Short answer: A kirana shop needs speed at the counter, an easy udhar (credit) ledger, mixed GST rates on one bill and alerts before items run out. BizKhata offers POS and Fast billing, barcode scanning, party ledgers with bill-by-bill outstanding and low-stock alerts, and it runs offline on a normal PC.
What makes grocery billing special
A kirana bill may have 20 items: rice at 0% or 5%, biscuits at 18%, soap at 18%, and loose items sold by weight. Customers wait, so every second counts. Many regular customers buy on credit, so the udhar record must be accurate.
Fast billing at the counter
- Scan the barcode or type the first letters of the item.
- Quantity and rate are filled automatically; change only when needed.
- Mixed GST rates are applied item by item; the bill shows tax split.
- Print a thermal receipt, or share the bill on WhatsApp.
Use POS for the walk-in rush and Fast billing when you want even fewer keystrokes.
Udhar made simple
Create a party for each credit customer. Every credit bill adds to their outstanding; each payment reduces it. The ledger shows the running balance and the outstanding report shows who has not paid for how many days. A reminder to the right people on the right day recovers money that would otherwise be forgotten.
Loose and packed items
Items can have decimal quantity (for example 0.5 kg) and units such as kg, litre, piece or packet. Purchase in cartons and sell in pieces by setting an alternate unit and conversion.
Stock and reordering
Set minimum stock per item. When stock falls below the level the item appears in low-stock alerts, so you place the order with the distributor before the shelf is empty. A weekly look at the slow movers helps you avoid blocking cash in items nobody buys.
Purchases and suppliers
Enter purchase bills from wholesalers and distributors. Supplier ledgers show what you owe and when. Cash and bank books track daily collections. If you buy from GST-registered dealers, purchase entries also support your input tax credit workings.
GST
Items are set with their GST rate once. If rates change, update the item and future bills follow. Run the GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B checks monthly. Small shops registered under the composition scheme should confirm their billing format with their CA, because composition dealers issue a bill of supply and do not charge tax separately.
Daily closing in 5 minutes
- Check the day’s sales total against cash in the drawer.
- Record expenses.
- Look at the credit given today.
- Take a backup.
Why offline
A kirana shop cannot stop billing because the Wi-Fi is down. BizKhata keeps your data on your own computer. Add an app lock PIN so only you open reports.
Quick feature table
| Need | BizKhata |
|---|---|
| Barcode and POS billing | Yes |
| Udhar ledger and outstanding | Yes |
| Mixed GST on one bill | Yes |
| Low-stock alerts | Yes |
| Thermal printing and WhatsApp share | Yes |
| Offline Windows and Mac | Yes |
Setting up your item list quickly
A new kirana shop may have 800 to 3,000 items. Do not type them all in one go. Start with the 200 items that make 80% of your sales. Give each one a name, unit, GST rate, sale rate, barcode (use the manufacturer barcode where it exists) and minimum stock. Import from Excel or CSV if you already have a list; the import page accepts CSV and Excel files. Add the remaining items as they are sold, so the list grows with real use.
Common GST questions for grocery
Unbranded fresh produce and some staples are typically at nil GST, many packaged foods fall at 5% or 12%, and many FMCG items such as soaps and biscuits are at 18%. Rates are revised by the GST Council from time to time, so treat these as examples, not as advice. Set the correct rate on each item with your CA and let the software do the rest. Small traders registered under the composition scheme issue a bill of supply and do not collect tax separately, so check your registration type before choosing a bill format.
Reducing losses
- Expiry on packaged goods. Use batch and expiry for dairy, biscuits and other dated items, then check the near-expiry list weekly.
- Pilferage and billing gaps. Compare physical stock against software stock once a month.
- Price differences. Update the purchase rate when the supplier changes it, so you see your real margin.
- Credit leakage. Review the outstanding report every Saturday and call the customers who are overdue.
Home delivery and WhatsApp bills
For customers who order on phone, make the bill as usual and share it on WhatsApp. They get a clean GST bill, and you have a record of what was delivered.
Growing into a supermarket
When the shop grows, you can add a second counter in POS mode, use barcode scanners, and move to multi-user setup on the same network. The data model stays the same, so you do not have to change software when you grow.
About BizKhata
BizKhata is an offline-first desktop GST billing and accounting app for Windows and Mac. It includes Sale, Purchase, Estimate, Credit and Debit notes, POS, Fast billing, Carbon billing mode, GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B checks, e-invoice support, party ledgers with bill-by-bill outstanding, cash and bank books, contra and journal vouchers, trial balance, P&L, balance sheet, share-to-CA export, dark mode, app lock, and backup and restore. Try the 7-day free trial at the download section and see pricing.
FAQ
Which billing software is best for a kirana store? Pick software that is fast at the counter, handles udhar and mixed GST, and works offline. BizKhata is built around these needs.
Can I track udhar customers? Yes. Each customer has a ledger with bill-by-bill outstanding and ageing.
Does it support barcode scanners? Yes, barcode scanning is supported for billing.
Can I sell items by weight? Yes, items can allow decimal quantities.
Will it run on an old PC? It runs on Windows 10/11 and macOS 11 or later.
Is there a free trial? Yes, a 7-day free trial with no credit card.