What do you use for Inventory Control?

[Demenshia]

Just curious as to what everyone uses to keep track of inventory, sales, supplies etc? I looked at SoapMaker, but I only do candles and not sure how well that would work, I've also looked at a program called Craft Business Management System which seems awesome but pricey. I dont' have MS Office so Excel and Access are out. Right now doing most of this stuff by hand but as I grow I'd rather use the computer to help out . TIA

[ladysj]

I would like a software like that also. You can download Open Office Demenshia. It works with all excel spread sheets and it's set up just like excel.

You can download it for free at www.openoffice.org

that's what I use and it works great. HTH

Sandra

[Demenshia]

Here is that crafting software. It's expensive but has a good bit of features I like. I downloaded the trial version and love it. Just haven't decided if I love it enough to pay that kinda money lol.

http://www.craftingsoftware.com/

[ladysj]

That is expensive. I couldn't afford that either. I'm going to try the trial version. It would be a very long time before I could afford that lmao I'd have to sell alot of wholesale stuff.

[DeeB]

I use the SoapMaker software for candles. It's worked well for me so far.

You can download a free trial to play around with to see if it will work for you.

If you have any problems with it you can pm me.

[NoOneSpecial]

I use the Craft Business Management System.

[Holly]

I just started to use QuickBooks. I am still learning about it but plugging everything in. Right now I am just using the Sales Receipts section and the Income and Expense section. I am not sure how the inventory part works. I am able to tell what my best sellers are. I am also able to calculate how much I make at Home Parties, Craft Shows, Consignments, and different customers, etc.

How would the Craft one differ from QuickBooks? If it would be better I would consider it, but I hate the thought of having to transfer everything I put in this year over to it.

[Demenshia]

Here are the tutorials for the Craft BMS. It looks to be an excellent product.

http://www.thesoftwarehelpdesk.com/cbms.htm

[Sherl]

Quickbooks Premier. I enter wax, wicks, ect as inventory.. then pull them out of inventory and put them back in as a candle by making a build. I take the laptop to shows and sell right out of that inventory. I get reports on inventory, can set flags for ordering when stock is low, and get a profitability report on jobs and items sold. WELL worth the $$.

[NANNALIN]

Quckbooks Premier here also. How do you do the build for the inventory control?

Lnda

[RobinInOR]

I use the Quickbooks NUE that came with my Powerbook. It doesn't have a true inventory module, but you can still set up items. I've changed it a bit this year - I've got an item for every type of soap. With candles I just had one item per type of candle, and didn't split it up by scent.

When I make something, I use the inventory adjustment to 'put it into inventory'. And when I enter a cash sale, when I use the item code, it takes it 'back out of inventory'.

For now I just use it for finished items. I don't put all my wicks and wax and fragrances in it - I tried that but could never keep it very accurate.

[tammyc]

I use Quickbooks Pro. There is no build feature in pro, so I have to make a manual adjustment from raw inventory to finished inventory. This works ok for me now, but I plan on upgrading to Premeire when I can afford it.

[Sherl]

Instead of creating a new inventor item, you create and inventor assembly. There is a box to do say 1 jar, 1 wick, 16 oz wax, 1 oz fo.. ect. Then you go into the activities tab and do a build. I create new items with out the price.. do a build then go back to the item and it shows the cost of the build. I then price the item accordingly. If you need more info feel free to pm.

My version is the 2003. I got mine off Ebay for about $300 new and with a $120 rebate [had earlier version]. At the time that version was going for about $500. Watch Ebay and get a feel for what they are going for and try that route to get a good buy on the software. Might even see if you can get the 2003 version for a good price.