What kirana store billing software should get right
Kirana store billing software has to do three things well: keep the udhaar book straight, bill loose items without a calculator, and stay simple enough for a family member to use. Cartix Prime starts with those, then adds GST bills and stock for when you need them.
Think of a provision store in a Tamil Nadu town. The owner bills from a desk near the door, his son helps in the evening, and a notebook under the counter holds the credit of sixty families. That notebook is where most kirana money gets stuck.
Udhaar with a limit, not a notebook
Every customer's credit balance shows on the counter the moment you pick their name. You can set a limit for each one. When a bill would take them past it, the bill waits until the owner or a manager allows it. No more awkward talk after the fact.
- Part payments go against the right balance
- Payment reminders go to the customer on WhatsApp
- A bill can be split: part cash, part UPI, the rest on credit
Credit with limits is on every paid plan, from Starter. For ways to give credit without losing money, read our guide to customer credit and udhaar.
Loose items the way customers ask for them
"Half kilo toor dal." "Twenty rupees of jeera." Kirana customers ask by weight and by amount. On Silver and above, Cartix Prime reads the weighing scale, so the weight comes onto the bill. Ask for ₹50 of sugar and it works out the weight at today's rate.
Packets with barcodes scan as usual. Your fast sellers, like milk, bread and eggs, can sit as one-tap buttons.
Bills in your language, sent on WhatsApp
Item names can be in Malayalam and other local scripts, and the bill and WhatsApp message carry them. A customer who reads Malayalam better than English sees "പഞ്ചസാര" next to sugar.
Many kirana customers prefer the bill on WhatsApp. It goes as a link, it is not lost, and you save paper. Every WhatsApp bill ends with "Billed with Cartix Prime". When you do print, a 58 mm thermal printer is enough for most kirana bills.
Stock and purchase without extra work
When the wholesaler's van drops goods, enter the purchase bill and stock and cost update together. Then you can see what is running low before the shelf is empty. Expenses like rent, electricity and the helper's wage go in too, so the month's picture is complete.
On Gold, take a photo of the supplier's bill and the items fill themselves. That is helpful when a wholesale bill has forty lines.
When the family helps at the counter
In most kirana stores the billing is shared: the owner in the morning, a son or daughter after college, the wife when the owner goes to the wholesale market. Each person can have their own PIN, and you choose what they may do. A helper can bill but need not see your margins.
When you are away, the Android app on your phone shows the day's sales and who owes what. One account works on the shop computer, your phone and any web browser.
And when the broadband or mobile data drops, the counter keeps billing. Bills go up to the cloud when the internet is back. See offline billing software.
What it costs
| Plan | 1 computer + 1 phone | Phone only | For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | ₹2,499 | ₹599 | Billing, udhaar, stock, GST reports, up to 1,000 items |
| Silver | ₹4,999 | ₹1,099 | Weighing scales, any number of items, stock count |
Prices are for a year, before 18% GST. A small kirana that bills on one phone does well on Starter at ₹599. If you sell a lot of loose items from a scale, or stock more than 1,000 items, Silver fits better. A very small shop can stay on the free plan: 100 items and 5 bills a day. See free billing software for what that covers.
How to start
- Sign up at the Cartix Prime start page. Your first 7 days are on Silver, free, no card needed.
- Import your items from Excel, or add your top 50 sellers by hand first.
- Add your credit customers with their opening balance and a limit.
- Print or WhatsApp your first bill to yourself.
Billing on a phone only? See the Android billing app. Setting up a new store? Read billing setup for a new shop.
Questions people ask
Which billing software is good for a kirana store?
Pick one that keeps a credit book with limits, handles loose items by weight and amount, sends bills on WhatsApp and keeps working without internet. Cartix Prime does these, starting at ₹599 a year on a phone or ₹2,499 with a computer, before GST.
Can I keep udhaar (credit) in billing software?
Yes. Cartix Prime shows each customer’s balance and limit at the counter, holds bills that cross the limit until the owner allows them, and sends payment reminders on WhatsApp. This is on every paid plan.
Do I need a computer for kirana billing?
No. Many small kirana stores bill on an Android phone with a Bluetooth printer. A computer helps if you have a busy counter, a barcode scanner or a weighing scale. Cartix Prime works on both with one account.
Is there free billing software for a kirana shop?
Cartix Prime has a free plan with 100 items and 5 bills a day, after a 7-day free trial of Silver. That suits a very small shop. Most kirana stores outgrow it and move to Starter.
Can kirana billing software print in Malayalam or Tamil?
Cartix Prime lets you keep item names in Malayalam and other local scripts, and they show on the bill and the WhatsApp message. Check your printer prints the script clearly during the free trial.