A stationery or book shop is a billing test that many tools fail. You stock hundreds of small, low-price items, prices change with every supplier list, and for six weeks around school reopening the counter is packed with parents holding long book lists. This guide compares RichPOS with Vyapar, Marg ERP, Zoho Inventory and Khatabook for that kind of shop.
Quick answer
- RichPOS fits a stationery or book shop that wants barcode billing, stock control and GST reports for a fixed ₹199/month (₹2,000/year), with a 30-day free trial.
- Vyapar fits owners who want a low-cost desktop billing app.
- Marg ERP fits shops already trained on Marg's desktop ERP.
- Zoho Inventory fits shops that also sell through an online store or marketplaces.
- Khatabook fits shops that only need a free credit ledger, not full billing and stock.
What a stationery or book shop needs from billing software
- Many small SKUs: pens, refills, notebooks, files, art material, geometry boxes, each in several brands and colours.
- Barcode billing: scan books by the barcode on the back cover and print labels for loose items that come without one.
- Variants: colour, size, ruling or page count without creating a new item for each.
- School-season speed: a long book list billed in seconds, with cash, card, UPI or split payment.
- Bulk orders: quotations for schools, coaching centres and offices that turn into invoices.
- Stock control: low-stock alerts before the season and purchase orders to suppliers and publishers.
- Returns: wrong edition or wrong class book returned without upsetting stock records.
- GST by HSN: exempt books and taxable stationery on the same bill, with correct reports.
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.
How each option fits a stationery or book shop
RichPOS
RichPOS is built around a fast retail counter. Scan a barcode or type the first few letters of an item and it lands on the bill. Each bill can be paid by cash, card, UPI or a split of these, and printed or sent by SMS, email or WhatsApp. Sales returns write back both stock and the ledger, which helps when a parent returns a book for the wrong class.
For stock, you get unlimited items, categories, brands and variants (colour, size, unit), barcode label design and bulk printing, low-stock alerts and a stock adjustment log with reason and user. Purchase orders can be received in full or in part, with a running supplier ledger. Quotations convert to invoices in one click, which suits school and office bulk orders. GST reports by HSN/SAC export to Excel, CSV or PDF, and each cashier can have a separate login with set permissions.
Vyapar
Vyapar is a popular low-cost desktop billing app with GST invoicing and basic stock. Its Silver desktop plan is about ₹3,399 to ₹3,421 a year, and adding mobile costs more. Compare its counter speed during a school-season rush in the 7-day trial. More options are covered in Vyapar alternatives.
Marg ERP
Marg ERP is a full desktop ERP with deep accounting and inventory. It is strongest for shops and distributors already trained on it, and pricing starts at ₹5,550 with ₹3,000 for each extra user or company. For a small stationery counter it can be more than you need. See Marg ERP alternatives.
Zoho Inventory
Zoho Inventory is strong for order management across an online store and marketplaces. Its Standard plan at ₹999/month billed yearly works out to about ₹11,988 a year, and the free plan is limited to 50 orders a month and 1 user, which a busy stationery counter will pass quickly. See Zoho Inventory alternatives.
Khatabook
Khatabook's free ledger is useful for tracking customer credit, for example a school or office that pays monthly. It is not a full counter billing and stock system for hundreds of SKUs. See Khatabook alternatives.
GST for books and stationery
Printed books are generally exempt from GST, while stationery items fall under different HSN codes and rates. The GST reform from 22 September 2025 made 5% and 18% the main slabs and cut rates on several school stationery items, but not every item moved to the same rate. A single school-list bill can therefore carry exempt books and taxable stationery together.
The safe approach is to set the HSN code and rate on each item once, let the software apply it on every bill, and confirm current rates with your CA. See how to find the HSN code and the GST rates guide for retailers.
Setting up a stationery or book shop in RichPOS
- Create categories such as Books, Notebooks, Writing, Art and Craft, Office, and Bags.
- Add brands and use variants for colour, size or ruling.
- Enter the barcode printed on books and packed items; print barcode labels for loose items.
- Set the HSN code and GST rate on each item.
- Set low-stock alerts on fast sellers before school reopening.
- Raise purchase orders to publishers and suppliers and receive them in full or in part.
- Give each counter staff member a separate cashier login for the season rush.
Check before you buy
Ask for a demo and test these with your own items, because they are not listed on the features page:
- Importing a full book list (title, ISBN, publisher, class) in one go.
- Ready-made school kits or book sets billed as a single item.
- Separate price lists or discounts for schools and offices.
Running a garment or footwear section next to stationery? Compare with the clothing shop guide. For quotations and invoices to schools, see quotation vs proforma vs tax invoice.
Frequently asked questions
- Which is the best billing software for a stationery shop in India?
- For a single stationery or book shop that wants fast barcode billing, stock control and GST reports at a low fixed cost, RichPOS at ₹199/month (₹2,000/year) with a 30-day free trial is a strong fit. Vyapar suits owners who want a low-cost desktop app, Marg ERP suits shops already on Marg, Zoho Inventory suits shops that sell online, and Khatabook suits shops that only need a free credit ledger.
- Can I bill books using the barcode printed on the back cover?
- Most printed books carry an EAN-13 barcode based on the ISBN. If you enter that number as the item barcode, a scanner can bill the book like any other item. Ask for a demo to confirm how your existing book list will be imported.
- How do I manage hundreds of small stationery items?
- Group items by category and brand, use variants for colour, size or ruling, print barcode labels for items that come without one, and set low-stock alerts on fast sellers such as pens, notebooks and A4 paper.
- What GST rate applies to books and stationery?
- Printed books are generally exempt from GST. Stationery items fall under different HSN codes and rates, and several school items saw rate changes in the GST reform from 22 September 2025. Set the rate per item by HSN code in your billing software and confirm the current rates with your CA.
- Can I give quotations to schools and offices for bulk orders?
- Yes. In RichPOS you can create a quotation and convert it into an invoice in one click when the order is confirmed. If you need separate price lists for schools or offices, check this in a demo before you buy.
- Is there a free trial?
- RichPOS has a 30-day free trial. Vyapar lists a 7-day trial, Zoho Inventory has a limited free plan, Khatabook's ledger is free, and Marg ERP offers a demo on request.
Bottom line: A stationery or book shop needs fast barcode billing, many small SKUs under control, quotations for bulk orders and GST set per HSN. RichPOS covers these for ₹199/month (₹2,000/year) with a 30-day free trial. Call +91 90333 31255, or see the pricing page.
