# Prep sheets

Build prep lists for each location, such as AM Prep, with a target for each line. Mays compares the targets with what's on hand and shows how much to prep today.

For: Admins, Managers · On: Web · [Help Center](https://www.mays.app/help) › [Inventory](https://www.mays.app/help/inventory) · Last updated October 4, 2026 · Mays Team

Build prep lists for each location, such as *AM Prep*, with a target for each line. Mays compares the targets with what's on hand and shows how much to prep today.

**Where:** **Inventory → Prep** on the web (the page is **Prep Sheets**), for the location picked in the sidebar. Admins, and managers at their own locations.

## Create a prep sheet

1. Click **New sheet**, type a **Sheet name** such as *AM Prep*, and click **Create**. The sheet opens in **Manage**.
2. Click **Add line** for each thing to prep, and fill in:
   - **Kind:** **Item** for something you stock and count, or **Recipe** for something made from one of your recipes;
   - **Recipe / Item:** search for it and pick it;
   - **Target qty:** how much you want ready, your prep par;
   - **Unit:** for an item, leave it empty to use the item's count unit (shown in grey).
3. Use **⋮** on a line to **Move Up**, **Move Down** or **Remove** it.
4. Click **Save sheet**.

![Managing the AM Prep sheet: Croissants 36 each, Sourdough loaf 10 loaf and Avocados 24 each as Item lines, Avocado toast 12 each as a Recipe line, with the ⋮ menu on each line, Add line, Delete sheet and Save sheet](https://mays-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/site/help__prep-sheets__01-prep-manage.42269986e2.png)

Each sheet is a tab at the top of the page. **Delete sheet** removes the open one.

## See how much to prep today

Click **Today** and pick the sheet's tab.

| Column | What it shows |
| --- | --- |
| **Target par** | The target you set. |
| **On hand** | This location's current stock of the item, in its count unit. Recipe lines show —. |
| **Suggested** | The target minus what's on hand, never below zero. A recipe line always suggests its full target. |

In the example, the target is 36 croissants and 22 are on hand, so the sheet suggests 14.

![Today's AM Prep: Croissants target 36 each, 22 on hand, suggested 14 each; Sourdough loaf 10 loaf, 4 on hand, suggested 6 loaf; Avocados 24 each, 11 on hand, suggested 13 each; Avocado toast 12 each, on hand —, suggested 12 each](https://mays-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/site/help__prep-sheets__02-prep-today.e2155fa0cc.png)

Click **Print** to print today's list with the sheet's name and today's date.

## Good to know

- **The suggestions are only as good as your last count.** On hand is your last count plus deliveries, minus waste and sales since. Count before you prep. See [Running stock counts](https://www.mays.app/help/inventory/stock-counts) and [Stock on hand](https://www.mays.app/help/inventory/stock-on-hand).
- **Use the item's count unit for item lines.** On hand is always in the count unit and the target isn't converted, so a target typed in another unit, such as *case*, gives a wrong suggestion.
- **Recipe lines don't know what's left.** Mays doesn't keep stock of things you make, so a recipe line always asks for its whole target.
- **Prepping doesn't change stock.** Printing or finishing a sheet doesn't take ingredients out or add anything, and there's nothing to tick off in Mays.
- Prep sheets belong to one location and are on the web only.

## Related articles

- Inventory: [Stock on hand](https://www.mays.app/help/inventory/stock-on-hand) — See what a location has on hand right now, set each item's par level and spot what's below par. Counts, deliveries, waste, sales and transfers keep it current.
- Inventory: [Running stock counts](https://www.mays.app/help/inventory/stock-counts) — A count records what's on your shelves. Submitting it sets each counted item's stock on hand and shows how far it was from what Mays expected.
- Inventory: [Recipes and plate costing](https://www.mays.app/help/inventory/recipes-and-costing) — A recipe lists what goes into one menu item. Mays prices each ingredient from your vendor prices and shows the plate's cost, cost % and margin.
- Inventory: [Inventory items](https://www.mays.app/help/inventory/inventory-items) — Items are what you count, order and cost, like a carton of oat milk or a pound of espresso. Each has a count unit, other units such as a case, and vendor prices.
- Inventory: [Inventory at a glance](https://www.mays.app/help/inventory/inventory-overview) — Inventory tracks what you stock, what it costs and what you use, from items and vendors to counts, orders, invoices and waste. It's part of the Pro plan.

## Still need help?

Send us a support request and a real person on the Mays team will get back to you.

[Contact support](https://www.mays.app/contact?topic=support) · [Call +1 (561) 286-3939](tel:+15612863939)

Canonical: https://www.mays.app/help/inventory/prep-sheets