Manage inventory with the Retail POS app

With Square Retail Point of Sale Plus tools, you’re able to receive and manage inventory right from the Square for Retail POS app on iOS devices, Square Terminal, Square Stand and Square Register.

Note: At this time, advanced inventory management is not available on Square for Retail Free. Track Inventory for any item variations created on your Square Dashboard or in the app for Square for Retail Free and Square for Retail Plus.

Receive stock

Bulk receive stock

You can also receive stock in bulk using Square for Retail on Square Register by using a compatible barcode scanner. To do so:

1. Make sure your barcode scanner is connected.

2. From the Navigation menu in Square for Retail, select the list icon > Add stock > Receive stock.

3. Scan all relevant barcodes that you’d like to add > click Next.

4. Review all item information and add vendor information and unit cost, if applicable > click Continue.

5. From the stock added confirmation, confirm the number of items added.

Note: Exiting the screen while receiving stock will not save the scanned inventory added. If you’re receiving hundreds of new items, make sure to periodically commit your work by saving all the items and their counts.

Adjust stock

To adjust stock levels from the Square for Retail app:

1. Tap the three horizontal lines > Items.

2. Scroll through your item list or use the search bar. Tap on the item once you find it to view the item details page.

3. Tap the highlighted number for Current stock.

4. Select a reason, enter the new stock number and tap Save.

View and manage stock

Whether you’re running a standalone retail business or you have multiple locations enabled with your Square for Retail account, you’ll be able to view the current stock levels for any of your business locations directly from the iOS app or Square Register. In addition, you can filter your inventory by category and location and sort by a variety of different factors when using the iOS app. To get started:

1. In the Square for Retail app, tap the checklist icon to bring up Inventory, then tap Stock Overview.

2. Use the search bar to search for items by name or SKU, or use a compatible barcode scanner to search by GTIN or UPC.

3. To filter your search results, tap the toggle icon to bring up the Filters screen. From here, you can filter by category and location, as well as sort by Lowest stock first, Highest stock first and Alphabetical.

4. Once the appropriate filters are selected, tap Apply. From here, you can view current stock counts and take various actions like receiving stock, adding vendor information and adding unit costs.

To view inventory levels for a specific variation from the item level:

1. In the Square for Retail app, tap an item to bring up the item details page.

2. Under ‘Stock at other locations’, tap the blue number. Note: The number listed is the total number you have in stock for all other active locations.

3. Review the stock breakdown per location.

When you select a specific location, you’ll be able to view details included in that location’s profile.

Additionally, you can using a barcode scanner with your online Square Dashboard – but keep in mind:

• Stock transfers are only available through the online Square Dashboard at this time.

• Bluetooth scanners must be in Keyboard mode to work with a desktop or laptop computer.

• Scan a barcode twice to add the item to your inventory list.

• Incremental adjustments on Square Dashboard can only be made by clicking on the quantity and typing in the amount at this time.

Read more about managing your stock with Square for Retail.

Inventory counting

With Square for Retail Plus, you can easily perform cycle counts from your iPad or iPhone manually or using a compatible barcode scanner or the built-in camera on your iPhone or iPad.

Manual

1. From the navigation bar in your Square for Retail app, tap Inventory.
   Note: If you’re using Square for Retail on an iPhone, tap the list icon to access Inventory, then tap Stock Overview.

2. Tap Adjust Stock > Count.

3. Tap the search bar at the top of the screen, and select the appropriate variation > tap Add to List.

4. Tap the item variation to input a quantity using the number pad > tap Done.

5. Repeat this process across all applicable variations.

6. Tap Continue > Confirm.

Scanner

1. From the navigation bar in your Square for Retail app, tap Inventory.
   Note: If you’re using Square for Retail on an iPhone, tap the list icon to access Inventory, then tap Stock Overview.

2. Tap Adjust stock > Count.

3. Using a compatible barcode scanner or the built-in camera on your iPad or iPhone, scan the item. Continue to scan, or tap the screen while the built-in camera is open, to increase the quantity by one each time.

4. Repeat this process across all applicable variations.

5. Tap Continue > Confirm.

You can save or cancel an inventory count at any time by tapping the X icon next to Stock count in the corner of your screen. You’ll see a pop-up that says Save Progress and can either save and close or close without saving.

Note: Progress will only save on the device used to count inventory, meaning you can’t access a saved count from another device, even if it’s logged in to the same Square account.

Purchase Orders

With Square for Retail Plus, you can easily create and manage purchase orders to stay on top of your products, track vendors and receive inventory from the app on iOS devices, Square Register, Square Terminal, as well as your online Square Dashboard.

Note: The ability to create or edit purchase orders in-app is not available for Square Terminal at this time.

Create purchase orders from Square for Retail POS

1. Tap Inventory from the navigation bar. Note: If you’re using Square for Retail on an iPhone, tap the list icon to view inventory.
2. Tap Purchase Orders and select Create purchase order.
3. Select an existing vendor or tap Create new vendor to add a vendor you’re working with for the first time. Then, select Continue.
4. Using the search bar or a compatible barcode scanner, select the items to apply to the purchase order and tap Continue.
5. Enter more purchase order details, like unit cost and quantity, and tap Continue to review your purchase order.
6. From the “Review order” screen, verify all information is correct and either select Save to continue working on the purchase order at a later date or select Create to finalise the purchase order.
7. From the “Send copy of purchase order” screen, you have the option to send a copy to yourself and the vendor, as well as leave notes specific to the purchase order. Once you finish, tap Done.

Manage purchase orders from Square for Retail POS

1. Tap Inventory from the navigation bar. Note: If you’re using Square for Retail on an iPhone, tap the list icon to view Inventory.
2. Tap Purchase Orders > tap the appropriate purchase order under the Active list.
3. Tap Select items to receive > check off the appropriate items to be received > tap Next.
4. For the received items needing modified, tap Receive in Full to receive the full quantity, or tap Partial Receive to receive a partial quantity > tap Save.
5. Tap Next again to view the Purchase Order Summary and tap Receive to complete the receival.

Learn more about managing purchase orders with Square for Retail.