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I'm looking to inventory a newly obtained retail store. I need suggestions on what scanning equipment and which software anyone can recommend. Perhaps something in microsoft that I already have can handle the task but I'm new to this type of computing. Thanks.
If you are interested in scanning then probably you are considering POS (point of sale) equipment. There are many packages that do inventory as well as POS. Many are free on the web. I don't know what kind of store you have. One of the harder to do systems involve size/color matrix which are needed for clothes, jewelry, and shoes.
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It is a retail plumbing store. But I will also need inventory on our wholesale items and for install items. Which programs do you recommend? Also, any POS equip. you may have had exp. with or have gotten feedback on.
Thanks for responding!- Aaron Coberg
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Better programs will allow you to set prices by customer type for wholesale, also adjust taxes for wholesale, there should also be the ability to set quantity prices. Offhand I would not recommend software until you determine how many checkout positions and how you handle back office procedures. For smaller operations bundled POS equipment seem to work reasonably well. You will need a barcode scanner (lasers are more accurate), cash drawer, customer display, receipt printer, plus the usual computer, monitor, keyboard, mouse. Mice adds considerably to the transaction time. If your products are not supplied barcoded then you will also need a label printer. You will also probably need networking. For sales workstations DOS type software may be considerably faster. You should observe the systems in use at various stores.
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So, where do I find the POS store? :) Great information and things I had not considered... Where do I begin to research & shop for this?
Thanks again.
- Aaron
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First search Google. I have found several good downloads for POS programs. Unfortunately I don't have them on my present system. Check especially the availability with the back office functions, inventory, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and general ledger. Another thing to consider is credit card and check processing.
My first consideration is a comfortable system for the operator/cashier and smooth work flow. (1) Enter/scan item (2) Adjust quantity of needed (3) Repeat, Next item (4)
Process payment (5) Print receipt.There are also many vendors of equipment on the web.
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Okay... One last thing. There are plumbing, flooring, and radiant heat service company's going to be under the same Corp. although located in a different location. Can I manage all 4(including the new retail front) from one place? Meaning inventory, man hours, etc. How would I link them that if something where removed from one store it would show at the other location?
- Aaron
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With every post it is getting a little more complicated. Yes it is possible, but you would have to set up each operating division as a separate profit center. Then you would transfer materials and may be labor from one center (company) to another. Basically retail store "sells" fittings to plumbing service company. By setting the customer type you can transfer the value (price) at cost. If the locations are different are you planning to network the different locations? Do you need real time transfer of data? Actually you have two types of operations a mainly sales (the store) and mainly service (the others). At this point I would suggest seeing you accountant. I have seen a company that had set up their chart of accounts so that the data could be merged and yet they could have independent financial statements for each operation. Basically all movement between divisions have to be logged like real sales. Also there are inventory systems that allow multiple locations for inventory (warehouses) so that if the item is not in stock in one location others can be searched. With regard to labor, it depends on the handling of the payroll for each division.
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Yes, I suppose it has gotten more and more complex. I'm not really sure what I'm going to do yet. I really appreciate all your help! I'm sure I'll ask for something again as it all gets set up. Thanks again.
- Aaron Coberg
NW Indiana
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Would a regular desktop run all the required hardware for POS. (printer, scanner, cc reader)?
Thanks.
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A regular desktop PC can be used, But for a production unit you would prefer a smaller computer and maybe a LCD monitor. Actually you don't need a very high end computer, almost anything from 200 MHz to 1 GHz would work, even an old laptop.
Now is the time for research. Check on your desired accounting procedures, sample the various POS software. See your accountant. If you do your pre-planning you can begin with the store and add other locations and functions as necessary. What you want is data that you don't have to re-enter.
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I currently use quickbooks for book keeping. Are you familiar with POS 4.0 by Quickbooks? They also have a lot of the needed POS hardware right on their site. I was coming to the conclusion that it would be a lot easier to merge(if needed) if I stayed within the same software package. I'm thinking I am going to keep the two business'(sales & services) seperate but would like to be able to view both invertory(s) on a single system. Say a laptop I haul from place to place.
Thanks again.
- Aaron
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I have seen the Quickbooks POS being sold at one of the discount big boxes (Sam's Club). I have friends that have used Quickbooks. (I just took a quick glance at the quickbooks offerings.) There is a pro version for multi-store (up to 10), it may also need the financials (up to $3500 for enterprise package). The hardware offered is industry standard. Of the POS hardware the only things I don't have is the remote display and cash drawer.
Hauling a laptop to sync data is not the way. The multi-location versions would probably have the ability to transfer the data by modem or internet.
Personally my first choice would not be Quickbooks. Some of the accounting systems I have worked with are Real World, Peachtree, ACCPAC, Mas90, SBT, and Alpha Accounting (MCBA). The last two involved customizing applications.
For your reading.
An article on why not Quickbooks. Admittedly biased, but has some true points especially related to performance.
http://www.microsoft.com/BusinessSolutions/Community/sbf_outgrowing_quickbooks.aspxA good article on the process of selecting accounting software.
http://www.asaresearch.com/articles/blueprint25.htmGood luck.
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I'm going through this sort of thing right now. I ran across Retail Plus that will integrate with Quickbooks pretty much the same way that Quickbooks POS does. I purchased it, then found my barcode scanner, cash drawer, and receipt printer on Ebay. I have an older used computer for the software, so all-in-all I'm putting together a single location POS system for under $1000.
I'll be actually putting it into use this week, so you might check in with me and see how it goes.
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Jason -
Thanks for the post. I would definitly be interested in seeing how it goes... You're saying Retail Plus(software) will intermix with Quickbooks? Keep me posted. Thanks again.
- Aaron
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