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Your First Order: A Complete Walkthrough

Follow along step-by-step as we create your first real order — from selecting a customer to sending the invoice.

Create an Order

What You'll Learn

  • How to create your very first order from start to finish
  • How to add a new customer on the fly
  • How to add items, set pricing, and send an invoice

Before You Start

You'll get the most out of this walkthrough if you've already added a few ingredients with costs and created at least one recipe or product. If you haven't, that's okay — you can use Quick Add to create items on the fly.

Step-by-Step: Creating Your First Order

Step 1: Start a New Order

Go to Orders in the sidebar, then click New Order (the blue button at the top right).

Step 2: Select a Customer

Start typing a customer name in the search box. If this is your first order, you probably don't have customers yet — click "Add New Customer" and enter their name and phone number. You can add their email and address later.

Tip: For your very first order, use yourself as the customer. This lets you test the whole flow without any pressure.

Step 3: Set the Date and Delivery Method

Choose the due date (when should this be ready?) and select pickup or delivery. If it's a special occasion, you can set the event type (birthday, wedding, etc.).

Step 4: Add Items

You have three options:

  1. From Product Catalog: Click "Add Product" and pick from your pre-created products. Price is preset.
  2. Quick Add: Choose a product type (Cake, Cookie, Cupcake, etc.), set quantity and price on the spot. Great for custom orders.
  3. From Recipe: Select a recipe, enter the number of servings, and BakeOnyx auto-calculates the price based on your ingredient costs and markup.

Step 5: Review and Save

Check the subtotal at the bottom. Add a deposit amount if you require upfront payment. Add any notes (special instructions, dietary requirements). Click Save.

Step 6: Send the Invoice

Your order is now "Pending". Click Send Invoice to email your customer a professional invoice with your bakery logo. If you have Stripe or Square connected, the email includes a "Pay Now" button so they can pay instantly.

What happens next: The order appears in your Orders list, on your Calendar, and (if you use it) in your Production schedule. When you're ready to bake, mark it "In Progress". After baking, mark it "Ready". When the customer picks up or you deliver, mark it "Delivered" or "Completed".

Common First-Order Mistakes

  • Recipe costs show $0: Your ingredients don't have prices set yet. Go to Ingredients and add cost per unit.
  • Can't find customer: Type at least 2 characters to trigger the search, or click "Add New Customer".
  • Forgot the deposit: You can edit the order later to add a deposit amount.

Next Steps

Now that you've created your first order, explore these related features:

The summary, FAQ, and statistics in this section were compiled from public sources and reviewed by the BakeOnyx editorial team. AI-assisted research.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I add a new customer if they aren't in my system yet?▾

When creating a new order in BakeOnyx, start typing the customer's name in the search box. If they don't appear, simply click the 'Add New Customer' button. You can then enter their name and phone number directly. Additional details like email and address can be added later to their customer profile.

What are the different ways to add items to an order?▾

BakeOnyx offers three main ways to add items: select from your pre-created 'Product Catalog' where prices are preset, use 'Quick Add' for custom orders by choosing a product type and setting price on the spot, or add from a 'Recipe' where BakeOnyx auto-calculates the price based on ingredient costs and your defined markup.

How can I ensure my customers pay promptly?▾

Once you've saved an order in BakeOnyx, click 'Send Invoice'. If you have integrated payment processors like Stripe or Square, the invoice email will include a 'Pay Now' button, allowing customers to pay instantly online. This streamlines the payment process and improves cash flow for your bakery.

What should I do if my recipe costs are showing as $0?▾

If your recipe costs appear as $0 in BakeOnyx, it means the individual ingredients haven't had their costs entered yet. Navigate to the 'Ingredients' section and ensure you've added the cost per unit for each ingredient used in your recipes. This is crucial for accurate recipe costing and pricing.

How do I track the status of an order after it's created?▾

After saving an order in BakeOnyx, its status will initially be 'Pending'. You can update this status as work progresses: 'In Progress' when you start baking, 'Ready' when it's finished, and finally 'Delivered' or 'Completed' upon customer pickup or delivery. These statuses are visible in your Orders list and Calendar.

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