Running a small business takes a lot of effort and time. You’re building a business from the ground up, which means using up your personal time and often your personal space as well. Many small business owners have a crowded garage those first couple years, filled to the brim with products, orders, and more. 

When your small business has outgrown the confines of your garage, it’s time to find a new home and begin actively taking inventory. Inventory is something you should be doing from the very beginning, but only gets more and more important as you grow. Having an active count of all your materials and products helps save time, money, and even space. If you don’t quite know where to begin when it comes to starting your small business’s inventory management system, our team at CRS Moving & Storage has put together a how-to guide for you to get started today. 

4 Steps To Starting Your Small Business Inventory

When it comes to beginning to manage your business inventory, there are four easy steps to adhere to: 

Organize Your Materials 

First and foremost, make sure everything you have is organized. This includes all of your completed products, all of your receipts and order files, as well as all of your individual materials and replacement products. Keep things organized in separate folders or bins to ensure you have easy access. If you are using bins, make sure they are clearly labeled. 

Having everything categorized and labeled correctly not only makes your life easier, but it also helps with order fulfillment times and cost management. 

Safely Pack Everything

Working out of your home can crowd up your personal space while also possibly increasing your chances of a product getting damaged or broken. Therefore, everything should be safely packed, with the following aspects considered: 

  • Temperature
  • Space
  • Elevation 
  • Dryness

A garage is great for its size, but not so great when it comes to climate control for some products.

Find a Professional Storage Unit

To ensure you don’t spend too much time fretting about climate control or safely stacking everything, it’s best to find a professional storage unit to actively work out of. At CRS Moving & Storage, we offer five centrally-located storage facilities across the Tri-State Area. Each unit is climate controlled and offers prime spacing with shelving units. 

Not only will all of your items be perfectly preserved and accessible, you will also be able to actively work out of your unit. We also provide Wi-Fi and 24/7 access so that you can pull up with your laptop and knock out a couple orders while you stop by. 

Implement an Inventory Management System 

Once you have a space safe to keep all of your inventory and to work out of, it’s time to implement an inventory management system. All merchandise and individual items must be counted to ensure your numbers are accurate. Therefore, anything that is broken or missing can be logged and replaced immediately, saving your business time and money. 

When you partner with CRS Moving & Storage, you are immediately receiving access to an online inventory management system. We have an online database where you can access your inventory whenever you need it. This not only saves you and any potential employees the time of having to frequently do an active count, but it also saves you money in the long run. 

Partner With CRS Moving & Storage For Your Inventory Needs Today

Let CRS Moving & Storage help you with your desired inventory and storage outcomes today. We have over 20 years of experience, and our moving and storage professionals have successfully helped over 5,000 local businesses with their specific storage and moving needs. 

To get the process started today with a free consultation, give our office a call at (718) 424-6000 or fill out our contact form here.