How to take shift checks
Shift checks allow you to take a before and after inventory of any product at any time during your normal inventory period. When you take a shift check, you don't have to setup and inventory all of the products at an inventory location. Choose a limited number of products that you think would be stolen most often and select them using the drop-downs.
Important: Taking a shift check isn't taking a complete inventory, it's monitoring the habits of a bartender(s) at any given shift. If possible do not let the bartenders know you are doing a shift check at all. If they do know, do not let them know what products you will be tracking.
Best Practice: Select products that are poured frequently and more likely to have theft, ie. speed well products
Take the weights (or point counts) of the products you will be tracking before the start of the shift and enter them into the "Pre-Shift Counts" section.
When the shift is over, take the ending inventory weights (or point counts) of the same products and enter the inventory numbers into the "Post-Shift Counts" section.
Important: If a full bottle (or keg, case, unit) of a product that you are tracking is added to the inventory location during the shift, you need to go back to the "Pre-Shift Counts" section and add it to the "Full" column.
To see if there was theft, over-pouring, etc. of the tracked products, you can check sales variances and usage variances.
Comparing sales variances...
Comparing usage variances...
Things to know:
1) It is best practice to select a limited number of products to inventory for a shift check. Products that are used more frequently are better to track. *You can inventory all products if you want to.
2) If a full bottle (keg, case, unit) of a product that you are tracking is added to the location during the shift, you need to add it to the "Full" column in the "Pre-Shift Counts" section.
3) If your drink mixes are not cost out correctly and a product you are tracking is used in a drink mix (like a martini with multiple liquors) then that can skew the variance numbers when comparing sales variances.
