The short answer
Multi branch inventory management means one system that holds the stock of every shop separately, lets you move goods between them, and shows sales per branch without a single phone call. Growth Informer Business does this from one login: stock per location, transfers between branches, a manager for each branch with limited permissions, and daily sales by branch on the owner's phone.
It suits owners with two or more shops, for example a supermarket in Kampala with a branch in Entebbe, or a wholesaler with a shop and a separate store. If you run one shop, or a branch that has poor internet most days, it may not be the right fit yet. Ask for a demo on WhatsApp and we will walk through it with your own branches in mind.
Why stock goes wrong when you open a second shop
With one shop you can see the shelves yourself. With two, you start to rely on phone calls, photos of a notebook sent on WhatsApp, and a count at the end of the month. Then the same things keep happening.
- Shop A runs out of sugar while shop B has three cartons that are not moving, and nobody knows.
- Goods go from the main store to the branch by boda or van with a handwritten note, and nobody confirms what arrived.
- The branch manager has the same access as you, so prices and stock can change without a trace.
- You hear about a bad week after the week has ended.
Most losses are not dramatic. They are small gaps that nobody can trace because nobody recorded where the goods went. Our guide on how to stop stock theft in a shop covers the habits that help. The system gives you the record that makes those habits work across more than one location.
What you see from one login
Think of it as multiple shops software where every shop is a location inside one business account. You add each branch once, then work across all of them.
- Stock per location. Each product has its own quantity in each branch. Products carry units and variations such as size and colour, and you can print barcode labels.
- Transfers between branches. Record goods sent from the main store to Branch 2. Stock leaves one location and enters the other, with a record of the movement.
- A manager per branch. Users and roles let you give each manager limited permissions, so you decide what they can do and see.
- Daily sales by branch. Open the Android or iOS app and check today's sales for each shop, with reports for the longer view.
- Register open and close. Each cashier opens and closes the register, so cash can be checked against sales at the end of the day.
- Purchases and suppliers. Record what you buy and from whom, then receive it into the right location.
If one branch sells cartons to traders and another sells single items to walk-in customers, selling price groups and units help you keep both prices on the same product. Wholesalers can read more on wholesale distribution software.
Ways to run two or more shops, compared
Most owners start with notebooks and WhatsApp, then move to a spreadsheet per shop. Here is how those compare with one cloud system for all branches.
| What you need | One cloud system for all branches | Notebook or spreadsheet per shop |
|---|---|---|
| Stock per branch | Each location has its own quantity, updated as sales and purchases are recorded | Updated by hand when someone remembers, so it drifts from the shelf |
| Moving goods between shops | A recorded transfer: stock leaves one location and enters the other | A paper note or a WhatsApp message that can be lost or disputed |
| Branch manager access | Roles with limited permissions for each user | Whoever holds the file or book can change anything |
| Owner's daily view | Sales by branch on your phone and in reports | A phone call or a photo at closing time |
| Effort to start | Set up locations and products, count opening stock once per branch, train the team | Almost none to start, but the work repeats every week |
A spreadsheet is a fair choice for two very small shops with one trusted person doing all the counting. Once you have cashiers, suppliers and transfers, the manual route costs more in time and mistakes than it saves.
How a typical set-up works
Branch stock control in Kampala or anywhere else in Uganda only works if the first count is honest. This is the order we suggest.
1. List your branches
Add each shop, store or outlet as a location, with a clear name your team will recognise.
2. Add products once, count stock per branch
Create each product one time with its units and variations. Then do a physical count in every branch and enter it as opening stock for that location. Do the count on a quiet day with someone other than the branch manager watching.
3. Set users and roles
Create a user for each cashier and manager and give each one only the permissions they need. Owners keep the full view.
4. Sell, receive and transfer
Cashiers open the register, sell, and close it at the end of the day. Purchases are received into the right location. When goods move between shops, record a transfer the same day.
5. Keep an owner's routine
Each evening, look at sales by branch and check that the Mobile Money payments recorded at each shop match the confirmed ones in the Payments (MoMo) tray. Each week, compare stock per location and move slow stock to where it sells.
For payments, cash, card and Mobile Money are recorded as a payment method inside the Multiple Pay window, and the Payments (MoMo) tray records confirmed payments. The system does not send a payment prompt to the customer's phone. If your business is VAT registered, EFRIS e-receipts can be switched on or off in the system. What your business must do about EFRIS is a question for URA at ura.go.ug or your tax agent.
When this is not the right choice, and what it costs
We would rather tell you now than after you have paid.
- You have one shop. Start with a simpler POS and inventory system and add branches when you open the second one.
- A branch has poor internet most days. This is a cloud system, so each branch needs a connection to sell and see live stock. Tell us about the connection at each shop when you ask for the demo.
- You will not do the opening count. No software can fix stock that was never counted. If nobody will own this, wait.
- You need heavy custom manufacturing or unusual workflows. We can talk about custom software, but a ready system is cheaper and faster where it fits.
On cost: the price depends on your business, and we do not publish a figure on this page. Message us on WhatsApp +256 702 946 946 or use the form, and we will show you the system and quote you after we understand your shops.
Growth Informer Software Services is a US-based company with remote teams around the world, including a team in Kampala. Growth Informer Business is our own cloud POS and business management system at growthinformer.com, used by 6,500+ businesses, with Android and iOS apps.
Frequently asked questions
How much does multi branch inventory management cost?
It depends on your business, and we do not quote a figure on this page. Ask for a demo on WhatsApp or through the form, tell us about your shops, and we will give you a clear quote.
Can I move stock between my shops in the system?
Yes. You record a transfer from one location to another, so the stock leaves the sending branch and enters the receiving one, with a record of the movement.
Can I limit what a branch manager can do?
Yes. You create users and roles with limited permissions, so each manager only has the access you decide. In the demo we will show you which permissions you can switch on or off for your set-up.
Can I see daily sales for each branch on my phone?
Yes. The Android and iOS apps let you check sales by branch from your phone, and the reports give you the longer view by location.
Does a branch need internet to use it?
Yes. It is a cloud system, so each branch needs an internet connection to sell and see live stock. If a branch has a weak connection, tell us before the demo so we can talk it through honestly.