Inventory Control Program

Post #314,120 by jbrabeck 9/16/09 5:19:56 AM Reply	Inventory Control Program I'm helping a friend. She has started a linen rental business. She has asked me if there is a program to help her keep track of inventory, so she doesn't overbook. x colored linen go out on day of event or day prior, get picked up after the event, either same day or following day, then need to be cleaned/pressed for y days. Just got the request. I'll be doing my own research tonight when I get back from my roofing project. But I thought I ask if anyone knows of such a program already. Thanks, Joe
Post #314,123 by boxley 9/16/09 8:40:14 AM Reply	any accounting program can do that linen in and out and where it went is the same as AR/AP just linens instead of dollars
Post #314,125 by drook 9/16/09 8:51:01 AM Reply	But accounting programs don't track square and round dollars -- Drew
Post #314,127 by boxley 9/16/09 8:57:47 AM Reply	it certainly can a unit is a unit of measure whether linens dollars or recyclable bottles
Post #314,129 by drook 9/16/09 9:18:28 AM Reply	But it won't work off-the-shelf Accounting programs track dollars. All the screens/forms will assume that there's only one unit of measure in use. Inventory needs multiple units. I also don't think most accounting programs are set up for the type of availability scheduling he needs. I'm sure there are inventory apps that already handle this. It's just a question of how much they cost. -- Drew
Post #314,130 by boxley 9/16/09 9:55:00 AM Reply	off the shelf is fine inventory of bedsheets towels tableclothes GL accounts bedsheets towels tableclothes money A/P where fresh linens are due to be delivered to customers Custname Towel delivery date due Bedsheets delivery date due tableclothes delivery date due Money delivery date due (the cleaner or upstream linen owner) A/R where dirty linens are to be picked up Custname Towel Pickupdate Bedsheet pickupdate tableclothes pickup date Money date to bill date expected to receive Reporting outstanding dirty clean P/L and sales
Post #314,223 by jbrabeck 9/18/09 6:16:53 AM Reply	Re: Inventory Control Program Ok, but would an accounting program be able to tell her what will be available on any given day? Bookings are sometimes a year out. Mary books 300 linens for Jun 1, with return on Jun 2. Terry calls and wants to book 400 linens for Jun 5th. Sarah wants 300 on Jun 8th. Does my friend have enough linens available? Not quite as simple as that because we also have to worry about color of linens. How would your accounting AR/AP handle that? Wouldn't a hotel room booking program be closer to her needs?
Post #314,224 by folkert 9/18/09 7:11:37 AM Reply	Rental Industry Software does what she needs There are quite a few out there. From minimal cost and ability at $30 to sizable at $350 to OMG it HUGE at $200K+ I just perused about 30 different products Using google, "Rental Inventory Software" gave the best widest selection returned.
Post #314,293 by jbrabeck 9/18/09 8:28:55 PM Reply	Re: Rental Industry Software does what she needs Found some this morning. Of course the ones I found either didn't state price (and told me when they called) or said $1500-$4000. I'll do further research along this line. Thanks.
Post #314,225 by boxley 9/18/09 7:34:16 AM Reply	just pay 195 and get quickbooks Track inventory, set reorder points & create purchase orders http://quickbooks.in...cial-software.jsp I use the free quicken that came with my mac and could set up a full inventory system using account codes very easiloy but the pro version has an inventory module. Managing inventory is an accounting function.
Post #314,294 by jbrabeck 9/18/09 8:30:07 PM Reply	Re: just pay 195 and get quickbooks I've used Quickbooks. There inventory is structured for sale of inventory, not rental, from what I recall. But I will further investigate. Thanks
Post #314,720 by altmann 9/28/09 5:49:19 PM Reply	Re: just pay 195 and get quickbooks Yeah, to use the built in QB inventory system you would want to record the initial purchase of the rental items as plain assets, then record the count as inventory items with zero price so it doesn't effect the financial aspects of the inventory system. To rent an item you would put the zero cost item on the invoice to reduce the count along with a separate line item for the rental fee. When the customer returns the rental items, issue a credit memo to up the inventory count. Of course this doesn't solve the scheduling problem. QB does have an extensive 3rd party ecosystem though, and if necessary an API.

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