Can you run a shop's billing on an Android phone?
Yes. A good billing app for Android makes the same GST bill a computer would, prints it on a small Bluetooth printer or sends it on WhatsApp, and keeps working without the internet. Cartix Prime does all of this, with phone-only plans from ₹599 a year.
A phone counter costs far less to set up than a computer, takes no table space and moves with you. For a vegetable stall in a Madurai market, a mobile accessories kiosk or a home tiffin business, that is the whole point.
Printing from the phone
The Android app prints to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi thermal printers. A 58 mm Bluetooth printer is the usual pick for a phone counter: small, battery-powered on many models, and cheap on paper. If your bills are long, an 80 mm printer is easier to read. Read 58 mm vs 80 mm thermal printers before you buy.
Many customers prefer the bill on WhatsApp anyway. It goes as a link, which you can send without printing anything. That also saves you paper rolls.
Works when the signal does not
Phones lose signal more often than shop broadband. The app keeps billing offline, and the bills go up to the cloud when the phone is connected again. Customer credit, split payments and printing all carry on without the internet. Only WhatsApp sending waits for the network. See offline billing software for details.
Everything a small shop needs, on a small screen
- Search items by name or code, with fast sellers as one-tap buttons
- Credit (udhaar) with a limit for each customer, and WhatsApp reminders
- Cash, UPI, card, credit or split payment on one bill
- Stock that goes down as you bill, and purchase entry when goods arrive
- GST bills and GST reports for your accountant
- Item names in Malayalam and other local scripts
For long purchase bills, a computer is easier. You can sign in on any web browser with the same account and do the heavy entry there, then bill on the phone.
The owner's phone and the salesman's phone
Not every phone is a counter. Many owners bill on a computer and keep the Android app on their own phone to see the day's sales, stock and credit while away from the shop. Every plan includes one computer and one phone for this reason.
For distributors, the Android app is the salesman's billing machine in the van, on the Gold plan. See van sales software.
Setting up a phone counter well
A phone counter is simple, but a few habits make it reliable through a long day:
- Keep it charged. A phone that bills, prints over Bluetooth and sends WhatsApp all day needs a charger at the counter.
- Use a phone for the shop, not the family. A shared phone gets its apps closed, its storage filled and its battery drained by others.
- Pair one printer and leave it. Pair the Bluetooth printer once and keep it near the phone. Keep a spare paper roll.
- Think about a tablet. An Android tablet gives a bigger screen with room for more one-tap buttons, at a lower cost than a computer.
- Give staff their own PIN. You choose what each person may do, even on a phone.
Your data is in the cloud with a copy on the phone, so if the phone is lost or breaks, sign in on a new one and carry on.
What it costs
| Plan | Phone only, a year | 1 computer + 1 phone, a year |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | ₹599 | ₹2,499 |
| Silver | ₹1,099 | ₹4,999 |
| Gold | ₹1,899 | ₹8,999 |
| Platinum | ₹2,599 | ₹12,999 |
Prices are before 18% GST. Phone-only plans are for shops that bill on Android alone. Starter at ₹599 covers billing, credit, stock, GST reports and WhatsApp bills for up to 1,000 items. Each extra phone is from ₹399 a year, for a second person billing in the shop. If you later add a computer counter, it is from ₹1,499 a year.
Very small? The free plan allows 100 items and 5 bills a day. See free billing software for when that is enough.
How to start
- Sign up at the start page and get 7 days of Silver free, no card.
- Install the Android app and sign in with the same account.
- Import items from Excel from a computer browser, or add your top sellers on the phone.
- Pair your Bluetooth printer and print a first bill.
Setting up from scratch? Read billing setup for a new shop.
Questions people ask
Which billing app is good for Android?
Look for GST bills, Bluetooth printing, WhatsApp bills, credit with limits, and billing that works offline, with your data backed up in the cloud. Cartix Prime does these on Android from ₹599 a year phone only, before GST.
Can I print bills from my phone?
Yes. The Cartix Prime Android app prints to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi thermal printers, both 58 mm and 80 mm. You can also send the bill on WhatsApp as a link instead of printing, which saves paper.
Does the billing app work without internet?
Yes. Bills are kept on the phone and go up to the cloud when the connection is back. Sending on WhatsApp needs the network, so print the bill when you are offline.
Can I use the same account on my phone and computer?
Yes. One Cartix Prime account works on the Android app, the Windows desktop app and any web browser. Each plan includes one computer and one phone, or you can choose a phone-only plan.
What does a phone-only billing plan include?
A phone-only plan runs Cartix Prime on one Android phone, with no computer. Starter at ₹599 a year covers billing, credit, stock, GST reports and WhatsApp bills. Silver, Gold and Platinum add more, at ₹1,099, ₹1,899 and ₹2,599, before GST.