A hardware store stocks more small, similar-looking items than almost any other shop: fittings in ten sizes, wire in several gauges, paint in dozens of shades. Add contractors who buy on credit and want a quotation first, and a basic billing app quickly falls short. This guide compares the billing software most Indian hardware, sanitary and paint shops look at, so you can choose on price and fit.
Quick answer
For most hardware stores, pick software that handles size and unit variants, prints barcode labels, converts quotations into invoices, tracks contractor credit with reminders, keeps supplier ledgers and gives GST reports by HSN. RichPOS does all of this for ₹199/month (₹2,000/year) with a 30-day free trial. Vyapar is a low-cost desktop option, Marg ERP fits shops already on a desktop ERP, Zoho Inventory suits shops that also sell online, and Khatabook is a free credit ledger, not a full billing counter.
What a hardware store needs from billing software
- Variants by size and unit: one item, many sizes, with stock and price right for each.
- Fast search and barcode labels: find a fitting by typing a few letters, or scan a label you printed yourself.
- Quotations: contractors want a quote first; it should become the invoice without retyping.
- Credit and reminders: plumbers, electricians and builders often settle monthly.
- Purchases and supplier ledgers: many distributors, partial deliveries, monthly settlement.
- GST by HSN: hardware items fall under many HSN codes and rates.
- Low-stock alerts: know before a fast-moving size runs out.
Price comparison
| Software | Listed price (excl. GST) | Free trial / plan |
|---|---|---|
| RichPOS | ₹199/month or ₹2,000/year | 30-day free trial |
| Vyapar | Silver desktop about ₹3,399 to ₹3,421/year; desktop + mobile about ₹4,011/year | 7-day trial |
| Marg ERP | Nano ₹5,550, Basic ₹10,300, Silver ₹13,900, Gold ₹26,000; +₹3,000 per extra user or company | Demo on request |
| Zoho Inventory | Standard ₹999/month billed yearly (₹1,199 monthly); higher plans up to ₹7,499/month | Free plan: 50 orders/month, 1 user |
| Khatabook | Ledger free; premium price not published | Free ledger |
Prices from each vendor's public pricing page as checked in September 2026. Confirm current prices before buying.
Which one fits which hardware store
RichPOS: counters with big catalogues and contractor credit
You get unlimited items, categories, brands and variants for size, colour or unit, barcode label printing and low-stock alerts. Quotations convert into invoices in one click, and bills can be paid by cash, card, UPI or a split of these. Purchase orders can be received in full or in part, every supplier has a running ledger, stock moves between shop and godown with warehouse transfers, and payment-due reminders go out by SMS, email or WhatsApp. GST reports by HSN/SAC export to Excel, CSV or PDF for your CA. One plan covers it: ₹2,000/year.
Vyapar: small shops on a tight budget
A popular low-cost choice for small shops that want desktop billing, with a mobile add-on at a higher price. The free trial is 7 days, so load your item list and test it quickly. Comparing? See Vyapar alternatives.
Marg ERP: shops already running a desktop ERP
Marg is a long-standing desktop ERP. Its entry price is higher than the others here, and each extra user or company adds ₹3,000, which adds up if you run a counter and a godown. See Marg ERP alternatives.
Zoho Inventory: hardware sellers with an online store
Zoho Inventory is built around orders and inventory across channels. The free plan's 50 orders a month is small for a walk-in counter, and the Standard plan works out to about ₹11,988/year. See Zoho Inventory alternatives.
Khatabook: tracking contractor udhaar only
Khatabook is a free digital ledger for customer credit. It helps with contractor dues but is not a billing counter with stock and GST. See Khatabook alternatives.
Setting up a hardware counter in RichPOS
- Create items by category and brand, with a variant for each size or unit.
- Print barcode labels for loose fittings and bin stock.
- Send contractors a quotation and convert it to an invoice when they confirm.
- Bill credit sales against the customer and schedule payment-due reminders.
- Raise purchase orders to distributors and keep each supplier ledger current.
- At month-end, export GST reports by HSN for your CA.
Check before you buy
If you sell wire, pipe or chain by the metre, cement or putty by weight, or tint paint at the counter, ask each vendor to show exactly how those sales are billed in a demo. Also check how delivery challans for site orders are handled. These are not listed on the RichPOS features page, so confirm the set-up that suits your shop when you call.
Frequently asked questions
- Which billing software is best for a hardware store in India?
- A hardware, sanitary or paint shop needs software that handles thousands of items with size and unit variants, quotations that turn into invoices, credit tracking for contractors, supplier ledgers and GST reports by HSN. RichPOS covers these at ₹199/month (₹2,000/year) with a 30-day free trial. Vyapar is a common low-cost desktop option, Marg ERP suits shops already on a desktop ERP, and Khatabook is a free credit ledger rather than full billing.
- How do hardware shops manage so many items and sizes?
- Group items by category and brand, and create variants for size and unit, for example 1/2 inch, 3/4 inch and 1 inch versions of one pipe fitting. Print barcode labels for loose stock so the counter scans instead of searching. RichPOS supports unlimited items, categories, brands and variants.
- Can billing software handle quotations for contractors?
- Yes. Contractors and site buyers usually ask for a quotation before they buy. In RichPOS a quotation converts into an invoice in one click once the order is confirmed, so prices and quantities are not typed twice.
- How do I track credit given to plumbers, electricians and contractors?
- Bill the sale on credit against the customer, then send payment-due reminders by SMS, email or WhatsApp. RichPOS can schedule reminders for overdue invoices so you are not calling each contractor by hand.
- How much does hardware store billing software cost in India?
- Listed prices (September 2026, excluding GST): RichPOS ₹2,000/year; Vyapar Silver desktop about ₹3,399 to ₹3,421/year; Zoho Inventory Standard ₹999/month billed yearly; Marg ERP from ₹5,550 (Nano) to ₹26,000 (Gold), plus ₹3,000 per extra user or company. Khatabook's ledger is free.
Bottom line: A hardware counter lives on finding the right size fast and getting paid by contractors on time. Pick software that handles variants, quotations, credit reminders and supplier ledgers in one place. To see RichPOS on a hardware counter, call +91 90333 31255 or start the 30-day free trial from the pricing page.
