hope thst helps
@@maineexperiment yeah, they dont work well as you grow and they are not dynamic enough in my opinion. I know early on we try to avoid as many additional costs as possible. But, at least in my case, this became a necessary cost of doing business. :)
Liquid dyes is one of those materials that uses negligible amounts so hard if not impossible to track. I don't track inventory with dyes. I expense it as an office supply basically and then add it to craftybase as a "non-inventoriable" supply material. I do this so I can still add it to receipts but not track its inventory or cosst as drops would be fractions of a cent
So I'm looking into this as a newer Etsy seller for the future. Is there a way to account for the following scenario: say I pay someone $10 to write a description for something I have 10 units of, and I wanted to disperse that cost across the 10 units. I could be selling 9, 10, 11, so on so forth, but the cost will always be $10 for the description.
I'm not sure I understand entirely. But it sounds like you are just wanting to include your description writing costs into each item? There are a couple options. Mmmm any would argue that isn't a direct cogs and you can write that off as a notmsl operating expense rather than part of your cogs. Others might argue it is direct manufacturing cost. Something like this is definitely a toss up. But if you did want to Include it, I would just add it as $1 per item or $10 per batch of 10 items. I don't know exactly what type of item we are talking about though. I, personally, would just put this with normal expenses as advertising or e-commerce costs or something. But that's just me. :)
@@BlackTieBarn so I sell necklaces. It would be equivalent to paying someone to design your candle labels for a one time fee, but then incorporating that cost into your candles. The fee remains the same no matter how many candles you sell.
Gotcha... as a small business then I would make this an advertising expense of contract labor expense rather than incorporating it into the cost of the item. Especially if it is the same cost whether it's 10 necklaces or 100. That makes it NOT a direct cost to that specific product. It's more of an operational or advertising expense. In other words don't include it in recipe or product cost. Just make it a regular expense in your bookkeeping. That's sounds I would do anyway
Not yet. But it's basically a negligible material. So I add us as non-inventoriabme materials. I want it as part of recipe but not to try and track as a inventory material. I write mine off as office supplies.
Nevermind, I got the answer in your next video in the series. Thanks so much for doing this. I just signed up. I had purchased Soapmaker 3 and it is very difficult software to maneuver, so I'm just going to eat that expense. Thanks for sharing this software with us.
Hey Syl Marie, maybe you are interested in our products. You can try SKUSavvy.com which is a streamlined mobile warehouse & inventory management system specifically for Shopify. It will help with forecasting & purchasing, allocation, pick-pack-ship, and everything in between. It’s free to try and we’d love to have you give it a shot!
Hi Wade, your 3 samples of Vybar are totally different from the Vybar that I ordered from Amazon…it just says Universal addtive…& it is in the form pf powder…there is no instruction of how much per lbs…I know you are busy & occupied to ask you for info re the Vybar that I have…thank you kindly..
Yah... honestly, it's why I avoid materials from Amazon. You just never know what you are getting. You may have gotten stearic acid instead. Without knowing for sure, I'm not positive.
If i’m doing markets and i’m using craftybase to keep up with inventory am i supposed to make duplicate copies of each product specifically for markets. They will be priced differently from my website and i need something to keep up with inventory. I’ll be using shopify pos at markets and i’ll have to make duplicate copies of products with market prices but craftybase reflects sells through shopify so will i have to make duplicate products for everything i do sell at markets.
Craftybase would only have one copy. Any products our add in other platforms can be merged into that one product in CB. For example, lets say I have product A. I have a product listing for product A in shopify, also in square. Both those items will be imported into craftybase (if you have them integrated). Then you merge those products in craftybase so they all point to the same single product and same inventory. I Now if you are wanting to track inventory separately for each platform for whatever reason.... then you could make them separate products in CB, or make them different variants of each product. Or.... maybe get the version with Consignment and treat each like Consignment location. Probably not what I'd do, but its an option.
Some suppliers can tell you roughly how many drops are in a bottle on average. But yah...liquid dyes are tough. They fall in a category of what is called negligible amounts. So I add liquid dyes for purposes of using in my recipes but I do not track its inventory if that makes sense. And then in my recipes I just enter the amount of drops I use.
@@BlackTieBarn Thank you so much for your response. I am very particular in how I set up systems, as far as the exact repetition of how things are entered, so I was spinning out for a few. lol
@@BlackTieBarn it probably is, but my RU-vid generates playlists and I can never figure out how to get to the description for the links. It started after I went premium. 💁♂️ I went to the Craftybase website on my own, but after all your helpful videos, I sure don't want to not use your link to them 🤗. I AM getting overwhelmed with tracking, and I was an office manager for a very long time. It's different doing it for myself. I love all the details I can add on this program, so I definitely will give it a try! Thanks again, Wade!
Craftybase is a great help to candle makers, but it's reliability as a service is getting worse probably due to poor scalability planning - including hours of unavailability in recent days. Also the customers services has got pretty poisonous - particularly if you discuss their outages on their facebook page. I hope they mend their ways, then I might come back.
Hey Matt. I know they were dealing with an servee outage recently which would explain recent CS issues and response time for sure. But yah, overall I guess I can't really speak to their CS, etc much. I mostly focus on the software itself. But totally see your point
@@BlackTieBarn great product whilst I was using it .... but they could do with a focus on making it more reliable which I'm sure they are now. Great channel .... keep at it!
