Purchase Units and Conversions

Set up purchase units (bags, boxes, cases) to match how you buy ingredients
Create unit conversions so BakeOnyx accurately tracks ingredient costs
Enable volume-to-weight conversions using ingredient density data

Why Purchase Units Matter

When you buy flour, you probably order it in 25kg bags—not individual grams. BakeOnyx needs to know this so it can calculate the true cost of each ingredient in your recipes. Purchase units bridge the gap between how you buy ingredients and how you use them in recipes.

For example, if you buy eggs by the case (360 eggs) but your recipes call for individual eggs, BakeOnyx uses your purchase unit setup to convert between the two and show you the real cost per egg.

Setting Up a Purchase Unit

From the main menu, go to Inventory → Purchase Units
Click the + Add Purchase Unit button
Select the ingredient you're setting up (e.g., "All-Purpose Flour")
Enter the purchase unit name in the Unit Name field (e.g., "25kg Bag")
Enter the quantity in the Quantity field—this is how many base units come in one purchase unit (e.g., 25 for a 25kg bag)
Select the base unit from the Base Unit dropdown (e.g., "kg")
Enter the cost in the Cost per Purchase Unit field (e.g., $15.50 for one 25kg bag)

Purchase unit form showing fields for unit name, quantity, base unit, and cost

Tip: Set up multiple purchase units for the same ingredient if you buy it in different sizes. For example, you might have both "5kg Bag" and "25kg Bag" for flour. This gives you flexibility when creating purchase orders.

Understanding Base Units and Conversions

Every ingredient in BakeOnyx has a base unit—the standard unit you use in recipes. For flour, this might be kilograms (kg). For eggs, it's usually individual units (ea). For milk, it might be liters (L).

When you create a purchase unit, you tell BakeOnyx how many base units are in that purchase unit. The system uses this conversion factor to calculate ingredient costs accurately.

Note: If you need to convert between different unit types (like pounds to kilograms, or milliliters to cups), BakeOnyx includes standard conversion factors. You can also create custom conversions for your bakery's specific needs.

Volume-to-Weight Conversions

Some ingredients are easier to buy by weight but measure by volume in recipes (or vice versa). BakeOnyx handles this using ingredient density data.

When you set up an ingredient, you can enter its density (how heavy it is per unit volume). For example, all-purpose flour has a density of approximately 0.59 kg/L. With this information, BakeOnyx can automatically convert between 500ml of flour and its weight in kilograms.

To add density to an ingredient:

Go to Inventory → Ingredients
Find and click the ingredient you want to edit
In the ingredient details, locate the Density field
Enter the density value and select the unit (e.g., "0.59 kg/L")
Save your changes

Warning: Density values vary based on how ingredients are packed or processed. Use industry-standard values or measure your own ingredients for accuracy. Incorrect density data will lead to inaccurate cost calculations in your recipes.

Next Steps

Now that you've set up purchase units, you're ready to:

Create purchase orders using your purchase units
Build recipes that reference accurate ingredient costs
Track resale products and stock using your ingredient data