Guides
Guides for people who run shops.
Plain, practical answers for people who run pharmacies, drug shops, agrovets, cosmetics shops and wholesale businesses. Written to be useful whether or not you use poso.
Where to start
Start with the basics: pharmacy inventory management, tracking expiry dates and setting reorder levels. If you are choosing software, read how to choose pharmacy software and the buyer's guide. New business? See starting a pharmacy or starting an agrovet.
Stock control
- Pharmacy inventory managementHow to manage pharmacy inventory: set up products and batches, receive stock properly, rotate by expiry, set reorder levels, count and read key numbers.
- How to track medicine expiry datesA step-by-step method to track expiry dates in a pharmacy or agrovet: record batches on receipt, sell FEFO, review near-expiry stock and handle expiry.
- FEFO vs FIFOFEFO (first expired, first out) vs FIFO (first in, first out) with examples, when each applies, and why pharmacies, agrovets and beauty shops use FEFO.
- Reorder level formulaCalculate reorder levels and safety stock with simple formulas and worked examples for a pharmacy and an agrovet, then turn them into automatic reorder rules.
- How to do a stock takeA step-by-step stock taking guide for pharmacies, agrovets and shops: full counts vs cycle counts, preparation, counting, variances and what to do next.
- Reduce stock lossesWhere pharmacy and shop stock goes missing (expiry, theft, errors, supplier short-delivery) and 12 controls that cut losses, with how to measure shrinkage.
Running the business
- Pharmacy accounting basicsAccounting every pharmacy or agrovet owner should understand: margin vs markup, cost of goods sold, stock valuation, VAT, cash vs profit, monthly close.
- Manage multiple branchesHow to run two or more pharmacies, agrovets or shops: one product list, central buying, transfers, branch targets, permissions and weekly reports.
- Wholesale credit managementHow to sell on credit without cash-flow pain: credit policies, limits and terms, statements, ageing reports, follow-up routines and when to stop supplying.
- What is a pharmacy POS?What a pharmacy POS system is, what it does beyond a cash register, the hardware you need, what it costs and how to tell if your pharmacy is ready for one.
By type of shop
- How to start a pharmacy businessThe steps to start a retail pharmacy: licensing and qualified staff, location, premises, suppliers, opening stock, pricing, systems and the first 90 days.
- How to start an agrovet businessHow to start an agrovet shop: licences, a location near farmers, stock by season, suppliers, farmer credit, record keeping and growing beyond one shop.
- Agrovet seasonal stock planningPlan agrovet stock around planting, top-dressing, spraying and dry seasons: forecast from last season, time orders, avoid dead stock, handle vet drugs.
- Cosmetics shelf life and stockExpiry dates vs PAO (period after opening) for cosmetics, how long products last, how to rotate beauty stock, handle testers and shade variants, and cut waste.
Choosing software
- How to choose pharmacy softwareA 7-step process to choose pharmacy software: list must-haves, test with real products, check offline selling, data export, total cost and support.
- Best pharmacy software (2026)What makes the best pharmacy software in 2026: the 10 features that matter, fair prices, questions to ask vendors and a checklist to compare options.
- Best agrovet software (2026)How to choose the best agrovet software: kilos and bags, vet-drug expiry, seasonal stock, farmer credit, offline selling and fair pricing. With checklist.
- Best POS for a small pharmacyWhat a small pharmacy or chemist needs from a POS in 2026, what it should cost, and the mistakes to avoid. Plain advice for one-shop owners.
- Cloud vs desktop softwareCloud or desktop pharmacy software? Compare cost, internet needs, offline selling, backups, updates, branches and security, with a clear recommendation.
- poso vs spreadsheetsWhen a notebook or Excel sheet is enough for your shop, when it starts costing you money, and what changes when you move stock, sales and accounts into poso.
Reference
- GlossaryPlain-English definitions of the terms used in pharmacy, agrovet and wholesale stock control: FEFO, batch number, GRN, reorder point, COGS, SKU and more.
- Questions and answersAnswers about poso: what it does, who it is for, pricing, the free trial, offline selling, expiry tracking, your data, countries, currencies and support.
About these guides
Who writes these guides?
The poso team, from our work with pharmacies, agrovets and wholesalers. They are general guides; for legal, tax or licensing questions, check with the relevant authority or a qualified adviser. About poso.
Can I share or quote these guides?
Yes. You are welcome to link to or quote them with a link back to the page.
Last updated by the poso team.