How to Set Up Inquiries in BakeSmart

Overview

This article walks through how to set up Inquiries in BakeSmart, including configuring the public Inquiry Form, assigning employee access, setting lead times and budget ranges, and managing the customer-facing options that appear on the form.

This guide covers setup only.
For managing and responding to inquiries, see How to Use Inquiries in BakeSmart.

Accessing Inquiry Settings

All Inquiry settings are managed from:

Dashboard → Settings → Orders → Inquiries

From this page, you can configure the public Inquiry Form and assign employees who will manage incoming inquiries.

Customer Inquiry Form

Viewing the Public Inquiry Form

At the top of the Inquiries settings page, click the Customer Form link (shown in red).

This opens the public Inquiry Form exactly as customers will see it.
You may copy this link and add it to your website or other customer-facing pages.

Inquiry URL format:
[subdomain].bakesmart.com/ask

Your subdomain is found under:
Settings → Company → Company Information

Customizing the Inquiry Form

Form Title

• Default: Order Inquiry Form
• Update this to match your bakery (for example: Custom Cake Inquiry or Wedding Cake Request)

Form Instructions

• Displayed at the top of the Inquiry Form
• Use this space to explain what information customers should provide and what to expect next

Success Message

• Displayed after a customer submits an inquiry
• Customize this message to match your brand tone

Image Upload Settings

Customers may upload inspiration images with their inquiry.

• Maximum allowed: 8 images
• You may reduce the maximum
• You cannot exceed 8 images

Budget Ranges

Budget ranges appear as selectable options on the Inquiry Form.

Default ranges:

• $0–$100
• $100–$200
• $200–$300
• $300–$400
• $400–$500
• Over $500

You may add, edit, or remove budget ranges.

If no ranges are configured, the form defaults to the list above.

Inquiry Lead Times

Lead times control how far in advance customers can request fulfillment.

Default values:

• Minimum Lead Days: 1
• Maximum Lead Days: 365
• Maximum Lead Days with Weddings Subscription: 1000

If Minimum Lead Days remains set to 1, customers can request next-day fulfillment.

When setting lead times, consider your full workflow, including inquiry review, quoting, payment collection, and production scheduling.

Quote Expiration

Quotes created from inquiries include an expiration date.

• Default expiration: 30 days
• This value can be adjusted as needed

Email Behavior for Inquiries

The email address entered in Inquiry Settings is used to notify your bakery when a new inquiry or an inquiry response is received.

This email functions as an alert only.
All inquiry communication, replies, quoting, and order actions take place inside the BakeSmart app.

Customers are directed back to their inquiry thread in BakeSmart for ongoing communication.

Company Branding on the Inquiry Form

The Inquiry Form automatically uses your existing company branding, including:

• Company name
• Address
• Phone number
• Logo
• Website colors

These fields cannot be edited from the Inquiries settings page.

To update branding, navigate to:
Settings → Company → Company Information

Assigning Employees to Inquiries

Only email-based users with the appropriate permission level can be assigned to manage inquiries.

Requirements for Inquiry Access

• The employee must be an email-based user (PIN-only users cannot be assigned)
• The employee must have Shift Supervisor permissions or higher
• All Admin users are automatically assigned access to Inquiries

Assigning Additional Employees

At the bottom of the Inquiries settings page:

1. Select an eligible employee from the dropdown
2. Click Assign Permission
3. The employee appears in the list of users with Inquiry access
4. Click Save Settings

Only employees who meet these requirements and are assigned access will see the Inquiries Inbox.

Setting Up Occasions

Occasions appear as a dropdown option on the public Inquiry Form.

Navigate to:
Dashboard → Settings → Orders → Occasions

Common examples include:

• Birthday
• Anniversary
• Wedding
• Graduation
• Baby Shower
• Corporate Event

Adding an Occasion

1. Click Add Occasion
2. Enter the occasion name
3. Click Save

Customers will select from these options when submitting an inquiry.

Video Walkthrough

Placeholder – Video coming soon

Related Articles

• Understanding Inquiries in BakeSmart
• How to Use Inquiries in BakeSmart
• Understanding eCommerce Settings
• Understanding Payments & Payment Requests