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This page answers the most common questions teams ask when getting started with Batchlane and when using it in day-to-day production operations. If you don’t find what you’re looking for here, reach out through the in-app support chat or visit the community forum.

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Getting started

No. The Free plan requires no credit card. Create your account at the sign-up page and start using Batchlane immediately. You only need to add a payment method when you choose to upgrade to Growth or Pro.
Most teams add their first items, receive their first lot, and complete their first batch record within 30 minutes. The quickstart guide walks you through each of those steps in order. If you have an existing inventory spreadsheet, the CSV import can speed things up further — see the question below.
Yes. Batchlane supports CSV import for both items and lots. Navigate to the Import screen, download the template for the data type you want to import, map your existing columns to the template fields, and upload the file. The importer validates your data before committing, so you can catch and fix errors before anything is saved.

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Lots and inventory

An item is the product definition — for example, “Jalapeño” or “Glass Jar 8 oz.” A lot is a specific quantity of that item you received on a specific date from a specific supplier, with its own lot number and expiry date. You can have multiple active lots of the same item at the same time. When you run production, Batchlane draws down from specific lots, not from the item in general.
Yes. Create items for any packaging component you want to track — jars, lids, labels, boxes, or anything else. Receive lots of packaging the same way you receive ingredient lots. Packaging items can then be included in your recipes so that a batch run deducts from both ingredient and packaging lots.
When you complete a batch run, the quantity of each ingredient and packaging lot consumed is deducted from that lot’s on-hand balance. Every movement is logged with the batch record reference, so you have a full audit trail. If the entire quantity of a lot is consumed, its status automatically changes to Finished. Partially consumed lots remain active and available for future runs.
A Certificate of Analysis (COA) is a document your supplier provides confirming the quality and safety specifications — such as microbial counts, moisture, or allergen testing — for a specific lot. Batchlane tracks a COA status for each lot: Missing, Uploaded, or Reviewed. You can attach the COA file directly to the lot record. On Growth and Pro plans, the document queue gives you a consolidated view of every lot with a missing or pending COA so nothing slips through.

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Batch records and production

Yes. Recipes in Batchlane are versioned. When you create a new batch run, you select the recipe and the specific version you want to use. Previous versions are preserved and never overwritten, so you always have a record of exactly which formulation was in use at any point in time.
You cannot edit a signed batch record — that protection is intentional and preserves your audit trail. Instead, add a deviation note to the batch record explaining what happened and what the correct information is. The deviation note is timestamped, attributed to your user account, and attached permanently to the record.
Yes. Each batch run is completely independent. When you start a new run from the same recipe, you select fresh lot inputs from your current inventory. Two runs of the same recipe on the same day can draw from entirely different lots, and each run’s batch record will reflect exactly which lots were used.

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FEFO and expiry

FEFO stands for First Expired, First Out. When you select an ingredient or packaging item for a batch run, Batchlane automatically suggests the lot with the earliest expiry date. Using the soonest-to-expire lot first minimizes waste and reduces the risk of an expired lot sitting unnoticed at the back of your inventory.
Yes. Select a different lot from the dropdown and confirm the override. Batchlane logs the override in the batch record — including which lot was suggested and which lot you chose — so the decision is traceable if questions come up later.
Expired lots are automatically blocked from production selection so they cannot be used in a new batch run by accident. They remain visible in the inventory ledger with an Expired status, giving you a clear list to review, quarantine, or dispose of. Expired lots are not deleted and continue to appear in historical traceability reports.

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QuickBooks

No. Batchlane is built to run plant operations — lot receiving, batch records, FEFO, traceability — not to replace your accounting system. QuickBooks remains your system of record for financials. Batchlane sends summarized inventory adjustments and cost-of-goods-sold entries to QuickBooks so your books stay accurate without requiring double-entry.
You need QuickBooks Online (QBO). Any QBO plan that supports journal entries and inventory items will work with Batchlane’s handoff feature. QuickBooks Desktop is not currently supported.
No. QuickBooks handoff is available on the Pro plan only. If you are on Free or Growth and need this feature, upgrade to Pro from your workspace Settings → Billing page.

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Plans and billing

Each new lot receipt you create counts as one lot toward the monthly limit. Consuming an existing lot in production — or updating its quantity, status, or COA — does not count against the limit. The counter resets at the start of each billing month.
Yes. Upgrades take effect immediately — you gain access to the new plan’s features right away, and your billing is prorated for the remainder of the current cycle. Downgrades take effect at the end of your current billing cycle so you keep access to your current plan through the period you’ve already paid for.
Yes. Growth and Pro plans both save 20% when billed annually. That works out to roughly 159/moforGrowth(versus159/mo for Growth (versus 199/mo monthly) and roughly 559/moforPro(versus559/mo for Pro (versus 699/mo monthly). Switch to annual billing from your workspace Settings → Billing page at any time.