Best free inventory software for small business: 4 options that are really free
Free inventory software exists, with tight limits. Zoho Inventory, Sortly, a spreadsheet and your store's own stock tracking compared, with what each allows.
All guides
Practical guides on shipping, inventory and invoicing software, written for small online sellers.
Best invoicing software for small business: 5 options compared
Three good invoicing tools are free. Zoho Invoice, Wave, Square Invoices, FreshBooks and QuickBooks Online compared on price, limits and payment fees.
Best shipping software for small business: 5 options compared
The best shipping software for a small business depends on volume and carriers. Pirate Ship, Shippo, ShipStation, Easyship and built-in store labels compared.
The cheapest way to ship packages for a small business
The cheapest way to ship a package depends on weight, size and distance. See which service usually wins for each parcel type, and how to get discounted rates.
FreshBooks vs QuickBooks vs Wave: which is best for a small online business?
Wave has a free plan, FreshBooks starts at $23 a month and QuickBooks Online at $38. Prices, limits and the right choice for a small online business.
How to calculate dimensional weight (DIM weight) for shipping
The dimensional weight formula with examples in inches and centimetres, the divisors UPS, FedEx, USPS and DHL use, and how to lower your billable weight.
How to choose shipping software for a small business
What shipping software does, which features matter for a small online store, and when free tools are enough. A plain-English checklist before you pay.
How to create SKU numbers for a small business (with examples)
How to create SKU numbers for your products: seven rules, a format you can copy, examples, and the difference between a SKU, a UPC and a barcode.
How to handle returns for a small online business
A simple returns process for a small online store: what to put in a return policy, who pays return shipping, how to restock items and how to get fewer returns.
inFlow vs Zoho Inventory vs Sortly: which inventory software fits a small business?
Sortly and Zoho Inventory have free plans, inFlow starts at $99 a month. Prices, limits and features compared so a small business picks the right one.
International shipping for small business: a first-time checklist
How small businesses ship internationally: customs forms, duties and taxes, restricted items and delivery promises, in one checklist for your first orders.
How to make an inventory spreadsheet in Excel or Google Sheets
Build a simple inventory spreadsheet for a small business in Excel or Google Sheets: the columns you need, the formulas to copy, and automatic reorder alerts.
Inventory spreadsheet or inventory software? When a small business should switch
An inventory spreadsheet works for many small businesses, until it doesn't. The warning signs, what inventory software adds, and how to switch without chaos.
Inventory turnover ratio: the formula, an example and how to improve it
How to calculate inventory turnover and days of inventory for a small business, with a worked example, a spreadsheet layout and practical ways to improve it.
Invoice payment terms explained: Net 30, due on receipt and more
What Net 30, due on receipt and 2/10 Net 30 mean, what payment terms to put on an invoice as a small business, and how to get paid on time.
Invoice template for small business: a free example you can copy
A simple invoice template for a small business: every field explained, a filled-in example to copy, spreadsheet formulas and the mistakes that delay payment.
Invoicing for a small online business: what to put on an invoice
Do online sellers need invoices? What an invoice must contain, with an example, how to keep records tidy, and when invoicing software is worth it.
Is shipping insurance worth it for a small business?
What USPS, UPS and FedEx already cover, what extra shipping insurance costs, and a simple rule to decide which parcels a small business should insure.
Bookkeeping for online sellers: a monthly checklist
Bookkeeping for an online business in one hour a month: a ten-step checklist to match payouts, track fees and expenses, and know if you are profitable.
How to reduce shipping costs for a small business: 9 practical ways
Nine realistic ways for a small business to pay less per parcel: dimensional weight, right-sized packaging, discounted rates, surcharges and fewer returns.
Reorder point formula and safety stock: how to calculate both
The reorder point formula and a simple safety stock formula, with a worked example and an Excel or Google Sheets layout you can copy for a small shop.
ShipStation vs Pirate Ship vs Shippo: which one fits a small business?
Pirate Ship is free, Shippo is free up to 30 labels a month, ShipStation starts at $14.99. Prices, carriers and limits compared for small online sellers.
SKU vs UPC vs barcode: what is the difference?
A SKU is your own product code, a UPC is an official number, and a barcode is just a way to print either one. Here is which ones a small business really needs.
How to do a stock count: a step-by-step checklist
How to do a stock count (stock take) without losing a weekend: prepare, count, fix differences, and use cycle counting to spread the work over the year.