Categories & Organizing Your Inventory

4 min readPublished April 12, 2026

Creating Categories in Settings

The primary place to manage your inventory categories is the Settings > Inventory page. Here you can create, rename, and delete categories and their sub-categories.

  1. 1Navigate to Settings > Inventory from the sidebar.
  2. 2In the Inventory Categories section, click Add Category.
  3. 3Enter the category name and save.
  4. 4The new category appears as a collapsible card that you can expand to manage sub-categories.

Creating Sub-Categories

Sub-categories live under a parent category and provide a second level of organization. For example, a 'Screens' parent category might have sub-categories like 'iPhone Screens' and 'Samsung Screens'.

  1. 1In Settings > Inventory, find the parent category and expand it.
  2. 2Click the option to add a sub-category.
  3. 3Enter the sub-category name and save.
  4. 4The sub-category now appears nested under its parent in all category dropdowns and filters.

Quick-Creating Categories from the Item Form

When you are adding or editing an item and realize a category is missing, you can create one without leaving the form.

  1. 1On the add or edit item form, find the '+ New category name' field below the Category dropdown.
  2. 2Type the name of the new category.
  3. 3In the parent selector, choose 'Top-level (no parent)' for a new parent category, or select an existing category to create a sub-category.
  4. 4Press Enter or click the plus button.
  5. 5The new category is created instantly and automatically selected for the current item.
Tip

Inline category creation is a fast way to build your taxonomy organically as you add items, rather than planning everything in advance.

Renaming & Deleting Categories

Categories can be edited or removed from the Settings > Inventory page. Each category card shows a count of items assigned to it, helping you understand the impact of changes.

  1. 1Go to Settings > Inventory.
  2. 2Find the category you want to modify.
  3. 3Click the edit icon to rename it, or the delete icon to remove it.
  4. 4Check the item count displayed on the category card before deleting — those items will become uncategorized.
Warning

Deleting a parent category does not automatically delete its sub-categories. Review sub-categories before removing a parent.

Filtering Inventory by Category

Categories become powerful when combined with inventory filters. Use them to quickly find groups of items.

  1. 1On the inventory list page, use the Category dropdown filter to select a parent category.
  2. 2If the selected category has children, a Sub Category dropdown appears — select one to narrow further.
  3. 3The inventory list updates in real time to show only matching items.
  4. 4Combine category filters with the search bar, Supplier filter, or Usage Type tabs for even more precise results.

Managing Brands

Brands are managed separately from categories in Settings > Inventory. They represent the manufacturer or brand name of your products.

  1. 1Go to Settings > Inventory and scroll to the Brands section.
  2. 2Click Add Brand to create a new brand.
  3. 3Enter the brand name and save.
  4. 4Edit or delete brands using the icons next to each entry. The usage count shows how many items use each brand.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between categories and brands in Fixmo?+
Categories define what type of item it is (e.g., Screens, Batteries, Cables), while Brands identify the manufacturer (e.g., Samsung, Apple, Belkin). They are managed separately in Settings > Inventory and serve different organizational purposes.
Can I nest categories more than two levels deep?+
Fixmo supports two levels: parent categories and sub-categories. You cannot create a sub-sub-category. For deeper organization, consider using a naming convention within sub-categories.
Can I delete a category that has items assigned to it?+
Fixmo shows the number of items using each category. You can delete a category, but items assigned to it will become uncategorized. Review the item count before deleting.
How do I create a category from the add item form?+
Below the Category dropdown on the add item form, type a name in the '+ New category name' field. Select whether it should be top-level or a child of an existing category, then press Enter or click the plus button.
Can I rename a category?+
Yes. Go to Settings > Inventory, find the category, and click the edit icon. Update the name and save. The new name applies immediately across all items assigned to that category.

Related Articles

Inventory9 min read

Adding Items to Your Inventory

Learn how to add new inventory items in Fixmo, including pricing, stock tracking, serial numbers, categories, and advanced fields.

Read article
Inventory5 min read

Searching, Filtering & Bulk Updates

Find items fast with search and filters, then apply bulk changes to pricing, categories, tax, and more across multiple items at once.

Read article
Settings & Configuration3 min read

Inventory Settings

Organize your inventory with categories, sub-categories, and brands in Fixmo. Create a structured product catalog for efficient stock management.

Read article