Stock you can trust
Items, variants, bundles, and stock levels by location, updated from every channel you sell on.
Inventory managementInventory software for small business
Small Business Inventory SoftwareThat Tells You What to Buy Next
Track stock across every location and channel, scan barcodes from your phone, and get a demand forecast for each SKU that turns into a draft purchase order you approve. Start free, and add your whole team when you upgrade.
- Free for one user
- Paid plans from $99 a month
- Unlimited users on paid plans
- No SKU or warehouse limits
One system instead of a spreadsheet
What a small business inventory system should do
Most small businesses start with a spreadsheet and a reorder point. That works until you add a second channel, a second location, or a supplier with a long lead time. Spark keeps the count, then plans the buy.
A demand forecast for every SKU
Demand ESP reads each item’s sales history, seasonality, and stockouts, so you know what will sell, not just what is low.
Demand forecastingDraft purchase orders to approve
Spark recommends what to buy, when, and how much, then drafts the purchase order with the reasoning attached.
PurchasingBarcode scanning on your phone
Receive, pick, pack, count, and move stock from iPhone, iPad, or Android with the camera or a rugged scanner.
Mobile appConnected to your store and books
Shopify, Amazon, WooCommerce, Square, Etsy, QuickBooks Online, Xero, and more feed one inventory plan.
IntegrationsRun it by text
From Solo up, Sparki texts you when an item will run short and lets you approve the drafted order with a reply.
Text with SparkiGrow into it
Start free, upgrade when you are ready to act
Free is an ongoing plan, not a trial. Paid plans include a 14-day free trial and unlimited users.
See your forecast
Free
$0
1 user
Free forecasting for one operator, refreshed every month from the inventory data you already have.
- Supported source connection or file import
- Per-SKU forecast and seasonal curves
- Dead stock and days-of-supply reports
- Monthly reorder and buying plan
Live intelligence
Solo
$99/mo
Unlimited users
For operators who need the forecast, stock risk, and buying plan to stay current.
- Continuous forecasts and buying plans
- Text with Sparki from your phone
- Live reorder and stockout alerts
- Multiple supported data connections
- Inventory policy management
Act on the plan
Operate
$349/mo
Unlimited users
For teams ready to turn recommendations into purchasing, receiving, and fulfillment.
- One-click POs and full PO lifecycle
- Supplier quotes, terms, and price books
- Receiving and exception workflows
- Transfers and multi-warehouse operations
Manufacturers can start Scale at $749 a month for bills of materials and production planning. Compare every plan.
Inventory software cost
What small business inventory software costs
Published prices and user limits for five tools small businesses often compare. Price is only part of it: check what each plan caps and whether forecasting is included.
ToolPricingUsersBuying plan
Spark Inventory
Pricing
Free for one user. Solo $99, Operate $349, and Scale $749 a month.
Users
Unlimited users on every paid plan.
Buying plan
Per-SKU demand forecasts, seasonal curves, and draft purchase orders, starting on the Free plan.
Zoho Inventory
Zoho alternativesPricing
Free for 50 orders a month. Paid plans from $29 to $249 a month, billed annually.
Users
1 to 10 users by plan; extra users are $7.50 a month.
Buying plan
Reorder levels and replenishment alerts.
inFlow Inventory
inFlow alternativesPricing
Lite $99, Core $299, Pro $499, and Max $699 a month, billed annually.
Users
2, 5, 10, or 20 team members by plan.
Buying plan
Reorder points and recommended reorder points.
Fishbowl
Fishbowl alternativesPricing
Essentials $229, Growth $429, and Scale $729 a month, billed annually.
Users
2, 5, or 10 users by plan.
Buying plan
Reorder points; demand forecasting is an add-on on Growth and included on Scale.
Katana
Pricing
Advantage is custom-priced on an annual contract. A Free plan covers up to 30 SKUs.
Users
Unlimited users.
Buying plan
Planning, forecasting, and AI replenishment.
Spark Inventory publishes this comparison. Details for the other tools come from each vendor’s public pricing page, checked November 6, 2026. Prices and plans can change, so confirm with the vendor before you buy.
Buyer’s checklist
How to choose an inventory system for a small business
- 01
Count who needs access
Owners, buyers, and warehouse staff all touch inventory. Plans that cap users get expensive as you hire, so check the price of each extra seat.
- 02
Check what each plan caps
Look at monthly orders, locations, SKUs, and integrations. A low entry price can hide a limit you reach in your first busy season.
- 03
Look past the reorder point
A reorder point tells you an item is low. A demand forecast tells you how much to buy, given seasonality, lead times, and what is already on order.
- 04
Ask about setup fees
Some vendors require a paid onboarding package on their higher plans. Find out what setup costs before you compare monthly prices.
- 05
Connect where you sell and where you keep the books
Your inventory system should read orders from your store and marketplaces and stay in step with your accounting software, so nobody types numbers twice.
Small business inventory FAQ
Answers before you switch from spreadsheets
What is the best inventory system for a small business?+
The best fit depends on what you need the system to do. Spark Inventory is built for small product businesses that need to know what to reorder: it tracks stock across locations and channels, forecasts demand for each SKU, and drafts the purchase order for you to approve. It is free for one user, and paid plans start at $99 a month with unlimited users. If you mainly need barcode stock control, inFlow is an option, and if you already run on Zoho apps, Zoho Inventory has a low entry price.
Is there free inventory software for small businesses?+
Yes. Spark Inventory’s Free plan gives one user a per-SKU demand forecast with seasonal curves, dead stock and days-of-supply reports, and a monthly reorder and buying plan, with no time limit. Zoho Inventory and Katana also offer free plans: Zoho’s covers 50 orders a month, and Katana’s covers up to 30 SKUs.
How much does inventory software cost for a small business?+
Published prices run from free to several hundred dollars a month. On vendor pricing pages checked November 6, 2026, Zoho Inventory’s paid plans run $29 to $249 a month, inFlow starts at $99 a month for two team members, Fishbowl starts at $229 a month for two users, and Spark Inventory’s paid plans start at $99 a month with unlimited users. Also check for required onboarding fees, per-user charges, and add-ons such as forecasting or manufacturing.
Can I scan barcodes with my phone?+
Yes. Spark Inventory Mobile runs on iPhone, iPad, and Android and reads UPC, EAN, Code 128, QR, DataMatrix, and more with the phone camera. Rugged handhelds such as Zebra and Sunmi devices work in keyboard mode.
Can I move over from spreadsheets?+
Yes. Import your items and sales history from a file, or connect a supported source such as Shopify, Amazon, WooCommerce, Square, or QuickBooks Online. Sparki, or your own AI assistant over MCP, maps and validates the import for you to approve, with no onboarding fee.
Does Spark charge per user, SKU, or location?+
No. The Free plan includes one user, and every paid plan includes unlimited users. Spark does not meter SKUs or warehouse count. Paid plans differ by what they let you do and by included monthly orders.
See your first forecast for free
Connect your store or import a file. Sparki maps and validates your data for you to approve, with no onboarding fee.