SKU-002 • Project-Based Service

Find out where your inventory is actually going

A structured investigation into the gap between what your records say you have and what's physically on your shelves — delivered as a written findings report with estimated loss values and actionable recommendations.

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PROMISE SHELF • ROW A

What this engagement delivers

At the end of the engagement, you'll have a clear picture of where your inventory variances are coming from — receiving, point-of-sale, returns, access controls, or some combination — along with a realistic estimate of what those discrepancies represent financially.

The findings report is written to be useful, not just thorough. Each identified issue comes with a practical recommendation so you have something concrete to act on — not just a description of the problem.

Structured review of receiving procedures, POS data, return processes, and access controls

Estimated loss values quantified in dollar terms — not just a list of variances

Written findings report with recommended procedural improvements for each identified issue

Suitable for single-location retailers and multi-site operators experiencing unexplained variances

PROBLEM DISPLAY • ROW B

The inventory variance problem

Unexplained stock gaps

A count that comes in under your recorded figures tells you there's a problem — but not where it started. Without a structured review, the gap tends to be written off rather than addressed.

Losses that compound quietly

Shrinkage that goes unaddressed in one period tends to continue — and sometimes grow — in the next. By the time it shows up in margin figures, months of losses have already accumulated.

No clear path to fix it

Even when a retailer suspects a specific cause — a receiving gap, a returns procedure that isn't working — confirming it and knowing what to change requires a more systematic look than a spot-check provides.

SOLUTION DISPLAY • ROW C

What the investigation covers

A methodical review across four areas

Inventory discrepancies rarely have a single source. This engagement reviews the four most common contributors systematically — so the findings report reflects what's actually happening, not just a first guess.

We work through your receiving records to identify any pattern of intake-to-record mismatches. POS transaction data is reviewed for voids, refunds, and open-ticket patterns. Return and exchange procedures are checked against how stock is re-entered into the system. Employee and management access controls are assessed against typical risk exposure points.

The output is a written report — not a data dump — with each finding explained in plain terms alongside the estimated financial impact and a recommended procedural change.

AREA 01

Receiving procedure review

Supplier deliveries matched against intake records — patterns of over-recording or under-receiving identified.

AREA 02

POS transaction analysis

Sales voids, refunds, discounts, and open-ticket handling reviewed for irregularities or process gaps.

AREA 03

Returns and exchange process

How returned stock is handled, re-shelved, and re-entered — and where the process creates inventory record exposure.

AREA 04

Access controls assessment

Staff and management access to stock, systems, and adjustments reviewed against standard risk practices.

PROCESS DISPLAY • ROW D

How the engagement runs

A focused project with a clear start, a structured middle, and a tangible deliverable at the end.

Initial briefing

We discuss the nature of the variance — when it was noticed, what categories are affected, and what data you have available. This shapes how the review is structured.

Data collection

We work through your records — POS exports, receiving logs, return records, and access data — gathering what's needed for each of the four review areas.

Analysis and findings

Each area reviewed systematically. Discrepancies identified, patterns noted, loss estimates calculated. Recommendations drafted alongside each finding.

Report delivery

A written report covering each finding, the estimated loss figure, and the specific procedural change recommended. Delivered with a walkthrough if useful.

PRICE TAG • SKU-002

The investment

Project fee

$2,000

fixed / USD

A single, fixed-price project engagement. Suitable for retailers experiencing unexplained inventory variances — whether that's a recent discovery or a recurring pattern that hasn't been properly investigated.

What's included in the engagement:

Review of receiving procedures and intake records

POS transaction data analysis

Returns and exchange process review

Access controls assessment

Estimated loss values in dollar terms

Written findings report with procedural recommendations

Report walkthrough session if needed

Fixed-price — no scope creep or variable billing

METHOD DISPLAY • ROW E

How the analysis is structured

Systematic rather than anecdotal

Identifying the source of shrinkage requires working through the data rather than starting with a conclusion. The four-area review structure is designed to follow what the records actually show — not to confirm a pre-existing suspicion.

In many cases, the primary source turns out to be procedural rather than intentional — a receiving workflow that doesn't capture everything, or a return process that doesn't trigger a proper stock reinstatement. These are the findings that lead to straightforward, implementable improvements.

What the engagement timeline looks like

Wk 1

Initial briefing and data collection — records gathered, scope confirmed, review areas prioritised

Wk 2

Structured analysis across receiving, POS, returns, and access — patterns identified, estimates calculated

Wk 3

Findings report drafted — each issue documented with estimated value and procedural recommendation

Wk 3–4

Report delivered and walkthrough completed — you leave with a clear picture and an actionable path forward

ASSURANCE SHELF • ROW F

How we stand behind the work

Before anything is agreed, we'll have a conversation about your situation — what variances you're seeing, what data you have, and what a useful output would look like for you. If it doesn't look like a good fit, we'll tell you that before any engagement starts.

The findings report is written to be actionable. If, on review, something in the report isn't clear or a recommendation needs more context for your specific setup, we'll work through it with you. The goal is that you walk away knowing what changed and what to do next — not with a document that raises more questions than it answers.

Fit assessment before engagement

Initial conversation to confirm the review makes sense for your situation

Actionable findings report

Each finding comes with a specific recommendation, not just a description

Fixed project price

$2,000 flat — no variable billing or scope surprises

NEXT STEPS • ROW G

How to get the engagement started

Three steps from first contact to a findings report in your hands.

Describe the variance

Use the contact form to give us a brief picture — what category of stock is affected, the approximate scale of the variance, and what data you currently have available.

Scope conversation

We'll talk through your situation, confirm the review makes sense, and map out exactly what the engagement covers and what the deliverable looks like for your operation.

Review and report

The engagement runs over roughly three to four weeks. You receive the findings report with each identified issue, the estimated loss value, and the recommended procedural change.

CHECKOUT COUNTER • SKU-002

Ready to find out where the inventory is going?

Tell us about the variance you're seeing and we'll walk through whether this engagement is the right approach for your situation.

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OTHER SERVICES • AISLE 1, 3

Other services from Finpendle

Each one addresses a different retail accounting problem — many clients use more than one.

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Daily POS reconciliation, bank deposit matching, vendor payment processing, and monthly margin reports — all built around retail categories.

$1,100 / month View Details

SKU-003 • Monthly

Multi-Location Financial Consolidation

Unified reporting across all locations — consolidated statements with location breakdowns and a framework that scales as you open new sites.

$2,500 / month View Details

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