How to add product variants in stub

Sell a Classic Crew Neck T-Shirt in Small, Medium, and Large? Don't make three separate products. Make one, and give it variants.

That's the whole idea. One product at the top (Classic Crew Neck T-Shirt), three variants underneath (Small, Medium, Large). Your customers still see every option. Your reports still track each one. Your catalogue stays tidy.

Works for anything you sell - products with stock, services you charge for, hourly rates, packages. If it's got options, it can have variants.

Two ways to add variants

You can add variants when you're creating a brand new product, or to a product that's already in your catalogue. Same end result, slightly different starting point.

Option 1: When creating a new product

Setting up a new product and already know it comes in different sizes, colours, or options? Add the variants right there, no need to come back later.

1. Head to Products & Services in the sidebar.
2. Tap + Item in the top right.
3. Fill in your product Name, Description, and Price as normal. This becomes the umbrella product and the default price your variants inherit.
4. Scroll down and tap + Variant.
5. A Variants section opens up. Enter the variant Name (e.g. Small) and Price, then tap + Variant again to add the next one.
6. Repeat until all your variants are in, then tap Save.

That's the full setup in one go - product and variants, saved together.

Option 2: To a product that's already in your catalogue

Already got the product in stub and want to add variants now? Easy.

1. Head to Products & Services in the sidebar.
2. Tap the product you want to add variants to.
3. The Item panel pops open with the name, stock, and price.
4. Hit the three-dot menu (…) on the bottom left.
5. Pick + Variant.

From here, add as many variants as you need.

Filling in your variant details

Whichever pathway you took, each variant needs the same core details:

1. Name - Call it what it is: Small, Medium, Large. This is what shows up on your invoices and quotes.
2. Price - Pre-filled with the parent product's price. Tap to change it. Each variant can have its own price, so your Small and your XL can sit at different price points.
3. VAT - Tap + VAT if this variant needs VAT applied. (Note: VAT is a PRO feature.)
4. Optional extras - Add a Description, Cost price, SKU, Notes, or Image if this variant needs its own detail.
5. Hit Save.

Done. Repeat the same flow for the rest of your variants.

What happens to your existing stock

Only matters if the product already has stock on the books. Adding variants to a service or a brand new product? Skip this bit.

If the product already has stock tracked, stub gives you a friendly yellow heads-up:

Classic Crew Neck T-Shirt has 25 stock that will be moved to this variant.

What this means: your existing stock gets moved onto the first variant you create, so nothing goes missing or gets counted twice. From there, split the stock across your other variants as you add them, or do a stock take to rebalance.

This stock-moving only happens on the first variant. Every variant after that starts at zero, and you add stock as you go.

Using variants on invoices and quotes

When you add the product to an invoice or quote, stub asks which variant you're selling. Your customer sees the full name on their invoice (Classic Crew Neck T-Shirt - Medium), and the price and stock update automatically.

Tips for using variants

• Keep names consistent. Pick a style and stick to it. Small, Medium, Large reads better than Small, M, Family size.
• Use SKUs if you track shelf stock. Unique SKUs per variant make stock takes and reorders way easier.
• Price each variant properly. Set each variant's own price rather than averaging across sizes - your reports will thank you.
• Add variant images if they look different in real life. Your customer spots Red versus Navy at a glance.

Why variants matter

• Cleaner catalogue. One product line instead of several near-duplicates.
• Better reports. Know exactly which size or option is selling best.
• Accurate stock. Track each version on its own, so you reorder the right thing at the right time.
• Faster invoicing. Pick the product, pick the variant, send.

One product, many versions. Shelf sorted, books tidy.