Restaurants, inns and family-run guesthouses

Stocktaking in restaurants and family-run inns - simple, accurate, time-saving

Stocktaking - this word alone makes many restaurateurs roll their eyes. In traditional pubs and family-run restaurants, stocktaking is often put off: too time-consuming, too boring, "we'll do it later". However, a lot of potential can be hidden in small restaurants in particular - those who neglect stocktaking risk unnecessary losses. According to estimates, up to 20% of turnover is lost on average in the catering industry due to shrinkage, theft or free rounds without regular checks. A structured inventory reveals such gaps and protects your business from unpleasant surprises.

Owner-managed restaurants with individual cuisine, a regional character and a seasonal menu also benefit enormously from a digital inventory. In particular, businesses with an extensive product range - such as a large wine list, a wide selection of beers or many stock ingredients - gain a better overview through digitalization. Specialized inventory software for restaurateurs makes stocktaking easier, saves time and provides accurate stock data at the touch of a button. This allows you to keep control of your inventory at all times and plan more effectively - even if your business is not a large corporation.

Challenges in traditional restaurants

• Many individual items: From shot glasses to beer bottles - hundreds of individual items quickly accumulate in a restaurant, which can easily become confusing on slips of paper or in Excel lists.
• Seasonal fluctuations and changing dishes: Public houses change their offerings seasonally or weekly, and stock levels fluctuate constantly. Adjusting everything by hand every time is error-prone and time-consuming.
• Distributed storage rooms: Stocks are often spread out in the cellar, kitchen, bar and outside storage areas. Stocktaking requires long distances, and it is easy to overlook something - this makes stock control in the family business more difficult.
• Mixed assortment of food, drinks and non-food: In addition to food and drinks, a restaurant also stores non-food items (napkins, cleaning products, etc.). Different packaging sizes - from opened bottles to kilo packs - make counting complicated. Without a system, errors can easily creep in.

Why BarBrain is perfect for owner-managed businesses

• Clear app interface: BarBrain is an easy-to-use inventory software for your pub, developed especially for smaller teams. The interface is intuitive and practical - so your team can get started right away without a long training period.
• Quantity recording via +/- or slider: Instead of laboriously writing down numbers or scanning barcodes, you can record stocks directly by touch. You can set full or partial units using +/- buttons or a slider - quickly, accurately and intuitively.
• Stock sortable by location or item groups: Organize your stock digitally by storage location (cellar, cold store, counter) or product groups (beverages, food, non-food). This allows you to find every product in seconds and keep an overview even with a large range.
• Offline capability in the cold store or cellar: No internet connection in the warehouse? No problem - BarBrain saves all entries offline and automatically synchronizes them later. So you can even count in the cold store without the WLAN having to reach there.
• No prior knowledge required - ready to use immediately: The app is ready to use immediately, without training or complicated setup. You don't need a complex inventory management system - BarBrain guides you intuitively through the inventory and creates a clean inventory list of your warehouse at the end. Ideal for month-end closing or the tax consultant.

Advantages for planning, shopping and the family

• Less shrinkage, more overview: regular digital stocktaking allows you to detect deviations at an early stage. If a bottle disappears or something expires, it is immediately apparent - you keep track and reduce losses.
• Faster reordering and better control: With up-to-date stock data, you can reorder in a more targeted manner. No more worries about suddenly running out of a popular schnapps - you always have the stocks to hand. This optimizes purchase planning and prevents overstocking.
• Less stress at the end of the month and for tax: digital inventory data makes month-end closing easier. You always have an overview at hand that you can pass on to your tax advisor. This saves you and your family hectic inventory nights at the end of the month and ensures peace of mind when the tax office wants to see the figures.

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"I was skeptical at first whether a digital inventory was really necessary for my restaurant. But BarBrain actually saves me half the time. My wife and I used to spend hours counting stock with pen and paper. Now we enter everything into the app once a month. After a short time, the entire stock is recorded and we can see immediately if anything is missing. Our family business finally has an overview and I can concentrate on our guests."

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Conclusion: Digital inventory for your pub - test now

Stocktaking doesn't have to be a necessary evil. Even in small and medium-sized restaurants, a digital solution such as BarBrain enables precise, efficient stocktaking - without a great deal of additional effort. Your pub gains transparency, saves time and spares the nerves of the whole family. From less shrinkage to better purchasing decisions and stress-free closings: The benefits speak for themselves. Try it out for yourself - with BarBrain, digital stocktaking in your restaurant is child's play!