SQUARE FOR RETAIL

Keep accurate stock records with Square’s inventory counting tool

Scan and search items. Update, review and confirm counts. Do it all on-the-go, straight from your iPhone, iPad or compatible barcode scanner.

Benefit from fast and
accurate inventory counting

Square’s inventory counting tool takes the weight off your team. Whether you want to count manually or scan barcodes with your iPhone or iPad, you can start to benefit from fast and accurate inventory reporting that makes life easier for your business.

Barcode scanning and automatic data entry

Counting inventory manually can be slow, tedious and error-prone. Inventory counting with barcode scanning and automatic data entry is faster and more accurate, which means you can open up for business sooner.

Multi-location counting made easy

Keep an accurate track of your inventory over multiple locations, all in one system. Square’s inventory counting software lets multiple employees contribute to a stocktaking session, all at the same time.

Save time on managing your Inventory

Easily perform full or cycle counts straight from your iPad or iPhone by using your device’s built-in camera or by using a compatible barcode scanner.

Fast and flawless inventory counts,
each and every time

Spend less time, get more done. From cycle counts to full stocktakes, our inventory counting system makes it easier to find where the stock discrepancies are – then presents you with data you can action. It’s just part of the suite of tools you get with Square for Retail, the all-in-one POS solution designed specifically for retail businesses.

woman looking at items in store

Increase efficiency and productivity

Barcode counting will make your stock-takes run like clockwork.

  • Manually checking stock can lead to costly errors. Square for Retail keeps things automated, for fast, efficient processing.
  • Multiple team members can count in tandem and contribute to the same count session simultaneously.
  • Save your progress to the cloud so you can count thousands of items and still take a break.

Improved accuracy and reduced errors

Inaccurate inventory counts are one of the key ways companies lose revenue and sales but it’s a problem that’s easily solved with Square for Retail.

  • Our inventory counting software gives you a full audit trail (who counted, when they counted and what the financial variance was for the count).
  • Managers can review and approve progress on all your completed counts, before implementing stock updates into your catalogue.
  • Assign different counting access permissions to different team members, to keep control over sensitive Inventory information.

Make better decisions, faster

With Square for Retail as your inventory management system, you can make informed stock purchasing decisions that are rewarding for your business.

  • Track your inventory movements and get powerful data reports to inform your future business decisions.
  • Our inventory tracking system lets you view an Inventory Variance Report or review historically completed counts via your Square Dashboard.
  • Square’s History Report allows you to bulk fix stock adjustments that have missing costs or vendors to see accurate performance of your Inventory.

Start using our inventory counting system today

Square for Retail is trusted by thousands of retailers, big and small.

Square for Retail is more than just a POS system

Inventory management system

Square for Retail comes with an advanced inventory management system. This ensures that you can always keep track of what inventory you have and where it is, even over multiple locations. You can also get alerts when your stock is running low and track performance and profit of your products.

Auto item creator

Save time on adding new items into your catalogue by scanning the barcode. Square pre-populates any registered product information, such as the name, size and more. Designed to help you work smarter, not harder.

Online store builder

Having an online store increases your opportunities to make sales and, in turn, increases both your revenue and your profit. Square makes it easy by syncing the items and stock counts from your POS automatically and providing free access to Square Online. With Square Online, you can build a functional and attractive website without any technical skills.

CRM software

It takes more than just the right choice of products at the right prices to keep customers coming through your doors. You also need to deliver consistently excellent customer service. Square lays the foundation for this with robust CRM software for capturing customer details across in-store and online sales.

Advanced reports

Good information makes for good business decisions. That’s why Square for Retail provides advanced reports straight from your dashboard. These reports are promptly updated so you can be confident you’re always looking at the most recent figures and understanding the health of your Inventory.

Payment processing

Square provides secure, fast and simple payment processing solutions for businesses of all sizes. Whether you’re visiting markets or running multiple brick-and-mortar stores and an online store, Square has a payment processing solution that’s just right for you and your business.

Plans for every stage

Free

For small businesses getting started in-person and online

$0

No monthly fees

Includes:

  • Free Retail Point of Sale app
  • Free online store
  • Basic inventory tools
  • Exchanges
  • Built-in barcode scanner (iOS)

Processing rates per transaction:

1.6% per tap or insert

2.2% per online transaction

Plus

For growing retail businesses that need in-depth features

$109

Per month, per location

Includes Square for Retail Free plan features and:

  • Advanced inventory tools and reports
  • Cycle counts and stocktakes
  • Barcode label printing
  • Item bundling
  • Unlimited employee time tracking

Processing rates per transaction:

1.6% per tap or insert

2.2% per online transaction

Premium

For established retail businesses looking to scale

Custom

Must meet eligibility requirements

Includes Square for Retail Plus plan features and optional add-ons:

  • Square Online Plus
  • Square Loyalty
  • Square Marketing
  • One-on-one onboarding support

Businesses processing $250,000 or more in yearly payments may be eligible for custom pricing. To learn more, please get in touch with our experts.

