Salon Inventory: Sheet, List and Back-Bar Control
By mise · Updated September 29, 2026
Quick answer: salon inventory splits retail (products sold to clients) from back-bar (color, developer, shampoo used on services). Retail is counted monthly; back-bar weekly, compared with services done.
In a salon the money disappears on the back bar: color and developer used on services nobody counts.
What to count in a hair or beauty salon
| Category | What it includes | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Retail | Shampoo, styling, tools for sale | Monthly |
| Back-bar | Color, developer, treatments | Weekly |
| Supplies | Foils, gloves, towels | Monthly |
Step by step
- Count retail and back-bar separately.
- Set usage per service (e.g. 2 oz color per root touch-up).
- Compare usage with services booked.
- Reorder at par.
Mistakes that throw the count off
- Back-bar products used for retail.
- Open tubes not counted.
- Staff purchases not recorded.
How mise helps
Scan the barcode with your phone camera or snap a photo of the label; mise's AI finds the product and categorizes it with name, brand, category, photo and price. Scan retail and back-bar products; each location can be its own list. Every count is saved with a date and a name, par levels warn you before you run out, and you see shrinkage and food cost for the period without building a spreadsheet.
Scan the barcode or snap a photo: mise's AI finds the product and categorizes it. 7-day free trial, then US$33 a month (£26 in the UK).
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Frequently asked questions
How much should back-bar cost be?
Roughly 8–12% of service revenue for most salons.
Is there an inventory template?
Yes: item, unit, par, count and variance. With mise you count by scanning and export to Excel or PDF.
How much does mise cost?
A 7-day free trial, then US$33 a month per location (£26 in the UK).