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Quick start by type of business

Every business starts with section 1 (settings, products, staff). These are the extra steps that matter for each kind of shop. Call or WhatsApp +254 727 177 155 and we set it up with you for free.

Supermarkets and minimarts

  1. Import products from Excel (Inventory > Import products) with barcodes, prices and buying costs.
  2. Connect a USB or Bluetooth barcode scanner; it types into the till's search box. On phones, tap the camera button to scan.
  3. Turn on Till shifts (Business plan) so each cashier opens and closes with a cash count.
  4. Set Low-stock levels and use Purchases > Reorder list to order by supplier.
  5. Connect your M-Pesa till (section 8) so payments confirm themselves.

Pharmacies and agrovets

  1. On each medicine, switch on Track batches and expiry dates.
  2. Record every delivery with its batch number and expiry date (Purchases > Record a delivery). The oldest batch sells first.
  3. Check Inventory > Expiring soon every week; it suggests a clearance discount.
  4. Agrovets: sell seeds and chemicals by the kilogram or litre, and give farmers credit accounts with limits.

Hardware shops

  1. Set each product's unit: piece, kilogram, litre or metre (cement by the bag, wire by the metre).
  2. Make Quotations for contractors (Invoices & Quotes); when they agree, turn it into a sale in one tap.
  3. Give contractors credit accounts with limits (Customers & Debts) and send statements on WhatsApp.

Butcheries

  1. Add each cut in kilograms with its price per kilo.
  2. At the till, type the weight from your scale; the price works itself out.
  3. Record deliveries by weight, and trimming or spoilage as stock adjustments with a reason.
  4. Give hotels and schools credit accounts, and their M-Pesa payments come off what they owe.

Wines and spirits

  1. Give every bottle a barcode and sell by scanning, so stock goes down as it sells.
  2. Each attendant logs in with their own account; every sale and discount shows who did it.
  3. Turn on Till shifts and Approvals for big discounts and price changes (Business plan).
  4. Count stock weekly (Inventory > Stock count): the difference against what should be there is shown.

Boutiques, clothing and shoe shops

  1. Add a product once, then Variants for each size and colour, each with its own barcode and stock.
  2. At the till, pick the product, then the size and colour.
  3. For a different size, open the sale and use Return > Exchange for other goods: only the difference is paid.
  4. Share your Online shop link on Instagram and WhatsApp (Starter plan and above).

Phone, electronics and appliance shops

  1. On each phone, laptop or TV, switch on Track serial / IMEI numbers and set the warranty in months.
  2. Record each unit's serial when it arrives (Serial numbers > Record units in; scan each one).
  3. At the till, choose the exact unit; its serial prints on the receipt.
  4. Inventory > Find serial shows any unit's history and the warranty left.

Salons, barbers and spas

  1. Sign up as Salon, barber or spa: Appointments is switched on.
  2. Add each service (haircut, braids, massage) as a product with its price.
  3. Book clients by stylist and time; walk-ins are sold at the till as usual.
  4. Pay: in Time & Pay, open each person's pay settings. A stylist on a monthly salary: choose **Monthly salary and set Commission on services** to 0 (or a small rate on top). A stylist paid by commission only: choose Commission only and set their rate. Empty uses the rate on the Commissions screen.
  5. At the end of the month, open Appointments > Commission and Add to the pay sheet: each person's commission goes onto the month's pay sheet once, at their own rate.
  6. Online booking: Appointments > the globe button. Choose the services (with how long each takes), who customers can book, and your opening hours, then switch on Take bookings online and share the link (WhatsApp, Instagram bio, Google Business Profile). Customers see each person's free times, how busy you are right now and who is free next, then book with their name and phone. Nobody can be booked outside their rota shifts or on approved leave, or twice at the same time. Online bookings show in Appointments as "booked online" and the team gets a notification; the customer gets a private link to see or cancel their booking.

Consultants, agencies, contractors and accountants

  1. Record hours per client and job in Time and billing, then bill them on one invoice.
  2. On the Business plan, use Projects for tasks, materials and costs, stage invoices and profit per project.

Restaurants and cafés: see 9b. Creative studios: see 9c.

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Need help? Call or WhatsApp the BlueDuka team on +254 727 177 155.