Set up packaging costs by order type

InnoBooks handles packaging in two places: a default packaging applied once per order, set under Settings › Packaging, and a per-serving packaging specific to each dish, in the item’s Recipe tab. Both use the same editor and the same order types — Counter, Dine-in, Delivery, Platform — and both stay not included in the food cost %.

What you’ll need

The restaurant add-on active on your company.
Permission to edit recipes (items.recipe.update) — both the Settings › Packaging page and the Recipe tab depend on it.
Your packaging items already created as items in Items & Services (bags, containers, utensils…), ideally with a Last buying price so their cost shows up.

Steps

Open Settings › Packaging
Go to Settings, then open the Packaging card (subtitle Default packaging per order type). The page states its purpose: Applied once per order, by order type (e.g. 1 bag per takeout order). These lines are added once per order, no matter how many dishes it contains.

The settings “Packaging” page with its description and the line editor, still empty.
Add a packaging item and its quantity
Click Add packaging. In the Packaging item column, search for and select an item. The Unit and Unit cost fill in automatically from the chosen item. Enter the Quantity (decimals are allowed, e.g. 0.5). Add a Note if needed, and repeat for each packaging item.
Tick the order types
In the Applies to column, turn on one or more chips: Counter, Dine-in, Delivery, Platform. The same item can apply to several types at once. Each line needs at least one type ticked, otherwise InnoBooks shows Select at least one service type. and blocks the save.
Save the defaults
Click Save. The button stays disabled until you have a valid change to save. On success, InnoBooks confirms with Packaging saved. Empty rows (with no item) are simply ignored on save.
Add a dish’s own packaging
For packaging tied to a specific dish, open the item in Items & Services, go to the Recipe tab, then scroll to the Packaging section (marked Not included in the food cost %). You get the same editor — item, quantity, unit, unit cost, order types — but this packaging is counted per serving of the dish. It is saved together with the item, via the dialog’s save button.
Read the packaging cost per serving
Below the dish’s packaging lines, a Packaging cost / serving (Estimated) panel shows one amount per order type: Counter, Dine-in, Delivery and Platform. Each amount sums only the lines ticked for that type — handy to see how much packaging adds by sales channel.

Tips & edge cases

The Unit cost can’t be edited in the editor: it comes from the packaging item’s Last buying price. To fix a cost, update the item’s buying price, not the packaging line.
If a packaging item has no known cost (no buying price), an amber banner appears: Some ingredients have no known cost; the total is incomplete. and the Unit cost column stays blank (—). Add a buying price to the item to complete the calculation.
Two levels, two logics: Settings define packaging per order (e.g. 1 bag per takeout order), while a dish’s Recipe tab defines packaging per serving.
Packaging never enters the food cost %: it is costed separately so it doesn’t skew your food cost.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the difference between Settings packaging and a dish’s packaging?

Settings › Packaging defines a default packaging applied once per order, by order type (e.g. 1 bag per takeout order). A dish’s Recipe tab adds packaging counted per serving of that dish. Both use the same order types.

Why doesn’t a packaging item’s cost show up?

Because the packaging item has no Last buying price. Its Unit cost column then shows “—” and an amber banner flags that the total is incomplete. Open the item and give it a buying price.

Is packaging included in my food cost?

No. Packaging is explicitly Not included in the food cost %. It is shown separately, by order type, so your food cost percentage reflects only the ingredients.