SalevaWhat this tool does
A stock count, or stock take, is how you find out whether the stock on your shelves matches the stock in your records. This tool turns a list of products into a printed count sheet with a row for each one: the unit, the quantity your records say you should have, an empty box for what you actually count, and a box for the difference. Blank rows at the end catch the items you find that were not on the list.
How to use it
- Paste or type your products, one per line: name, unit and the quantity on record, separated by commas. Only the name is needed.
- Add the shelf or section if you are counting one part of the shop at a time, and choose how many blank rows to add.
- Untick the quantity on record for a blind count: the person counting does not see what the records say, so they count what is really there.
- Print the sheets, count with a pen, then work out the differences.
Worked example
Your records say 24 bottles of cooking oil. On the shelf and in the store room you count 21. Write 21 under Counted and −3 under Difference. Three bottles are missing: sold without a bill, damaged, or taken. A difference of a few units on cheap items is normal; a difference on expensive items, or the same item every month, is worth looking into.
difference = counted − on record
Count when the shop is closed or quiet, one section at a time, and count the store room in the same sitting, so nothing is sold or moved between your record and your count.
Questions
How often should a small shop count stock?
A full count once or twice a year, and a short count of fast-moving or expensive items every week or month. Small regular counts find problems before they grow.
What is a blind count?
A count where the sheet does not show the quantity on record. The person counting has to count what is there instead of ticking off the expected number, so the result is more honest.
Can I paste my list from Excel or Google Sheets?
Yes. Copy the columns for name, unit and quantity and paste them into the box. Tabs between columns work as well as commas.
Related reading
- How to do a full stock take in one evening
- Reducing stock loss in a small shop: expiry, damage, theft and wrong counts
- Barcode label maker, so items without a barcode can be scanned at the till
Saleva has a stock count built in: scan or type what is on the shelf and it shows every difference and when each product was last counted. Get the free Android app.