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Guides for Indian shop owners
GST, pricing, stock and running the counter — short, plain-language answers with rupee examples. Written by the team that builds Billman.
Supermarket billing software: a 10-point checklist before you buy (2026)
Choosing billing software for a supermarket or kirana in Tamil Nadu? Ten things to test in the demo — scan speed, offline billing, Tamil bills, loose items, multiple counters and more.
GST guides
Delivery challan format under GST: when to use it and what to write
What is a delivery challan, when can you send goods on a challan instead of a tax invoice, and what details must it carry under GST rule 55 — with a sample.
Shop guides
How to print bills in Tamil on a thermal printer (and why you see ????)
Your thermal printer prints ???? instead of Tamil? Here is why it happens and how to print Tamil item names clearly on 58 mm and 80 mm receipt printers.
Choosing software
Tally vs billing software: what a small shop really needs
Is Tally enough for billing at a shop counter? Where Tally shines, where a POS billing app is faster, and how to use both — billing at the counter, accounts in Tally for your CA.
Shop guides
How to stop expired medicines being sold at your pharmacy
Track batch and expiry for every strip, sell the nearest expiry first, block expired batches at the counter and return near-expiry stock in time — a practical guide for medical shops.
Shop guides
Size and colour stock for textile shops: how to track every piece
How garment and textile shops track stock by size and colour, give every variant its own barcode, and know exactly which sizes to reorder — without a separate register.
Shop guides
Send bills and payment reminders on WhatsApp: a guide for shops
How to send the bill PDF on WhatsApp after every sale and remind credit customers to pay — politely, on time and automatically — without typing a single message.
GST guides
Composition scheme vs regular GST: which suits your shop?
Composition scheme or regular GST? Turnover limits, tax rates, input tax credit, returns and the bill of supply — compared with rupee examples for small shops.
GST guides
E-way bill rules for shop owners: when you need one (2026)
When do you need an e-way bill? The ₹50,000 rule, inter-state vs within-state movement, validity and how to create one — explained with rupee examples.
GST guides
How to calculate GST: inclusive vs exclusive prices (with examples)
Learn how to add GST to a price and how to remove GST from an inclusive price, plus the CGST, SGST and IGST split — with simple rupee examples.
GST guides
GSTR-1 due dates and filing checklist for small businesses
GSTR-1 due dates for monthly and quarterly (QRMP) filers, what to check before filing, and how to avoid late fees and mismatches.
GST guides
HSN codes on GST invoices: 4 digits or 6 digits?
Which HSN code length to print on your GST invoices: 4 digits up to ₹5 crore turnover, 6 digits above. What HSN and SAC codes are and how to find yours.
Pricing & profit
Margin vs markup: price your products right
The difference between margin and markup, how to calculate each, and how to set a selling price for the margin you want — with shop examples.
GST guides
E-invoice: who needs it and how it works (2026 guide)
Who must issue GST e-invoices (turnover above ₹5 crore), what the IRN and QR code are, which invoices are covered, and how to generate them.