How to take inventory: 4 easy and effective methods
Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2025 5:01 am
If you have a store, you probably have an inventory, which allows you to keep track of your stock through a list containing the products you offer, with details of the items and their existing quantity. If you don't know how to make an inventory , you've come to the right place!
In this article, we are going to tell you 4 different methods to achieve this, so that you can choose the most practical one for you.
Plus, we've included tips to help you make it easier and resources like an Excel inventory template , which you'll find below. We'll show you how to use it so you can master the art of inventory taking.
How to start an inventory from scratch for my store?
To start making an inventory from scratch for number data your store, the first thing you have to consider is logistics, since counting your merchandise is no small feat. Therefore, we recommend that you follow these steps:
Define a space to organize and classify your items.
Establish the system to follow to make the inventory.
Choose a tool to manage movements.
Make some time in your schedule to review and organize it.
Keep track of your inventory regularly.
Let's go into a little more detail about each of these points to better understand how an inventory is made .
1. Define a space to organize and classify your items
To take inventory, you will probably need a space to place the items , both those you have already counted and those pending. We recommend doing it in a clean, well-lit space to place your merchandise.
If you have a warehouse, you can do it there or, if you have a physical store, you can also use that space to count products.
2. Establish the system to follow to make the inventory
There are different stock systems, depending on the type of merchandise you sell. Whether it is a permanent inventory , a cyclical inventory, a supply inventory, a raw material inventory, or an obsolete inventory, each one is different and requires accounting for different characteristics.
Choose the one that best suits your objective and create the registration tool according to the necessary fields. Need to go back a step? We invite you to read what an inventory is and how many types there are.
3. Choose a tool to manage movements
It is the main tool! Having a document where the inventory results are recorded is essential to make an inventory and keep it updated .
Some people want to learn how to do an inventory by hand, others on the computer, and still others use specialized inventory programs. Therefore, you need to have either a notebook, Google spreadsheet or Excel spreadsheet or software to document the item count.
4. Take a space in your agenda to review and organize it
In addition to the tools, you need to set aside the space in which you will manage your inventory . You may need to pause your sales to do this properly or request help from a team to make it more dynamic and efficient.
Training your team on how to conduct an inventory is vital to optimize the development of this task without losing a lot of time or productivity.
In this article, we are going to tell you 4 different methods to achieve this, so that you can choose the most practical one for you.
Plus, we've included tips to help you make it easier and resources like an Excel inventory template , which you'll find below. We'll show you how to use it so you can master the art of inventory taking.
How to start an inventory from scratch for my store?
To start making an inventory from scratch for number data your store, the first thing you have to consider is logistics, since counting your merchandise is no small feat. Therefore, we recommend that you follow these steps:
Define a space to organize and classify your items.
Establish the system to follow to make the inventory.
Choose a tool to manage movements.
Make some time in your schedule to review and organize it.
Keep track of your inventory regularly.
Let's go into a little more detail about each of these points to better understand how an inventory is made .
1. Define a space to organize and classify your items
To take inventory, you will probably need a space to place the items , both those you have already counted and those pending. We recommend doing it in a clean, well-lit space to place your merchandise.
If you have a warehouse, you can do it there or, if you have a physical store, you can also use that space to count products.
2. Establish the system to follow to make the inventory
There are different stock systems, depending on the type of merchandise you sell. Whether it is a permanent inventory , a cyclical inventory, a supply inventory, a raw material inventory, or an obsolete inventory, each one is different and requires accounting for different characteristics.
Choose the one that best suits your objective and create the registration tool according to the necessary fields. Need to go back a step? We invite you to read what an inventory is and how many types there are.
3. Choose a tool to manage movements
It is the main tool! Having a document where the inventory results are recorded is essential to make an inventory and keep it updated .
Some people want to learn how to do an inventory by hand, others on the computer, and still others use specialized inventory programs. Therefore, you need to have either a notebook, Google spreadsheet or Excel spreadsheet or software to document the item count.
4. Take a space in your agenda to review and organize it
In addition to the tools, you need to set aside the space in which you will manage your inventory . You may need to pause your sales to do this properly or request help from a team to make it more dynamic and efficient.
Training your team on how to conduct an inventory is vital to optimize the development of this task without losing a lot of time or productivity.