Step 1 of 3 · Pantry
Add what you buy
Turn your receipts into useful ingredient and packaging costs.
Before you start
Gather a recent receipt or supplier invoice, the package sizes, and the ingredients and packaging for one product you already sell.
1. Start with one product’s ingredients
Open Pantry and choose Add Item. Select Ingredient for food or Supply for boxes, boards, labels, and other packaging. Use a specific item name, such as Unsalted butter, so you can find it again.
2. Enter the price for the whole purchase size
Enter Purchase Price, Purchase Size, and its unit together. For a 5 lb bag of flour that costs $4, enter $4 for 5 lb—not $4 per pound. For a pack of 100 boxes that costs $50, enter $50 for 100 each. Add the supplier and category so future updates are easier.
3. Check the unit before saving
Use the unit on the package. Weight and volume are different: a cup of flour and a cup of honey do not weigh the same. If a recipe needs a weight-to-volume conversion, check the ingredient’s density or use a measured weight. Do not guess a conversion just to make the warning disappear.
4. Save, then check the Pantry row
Confirm the saved name, purchase size, unit, and price match your receipt. The flour example should work out to $0.80 per lb; each box should cost $0.50. If you imported a file or scanned a receipt, review the extracted values before accepting them.
5. Keep the original item up to date
When the same ingredient’s price changes, edit its existing Pantry item. Recipes and products that use it can then use the updated cost. Avoid creating a duplicate every time you shop. Keep separate items when the brand, size, or ingredient genuinely needs its own cost.
A quick example
A $4 bag containing 5 lb of flour costs $0.80 per lb. A recipe using 1 lb should therefore include $0.80 of flour—not the full $4 bag price.
Illustrative numbers only. Use your own prices, quantities, and costs.
You’re ready for the next step when…
Your saved Pantry items match your receipts, and you can find the ingredients and packaging for your first recipe.
If something looks off
A cost looks too high or too low? Check the purchase quantity and unit first. An ingredient is missing in a recipe search? Confirm it was saved as an Ingredient and look for an existing spelling before adding it again.
Opening a workspace requires a Costli account with access. These guides are always available to read.
Still need a hand? Contact Costli support.