A NOTE FROM UNBOUNDMUSESTUDIO
What to record in a craft fair sales tracker
A clear sales log helps you understand the day. Here are the details worth keeping, without turning your stall into an admin desk.
Separate the basket from the items
One customer may buy several products in one transaction. Give the basket a receipt reference, then record each item and quantity against it. This lets you review which products sold without accidentally counting one customer as several transactions.
Record what actually changed hands
Note the payment method and actual amount paid. Keep discounts, processing fees and refunds distinguishable from the headline price. If your payment provider supplies the final fee later, record that amount when reconciling instead of treating an estimate as confirmed.
Keep cash movement visible
Write down the opening float. Record money added to or removed from the cash box separately from sales. At the end of the event, count the cash and compare it with the expected amount before mixing it with other funds.
Track stock movements separately from money
A refund and a returned item are not always the same event. Record whether stock came back in a condition you can sell. Keep sales, returns, gifts, damage and adjustments distinguishable so your next stock plan starts from a useful count.
End with one decision for next time
Compare your plan with the records: what sold, what remained, and what customers asked about. Note event costs and the limits of your figures. Use the review to choose one change for your next fair. This is an operational planning approach, not tax or accounting advice.