This task is one section of Small business workflows for 20 industries, with 19 related tasks on one page.
1. What to record
Record the shared quantity, each shop sale, each website order, and a return only after inspection.
This is a stock and order record. It does not set prices, tax, or a delivery promise.
2. People and records
On small screens, scroll the table sideways to see every column.
| Record | Who uses it | What to keep |
|---|---|---|
| Shared quantity | Shop lead | Item, on-hand count, and the location that owns it. |
| Shop sale | Cashier | Item, quantity, and the receipt that reduced the count. |
| Website order | Online lead | Order number, quantity reserved, and whether it has shipped. |
| Return | Receiver | Order it came from, condition, and whether it is back on the shelf. |
3. One complete cycle
- Start with 10 units of one item available to both the shop and the website.
- Sell 2 in the shop. The shared count is 8.
- Take a website order for 3 and ship it. The shared count is 5.
- Receive 1 returned unit and leave it off the shelf until someone accepts the condition.
Expected: Sellable stock is 5 while the return waits. After acceptance it is 6. The shop receipt and the website order both point at the same item.
4. Check before you add tools
At the end of the day, add shop sales and shipped website orders and subtract them from the morning count. A difference needs a name the same day.
Do not treat an unopened return box as available. The website can sell it twice if the count moves before inspection.
5. Frequently asked questions
Can the website reserve an item the shop might sell?
Yes. A reservation holds that quantity until the order ships or the reservation ends. The cashier should see the held quantity before selling the last unit.
When does a return increase the count?
When someone accepts the item back onto the shelf. A parcel on the dock is not sellable stock.
Do the shop and the website need two item records?
No. Use one item. Two records hide which channel sold the last unit.
6. Related articles and next steps
Sample amounts and names in this guide are illustrative. They are not a client result, a price, or legal advice.
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