Frequently asked questions

Werkbank is software for ceramics studios that tracks customers' work through the firing: from 'in progress' to 'in the kiln' to 'ready for pickup'. Customers get an automatic message the moment their work is done, while you keep track of firing costs and kiln scheduling.

Ceramics studios running classes or a drop-in. Typically a studio with one or more teachers, a group of participants per class, and a kiln that fires on a set schedule.

Yes. Most studios start with a name, their first kiln and their first batch; customers get added as they come in. If you're currently on Kiln Fire, Kilnfox or another package, get in touch, we help move your customer list over.

We are onboarding a small group of pilot studios now and help personally with the setup. Sign up via the waitlist.

Yes. By default you split a flat amount evenly across the loaded pieces or batches, no weighing, no complex formulas. Prefer to fold firing costs into your class fee or clay price instead? Just switch the costs feature off.

Not yet: we are starting with ceramics studios and getting Werkbank right there first. The model (work that goes through a shared process, such as a kiln, drying room or press) fits other crafts in principle; those come later. Some words in the app, such as 'firing', come from ceramics.

No. Every customer gets a unique link showing exactly where their work is in the firing, no account, no password, no app to install.

Start is free (1 kiln, 1 staff seat, up to 25 customers). Werkbank costs €29 a month excl. VAT (up to 5 kilns and 8 staff), Werkbank Plus €59 a month excl. VAT (up to 15 kilns, 25 staff and 2 locations). Every feature is on at every paid tier; multiple locations are Werkbank Plus only. You pay for scale (kilns, staff, locations), never for the number of pieces or customers. Extra kilns, staff and locations beyond your tier can be added separately (an extra location is €5 a month). Paying yearly means 10 months billed instead of 12. Never a fee on your revenue.

Because a bigger studio (more kilns, more staff, more locations) objectively gets more out of Werkbank, and that can cost a little more. How much you sell or how many pieces go through the kiln does not change your price: no fee on your revenue. The step up is always known in advance and your own choice.

Start is the free core: tracking pieces through the firing and automatic done emails, capped at 1 kiln, 1 staff seat and 25 customers. Werkbank removes those caps (up to 5 kilns and 8 staff) and adds: splitting firing costs across customers, tracking an outstanding balance per customer, full CSV export, waitlist, deep mode, policy page and API access. Online payment and automatic direct debit for memberships via Mollie work once you have connected your own Mollie account (Manage › Integrations); without a connection customers pay at the studio.

Yes, there is no long-term contract: you cancel whenever you like, effective at the end of the paid period. If you downgrade, your data stays but features above your new plan are paused; you never silently lose anything.

Each location gets its own kilns, customers and scheduling, all under one account you can switch between easily. Multiple locations are part of Werkbank Plus, with 2 locations included (the main location and one extra); beyond that, an extra location is available on request (email us; we switch it on manually).

Your studio data — customers, work, firings and costs — is stored in a database in the EU (Frankfurt), and the app runs there too. We only use website analytics (PostHog EU) if you consent. Werkbank is a Dutch business and works with a data processing agreement, which lists the processors we use.

International tools such as Kiln Fire and Kilnfox have you enter each piece separately. Werkbank uses the batch — a whole course group — as the unit, and charges a flat rate by scale, with no fee on your revenue. Werkbank is Dutch-first and your studio data is stored in the EU. The full comparison is on the compare page.