How to become a stocktaker and start your own stocktaking business
By mise · Updated 6 October 2026
Quick answer: a stocktaking business counts stock for pubs, restaurants, shops and hotels, reconciles it and reports GP and losses. Start in the sector you know, offer a first stock take with a diagnosis, then move clients onto a regular monthly or quarterly visit. A phone and an app that scans barcodes and brings up the product complete is enough to start. With the mise Consultant License you run every client from one tool.
Licensees and managers know they should count every week. Most do not have the time. An independent stocktaker who is quick and explains the numbers clearly is worth paying for.
Who uses a stocktaker
- Pubs, bars and restaurants that want their GP and wet and dry losses checked by someone independent.
- Shops, convenience stores and pharmacies with lots of lines and unexplained shrinkage.
- Hotels and venues with stock in several cellars, bars and stores.
- Year-end, when the accountant needs a closing stock figure.
- Changeovers, when a tenancy, a manager or the business itself changes hands and both sides need an agreed valuation.
Services to offer
| Service | What you deliver | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Stock take and GP report | Count, valuation, GP and losses by product | Weekly, monthly or quarterly |
| Changeover valuation | Count and value of stock on the handover date | One-off |
| Year-end stock take | Closing stock figure for the accounts | Yearly |
| Loss investigation | Variance between counts and where it comes from | One-off or monthly |
| Stock control setup | Par levels, deliveries routine and staff training | Once, then support |
How to charge
There is no set rate. Stocktakers usually charge per visit, with the price depending on the size of the site, the number of lines and how often they come. Other options are a day rate for large counts and a monthly fee that includes the count, the report and a short review. Work out your hours for counting, recounts and the report, add travel and margin, and agree the scope in writing: cutoff time, recounts, report deadline and who supplies the cost prices.
What you need to start
- A phone with a camera: it reads barcodes as well as a handheld scanner.
- A stock take app with a product database: setting up lines one by one on site eats your margin. The product should come up complete when you scan.
- A report template: stock value, GP, variance and losses by product, plus recommendations.
- Experience behind a bar or in a kitchen: it is what makes licensees trust your numbers.
- A business set up properly: talk to an accountant about registering and invoicing, and look at professional indemnity insurance.
How to win your first clients
- Start with venues you know and offer a first stock take with a clear diagnosis.
- Work with accountants and pub companies who see the losses first.
- Be on Google with your service and town, for "stocktaker near me".
- Show results without naming clients: GP recovered, losses cut, counts done faster.
- Ask for referrals. Licensees talk to each other.
The mise Consultant License
If you count stock for other businesses, your tool has to handle several clients at once without mixing anything up. That is what the mise Consultant License is for.
- Every client kept separate: counts, products and reports for each business stay with that business.
- No product setup: scan the barcode (or snap a photo) and the product comes up complete, with name, brand, category and size. The mise AI finds it for you.
- Your team on the count: add helpers who count with you, each on their own phone, area by area.
- Reports ready to hand over: stock value, variance between counts, losses by product and cost of goods sold, in Excel and PDF.
- Professional use, authorized: the mise terms only allow serving other businesses with the license.
The license price depends on how many clients you serve. We set it up with you on WhatsApp.
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 7-day free trial first.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I become a stocktaker?
Experience in pubs, bars, kitchens or retail helps most. Build a report template, set up your business with an accountant, use an app that scans barcodes and brings the product up complete, and start with venues you know.
How much does a stocktaker charge?
There is no set rate. Most charge per visit depending on the size of the site, the number of lines and how often they visit; some use a day rate or a monthly fee.
Do I need special equipment?
No. A phone camera reads barcodes as accurately as a handheld scanner. What matters is an app that brings the product up complete.
Can I use mise for stock takes at other businesses?
Yes, with the Consultant License. The mise terms only allow serving other businesses with that license, which we set up on WhatsApp.