Stress-free inventory management: 7 tips to avoid stockouts and overstock
September 2025 - Good inventory management is crucial for every entrepreneur. Too little stock means lost sales and dissatisfied customers. Too much stock, on the other hand, leads to unnecessary costs and loss of liquidity. How do you find the right balance? With these 7 tips, you can avoid both stockouts and overstock.
1. Work with minimum and maximum stock levels
Determine a minimum and maximum stock level for each product. As soon as you reach the minimum limit, you automatically place a new order. That way, you'll never run out.
2. Use software
Keeping track of stock manually is time-consuming and prone to errors. With simple stock software or an ERP system, you have real-time insight and can make adjustments more quickly.
3. Analyse your sales data
Look at your historical data: which products sell quickly, which ones remain unsold? Seasonal patterns and trends help you plan better.
4. Take delivery times into account
A product that takes three days to arrive requires a different approach than an item with a delivery time of six weeks. Plan your orders in advance, taking peak periods into account.
5. Apply the 80/20 principle
Often, 20% of your products account for 80% of your turnover. Give those top sellers extra attention and monitor them closely.
6. Perform regular stock counts
Don't blindly trust your system. Regular physical counts (cycle counts) help to detect discrepancies and correct errors.
7. Think about cash flow
Stock = capital. Every box on the shelf is money tied up. Take your cash flow into account and don't build up stocks that place an unnecessary burden on your business.
Stock management can sometimes seem like a burden, but it is a direct lever for customer satisfaction and financial health. With clear limits, smart software and regular analyses, you can avoid both stockouts and overstocking.
