BatchScale

Scale your prototypes to small batches with dead-simple inventory tracking.

Score: 7.6/10GuineaMedium BuildReady to Spawn
Brand Colors

The Opportunity

Problem

Solo manufacturing freelancers struggle to scale from prototype to small batch production due to the lack of effective inventory and fulfillment tools.

Solution

BatchScale provides tailored inventory management for solo makers, tracking raw materials, parts, and finished goods across small production runs. It automates low-stock alerts and batch costing to prevent shortages during scaling. Users get real-time visibility to make informed production decisions without spreadsheets.

Target Audience

Solo manufacturing freelancers scaling from prototypes to small batch production

Differentiator

Hyper-focused on small-batch manufacturing workflows, unlike general tools that overwhelm solo freelancers with enterprise features.

Brand Voice

supportive

Features

Inventory Dashboard

must-have20h

Real-time overview of stock levels, incoming materials, and batch usage.

Batch Tracking

must-have25h

Create and monitor production batches with material consumption logging.

Low-Stock Alerts

must-have15h

Automated email/SMS notifications for reorder points.

Cost Calculator

must-have18h

Per-batch costing including materials, labor, and overhead.

Supplier Directory

must-have12h

Built-in list of common maker suppliers with reorder links.

Mobile Scanner

nice-to-have20h

QR code scanning for quick inventory updates.

Reports Export

nice-to-have10h

PDF/CSV exports of inventory and batch reports.

API Integrations

future30h

Connect to Etsy/Shopify for sales-triggered inventory deducts.

Total Build Time: 150 hours

Database Schema

users

ColumnTypeNullable
iduuidNo
emailtextNo
subscription_tiertextYes
created_attimestampNo

inventory_items

ColumnTypeNullable
iduuidNo
user_iduuidNo
nametextNo
quantityintNo
reorder_pointintYes
unit_costfloatYes

Relationships:

  • user_id -> users.id

batches

ColumnTypeNullable
iduuidNo
user_iduuidNo
nametextNo
quantity_plannedintNo
statustextNo
created_attimestampNo

Relationships:

  • user_id -> users.id

batch_items

ColumnTypeNullable
iduuidNo
batch_iduuidNo
inventory_item_iduuidNo
quantity_usedintNo

Relationships:

  • batch_id -> batches.id
  • inventory_item_id -> inventory_items.id

API Endpoints

GET
/api/inventory

Fetch user's inventory items

🔒 Auth Required
POST
/api/inventory

Add new inventory item

🔒 Auth Required
POST
/api/batches

Create new batch

🔒 Auth Required
PUT
/api/batches/:id/complete

Mark batch complete and deduct inventory

🔒 Auth Required
GET
/api/alerts

Get pending low-stock alerts

🔒 Auth Required

Tech Stack

Frontend
Next.js 14 + Tailwind + Shadcn/ui + Recharts
Backend
Next.js API routes
Database
Supabase Postgres
Auth
Supabase Auth
Payments
Stripe
Hosting
Vercel
Additional Tools
Resend for emailsZod for validation

Build Timeline

Week 1: Core setup and auth

30h
  • Project init
  • User auth
  • Basic dashboard

Week 2: Inventory CRUD

35h
  • Inventory features
  • DB schema

Week 3: Batch management

30h
  • Batch creation/tracking
  • Consumption logic

Week 4: Alerts and costing

25h
  • Alerts system
  • Cost calc
  • Mobile resp

Week 5: Payments and tiers

20h
  • Stripe integration
  • Tier gating

Week 6: Polish and launch

20h
  • Landing page
  • Testing
  • Deploy
Total Timeline: 6 weeks • 160 hours

Pricing Tiers

Free

$0/mo

3 active batches

  • 1 workspace
  • 50 inventory items
  • Basic alerts

Pro

$35/mo
  • Unlimited items/batches
  • Custom suppliers
  • Advanced reports

Scale

$79/mo

5 workspaces

  • All Pro + API access
  • Priority support
  • Custom branding

Revenue Projections

MonthUsersConversionMRRARR
Month 11002%$70$840
Month 66005%$1,050$12,600

Unit Economics

$40
CAC
$600
LTV
4%
Churn
92%
Margin
LTV:CAC Ratio: 15.0xExcellent!

Landing Page Copy

Scale Your Making Without Inventory Nightmares

BatchScale tracks materials and batches so solo manufacturers can focus on crafting, not counting.

Feature Highlights

Auto low-stock alerts
Batch costing in seconds
Mobile-ready dashboard
Etsy-ready exports

Social Proof (Placeholders)

"'Finally, no more spreadsheet hell!' - Maker Alex"
"'Doubled my batch size effortlessly.' - Freelancer Sam"

First Three Customers

Post in r/manufacturing, r/EtsySellers, and Maker Forums with a free beta invite; DM 10 active posters about scaling pains; offer 1-month free Pro after feedback call.

Launch Channels

Product Huntr/SaaSr/manufacturingIndie HackersMaker Facebook groups

SEO Keywords

small batch inventory softwaremaker inventory trackerprototype scaling toolmanufacturing stock management

Competitive Analysis

Craftybase

craftybase.com
$45/mo
Strength

Crafter-focused inventory

Weakness

No batch production tracking

Our Advantage

Deeper batch workflows for scaling makers

Katana MRP

katanamrp.com
$99/mo
Strength

Full MRP

Weakness

Overkill for solos, steep learning

Our Advantage

Solo-friendly, 1/3 price

🏰 Moat Strategy

User-generated supplier data and batch templates create stickiness and network effects among makers.

⏰ Why Now?

Etsy/maker sales booming post-pandemic, but tools lag for proto-to-batch transition.

Risks & Mitigation

marketmedium severity

Low adoption if makers stick to spreadsheets

Mitigation

Free tier + targeted outreach to pain posters

technicallow severity

Inventory sync bugs in batches

Mitigation

Heavy unit testing on core logic

executionmedium severity

Slow feature iteration solo

Mitigation

Prioritize MVP, user feedback loops

Validation Roadmap

pre-build7 days

Interview 10 makers on scaling pains

Success: 80% confirm inventory as top pain

mvp14 days

Beta with 5 users, track usage

Success: Daily logins >50%

launch30 days

PH launch, 100 signups

Success: 5% convert to paid

growth60 days

SEO content + referrals

Success: 20% MoM growth

Pivot Options

  • General crafter inventory
  • Etsy-only integration focus
  • Hardware kit builders niche

Quick Stats

Build Time
160h
Target MRR (6 mo)
$1,000
Market Size
$500.0M
Features
8
Database Tables
4
API Endpoints
5