The accounting cycle, translated into shop life
| Accountant says | You just do (as always) |
|---|---|
| Record revenue | Bill customers normally (billing) |
| Track COGS | Enter deliveries at invoice cost (purchases) |
| Log expenses | Ten-second closing entry (expenses) |
| Receivables ledger | Your existing khata (ledgers) |
| Payables ledger | Supplier balances (same page) |
| P&L review | Sunday chai + reports (reports) |
Where dedicated accounting software fits (and doesn't)
Desktop accounting packages shine for companies with trained staff filing returns monthly. A neighborhood shop needs the inputs those packages consume — accurate sales, costs, expenses, dues — captured painlessly first. That's the division of labor explored honestly in shop management app vs accounting software; StoreSaathi handles the daily layer and hands your accountant organized history instead of receipt-confetti.
The three numbers worth knowing weekly
- Gross margin direction: rising, flat or thinning (profit tracking).
- Receivables total: credit exposure as one figure (dues review).
- Cash runway sense: what's coming in vs going out (cash flow).
All standard plans include everything — 500/mo · 4000/yr · 10000 lifetime till 30 Sep, free week via trial.