What is a stocktake?

1. Pause the changes

   Count outside trading hours, or write down sales made during the count so they can be allowed for.

2. Count every product

   Include the back room and storage. Count before looking at the expected number.

3. Compare

   Set each counted figure against the recorded one and note the difference.

4. Investigate and correct

   Check large gaps for a miscount or a missed delivery, then update the record.

A stationery shop closes on Sunday afternoon and counts three products:

The net difference is -$3.30 + $1.50 = -$1.80. The six extra pens are worth a look: a supplier may have sent more than billed, or a return was not recorded. The three missing notebooks go in as loss after checking, and the records are corrected to match the shelf.

Many small shops do a full stocktake once or twice a year and use a cycle count in between. The common mistakes are counting while customers are buying, counting only the shop floor, adjusting totals to look right, and never finding out why a gap appeared. A stocktake feeds directly into your shrinkage figure and your inventory valuation.

The stock count sheet is a printable page to write counts on, and the full guide shows how to count without closing the shop.

Rapid stock count lets you scan or search each product and enter the number you counted. The count is stored as a movement, so the history of corrections stays visible.