1.6% card present rate applies for Square Sellers who sign up on or after 30 May 2024, or who signed up prior to this date and subscribed to Square for Retail Plus or Premium. The rate of 1.9% will apply for all other Square Sellers who signed up prior to this date when using Square Reader, Square Stand or Tap to Pay, as listed in the Square Fee Schedule.

*Inventory counting is available with Square for Retail Plus. You can get started with a 30-day free trial of Square for Retail Plus to see if it’s right for you. Start free trial.

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FAQs

  • What is inventory counting?

    Inventory counting systems provide the tools to carry out the process of tracking and managing the quantity of products or goods available in your business. It involves using the POS system’s capabilities to accurately monitor inventory levels, update stock quantities and reconcile any discrepancies between recorded inventory and physical inventory.

  • What are the benefits of inventory counting?

    An Inventory counting systems offers several benefits for businesses:

    1. Accurate inventory records: Regular counts help identify discrepancies between recorded stock on hand and actual inventory levels, reducing the chances of stockouts or overstocking.
    2. Improved order fulfilment: Accurate inventory counts enable businesses to fulfil customer orders more efficiently.
    3. Cost savings: Effective inventory counting systems can help businesses minimise costs by identifying slow-moving or obsolete items.
    4. Enhanced forecasting: By analysing historical inventory counts and sales trends, businesses can make informed decisions about inventory ordering.
    5. Reduced loss and shrinkage: By promptly addressing discrepancies, businesses can implement measures to prevent future losses and shrinkage.
  • Which Square for Retail plan do I need to access the inventory counting system?

    Square for Retail’s inventory counting features are only available in the Plus plan. You can compare every feature of each plan on our pricing page.

  • Why do I need to do an inventory count?

    Sales, theft, loss, damage and incorrect or missed inventory adjustments can cause discrepancies between the inventory associated with your Square account and the physical inventory you have on hand. To reconcile or combat these discrepancies, most retailers perform cycle or full physical inventory counts.

  • How often should I do an inventory count?

    Full, physical inventory counts can be a huge undertaking, even if you’re a small business. It’s not always practical to take the time to close up and count everything regularly, which is why many companies only conduct physical inventories once per year. However, this can quickly lead to costly discrepancies. Inventory cycle counts are a viable alternative to conducting a physical inventory. Rather than count everything all at once, the inventory cycle count breaks the process down into manageable chunks. Square for Retail lets you perform both full and cycle counts, and recommends you conduct a cycle count for each item variation at least once every 90 days. With Square, this is easier than ever to do.

  • How do I use my iPhone, iPad or barcode scanner to count inventory?

    • From the navigation bar in your Square for Retail app, tap Inventory > Stock counts
    • Tap Count stock > Cycle count
    • Use a compatible barcode scanner or the built-in camera on your iPad or iPhone to scan the item
    • Either continue to scan item duplicates individually or tap the item list on the screen to input a quantity using the number pad – then, tap the tick
    • Repeat this process across all applicable variations
    • Tap Next > Confirm

    See full instructions

  • How do I upgrade my Square for Retail plan so that I can perform an inventory count?

    You can upgrade from the Retail Free plan to the Plus plan by subscribing here. You’ll be able to use all your existing features and setup. The only new setup will be the added functionality that’s included with your upgrade. After your 30-day free trial, you’ll be charged $109 per month, per location. If you choose not to subscribe, you’ll be downgraded to the Retail Free plan (though processing fees still apply).

    To upgrade to the custom Premium plan, contact our sales team.

    You also have the option to downgrade your subscription from Plus to Free in your Dashboard.

    You can pause your subscription at any time from your Square Dashboard. When you pause a subscription, you will not be billed. You can unpause at any time and your account will be ready for you – all your data will be retained. You’ll receive a message on your dashboard letting you know which features you’ll lose with the downgrade.

  • What devices can I use to perform an inventory count with Square?

    You can conduct inventory counts on the following supported mobile devices:

    • iPhone 6s or 6s Plus or later on iOS 14+
    • iPad Mini 4 or later on iOS 14+
    • iPad Air 2 or later, iPad Pro, or iPad (5th generation) or later on iOS 14+