Craftybase Stocksmith

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Inventory-management

Inventory management, manufacturing, and business strategy for small-batch product businesses.

Complete Guide to Raw Material Inventory Management

inventory management

Complete Guide to Raw Material Inventory Management

How to track and manage your raw material inventory to increase profits, become more organized and grow your business.

· 27 min read
Bill of Materials Examples: Real Costed BOMs for Small-Batch Manufacturers

inventory management

Bill of Materials Examples: Real Costed BOMs for Small-Batch Manufacturers

Real bill of materials examples with full costings: soap, candles, hot sauce, and single-level vs multi-level BOM tables, plus a free template to download.

· 18 min read
Manufacturing Inventory Management — The Complete Guide for Small Manufacturers

inventory management

Manufacturing Inventory Management — The Complete Guide for Small Manufacturers

What is manufacturing inventory management, and how does it work for small-batch manufacturers? This guide covers key terms, formulas, multi-channel sync, and software options.

· 22 min read
Shopify Inventory Management for Product Businesses (2026)

inventory management

Shopify Inventory Management for Product Businesses (2026)

Shopify has solid built-in inventory tools, but they don't cover raw materials, COGS, or multi-channel sync. Here's exactly what Shopify can do for your inventory — and where you'll need outside help.

· 16 min read
Schedule C Instructions 2026: A Line-by-Line Guide for Product Businesses

bookkeeping tax

Schedule C Instructions 2026: A Line-by-Line Guide for Product Businesses

Schedule C 2026 for small-batch product businesses selling on Etsy and Shopify — COGS, materials, home studio deductions, and the mistakes that cost businesses money.

· 45 min read
Stock Discrepancy: 10 Causes and How to Fix Them (Step-by-Step)

inventory management

Stock Discrepancy: 10 Causes and How to Fix Them (Step-by-Step)

Stock discrepancies happen to every product business. Here are the 10 most common causes and a 9-step procedure to track them down and get your inventory counts accurate again.

· 14 min read
Perpetual vs Periodic Inventory: Which System Is Right for Small Manufacturers?

bookkeeping tax

Perpetual vs Periodic Inventory: Which System Is Right for Small Manufacturers?

We compare periodic and perpetual inventory systems side by side — how each works, the key formulas, pros and cons, and which is right for small-batch product businesses.

· 24 min read
What Is a Bin Location? How to Set Up a Warehouse Bin System for Small Manufacturers

inventory management

What Is a Bin Location? How to Set Up a Warehouse Bin System for Small Manufacturers

A bin location system gives every material a permanent address. No more searching. Here's how to set one up for a small-batch production operation.

· 18 min read
WooCommerce Inventory Management: What It Does, Where It Falls Short, and How to Fix It

inventory management

WooCommerce Inventory Management: What It Does, Where It Falls Short, and How to Fix It

WooCommerce has decent built-in inventory tools, but if you make what you sell, they run out of steam fast. Here's what you get, where it breaks down, and what fills the gap.

· 15 min read
Why Cake Makers Need Inventory Software (Not a Spreadsheet)

inventory management

Why Cake Makers Need Inventory Software (Not a Spreadsheet)

Most cake makers set prices without knowing their real costs and order ingredients without tracking what's on the shelf. Here's how inventory software fixes both, and when it's time to stop using a spreadsheet.

· 19 min read
Home Office Deduction for Product Businesses: Inventory Storage

bookkeeping tax

Home Office Deduction for Product Businesses: Inventory Storage

If you store your inventory and product samples at home in a dedicated location, you should be eligible to claim for business use of this space without needing to meet the usual exclusive use test.

· 15 min read
FIFO vs LIFO vs Weighted Average Cost — Which Method Should Small Manufacturers Use?

bookkeeping tax

FIFO vs LIFO vs Weighted Average Cost — Which Method Should Small Manufacturers Use?

Not sure whether to use FIFO, LIFO, or weighted average cost for your product business? Here's what each method means in practice — with real production examples — and which one Stocksmith uses automatically.

· 15 min read
Inventory Requirements for Small Business: What the IRS Says and How to Track It

inventory management

Inventory Requirements for Small Business: What the IRS Says and How to Track It

The IRS doesn't care how small you are. If you make products from raw materials, you're required to track inventory. Here's what Publication 334 says — and the best way to keep track of inventory for your small business.

· 15 min read
Accrual vs Cash Accounting: Which Is Right for Product Businesses?

bookkeeping tax

Accrual vs Cash Accounting: Which Is Right for Product Businesses?

Cash vs accrual accounting: what's the difference, and which one should a product business actually use? Here's what you need to know — including how your choice affects your COGS and inventory tracking.

· 14 min read
What is Inventory Shrinkage and How Do You Calculate It?

inventory management

What is Inventory Shrinkage and How Do You Calculate It?

Inventory shrinkage isn't just a retail problem. For small manufacturers, it shows up as failed batches, spilled wax, expired oils, and miscounted components. Here's how to track and account for it.

· 18 min read