How much to charge for a stocktake (inventory count): hourly, per item and per store
By mise · Updated November 10, 2026
Quick answer: there is no standard rate. Add the hours for counting, recounts, the report and travel, multiply by your hourly cost, add expenses and divide by (1 minus your margin). In the example on this page (a shop with 2,500 items and 19.5 working hours) cost is $606 and the price at a 30% margin is about $870, roughly $0.35 per item. All figures are illustrative examples, not market rates.
People who start counting stock for others usually underprice because they charge for the counting hours and forget the recounts, the report and the drive. This guide shows the whole calculation so you can arrive at your own number, whether you call the job a stocktake or an inventory count.
What goes into the cost of a count
The job has four blocks of hours, and the client only sees the first one:
- Counting: people × hours on site.
- Recounts: a second pass over the highest-value lines and anything that does not add up. It usually needs fewer people.
- Report: checking variances, building the Excel or PDF and writing notes. Normally done by whoever is accountable for the job.
- Travel and prep: the drive, a pre-count call and briefing the team.
On top come direct expenses (fuel or fares, lunch for the team, the app) and the margin that pays for the time you spend selling and running the business.
A full quote, step by step
- Counting: 3 people × 4 h = 12 h
- Recount: 2 people × 2 h = 4 h
- Report: 1 person × 2 h = 2 h
- Travel and briefing: 1 person × 1.5 h = 1.5 h
For a 30% margin on the price, divide by 0.70: 606 ÷ 0.70 = $865.71, rounded up to $870. Per item: 870 ÷ 2,500 = $0.348, so about $0.35.
Watch out for confusing margin with mark-up. Adding 30% to $606 gives $787.80, and the real margin on that price is only 23% (181.80 ÷ 787.80). Dividing by 0.70 is what delivers the 30% you meant.
Three ways to present the same price
| Model | How it is calculated | In the example | Best when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per item | Items × rate per item | 2,500 × $0.35 = $875 | Large, well-defined stock; needs a site visit first |
| Per crew hour | Hours × hourly rate | 19.5 h × $45 = $877.50 | Messy stock or unclear scope |
| Fixed price per store | Flat package | $870 | Client wants the total before agreeing |
They land on similar figures because they start from the same calculation. What changes is who carries the risk: with an hourly rate the client carries it; with a fixed price or a per-item rate, you do. If the client says "about 2,500 lines" and 4,000 turn up, a fixed price with no variation clause eats your margin.
Terms that protect the price
- Item band: the price covers up to 2,750 items; above that, an agreed rate per extra item applies.
- Recounts included: for example, one. Further recounts are billed hourly.
- Client preparation: shelves tidy, open cases identified, someone to open the door. Waiting time is billed if the site is not ready.
- Report deadline: for example, two working days after the count.
- Cut-off: any sale or delivery during the count is noted separately.
From a one-off job to a monthly retainer
The full count opens the door; recurring work pays the bills. A common model is a monthly cycle count: instead of counting everything, you count one or two areas per visit and compare with last month.
How to explain the price to the client
A client who hears "$870" with no context will compare it with someone offering $500 to count "quickly". Show what is included: people, hours, a recount, the report and the deadline. A half-page quote with the four blocks of hours and the total justifies the price far better than a bare number, and it makes clear what happens if more items turn up than expected.
Mistakes that drag the price down
- Charging only the counting hours and forgetting recounts, report and travel.
- Quoting without a site visit or without asking roughly how many items there are.
- Cutting the hourly rate instead of cutting the scope.
- Budgeting time to set up products by hand. With an app that brings the product up complete when you scan the barcode, that time drops out of your costs. The barcode lookup shows how a product appears.
To see what the client gets for the money, read how to start a stocktaking business and the inventory service business guide. mise can be tried free, no card; if you serve other companies, professional-use terms are agreed on WhatsApp. If you work as a sole trader or contractor, ask an accountant how to invoice and register.
Message us to set up the Consultant License for your clients. Scan the barcode or snap a photo and the product comes up complete. Or start a free trial first.
Start freeFrequently asked questions
How much should I charge for a stocktake?
There is no standard rate. Estimate the hours for counting, recounts, the report and travel, multiply by your hourly cost, add expenses and divide by (1 minus the margin). The figures on this page are illustrative.
Is it better to charge per hour or per item?
Hourly protects you when the scope is unclear. Per item or a fixed price is easier to sell but needs a site visit and a variation clause.
How do I calculate a 30% margin?
Divide your cost by 0.70. Adding 30% to cost leaves a smaller margin on the price. With a cost of $606, the price is $865.71.
Should I charge for recounts?
Include one in the price and bill extras hourly. Recounts are where the number becomes reliable, and they take real time.
Is a monthly retainer worth it?
Usually, for the predictability. A monthly cycle count by area, with a report, keeps the client and spreads the work across the year.
What is the difference between a stocktake and an inventory count?
The same job. "Stocktake" is the usual word in the UK, Australia and Ireland; "inventory count" is the usual US term.
