What problem does it solve?
Most neighborhood grocers, kiosks and small market owners still track sales in a notebook or from memory. They do not clearly know which product earns how much profit, what is left on the shelf, or how much credit each customer owes. Desktop POS programs and barcode hardware are too heavy for businesses of this size in both setup and cost. Systems that stop working when the internet goes down do not inspire confidence either. As a result, shop owners either never digitize or pay for an expensive system they do not use.
Target customers
- Neighborhood grocery stores and kiosks
- Small and medium-sized markets
- Nut shops, delis and liquor stores
- Stationery and housewares shops
- Accounting firms and resellers serving small shops
How the product works
The shop owner installs the app on their phone, adds products by scanning barcodes with the camera, and starts selling. On the sales screen, barcodes are scanned, a cart is built, and the sale is closed as cash, card or store credit. Inventory is deducted automatically with each sale, and alerts are given for low-stock products. Credit customers are kept separately with debt and payment history. At day's end, revenue, profit and best-selling products are reported. The app works without internet and backs up data when the connection returns. Subscription management, trial periods and license renewals are tracked from a central dashboard.
What the first version (MVP) needs
- Camera barcode scanning: scanning products with the phone, no extra hardware
- Fast sales screen: closing sales with cart, cash, card and store credit
- Inventory tracking: automatic deduction on sale and low-stock alerts
- Credit ledger: per-customer debt, payments and history
- Profit and revenue report: daily, weekly and per-product summary
- Offline mode: selling without internet and backing up later
- Subscription dashboard: trial period, license and renewal tracking
Revenue model
- Monthly or annual subscription
- Sales partnerships with regional resellers and accounting firms
- Paid add-on modules such as multi-branch, staff and advanced reports
- Setup and product catalog upload service
Why now?
Small shop owners want to digitize but stay away from complex and expensive systems. Having a smartphone in every shop makes camera-based barcode scanning possible without extra hardware. Because the subscription model does not require a large one-time payment, it makes the buying decision easier. The large number of neighborhood-scale businesses in Turkey creates a suitable market for a product that can spread quickly through regional resellers. The same model can also be adapted for small markets and kiosks in Europe.
A faster start on a ready platform
Hakan's iPhone app Kassa, which offers camera barcode sales, inventory, store credit and profit reports for grocers, kiosks and markets, works offline and is sold with an annual license, is the ready core of this idea. Moving to a subscription model and branding can be done quickly on top of this product.
End-to-end roadmap
- Validate the idea (1 week): Interviews with target customers, competitor and pricing research; we sharpen the idea together in a free pre-analysis.
- Scope and design (1–2 weeks): MVP feature list, screen designs and technical architecture; written scope and quote.
- Build the MVP (4–8 weeks): Staged development with weekly demos and a test environment; the source code belongs to you.
- Pilot (2–4 weeks): Real use with the first customers, feedback and fixes.
- Launch and grow (ongoing): App Store and Google Play release, website and SEO, payments and subscriptions, new modules.
Timelines are estimates; they are fixed in a written quote once the scope is clear.
Risks and how to handle them
- Tax regulations and cash register obligations: position the app as a sales and inventory tracking tool, and meet legal receipt and e-document obligations through the relevant device or integrator.
- Shop owners' adaptation to technology: offer a simple interface, video tutorials and on-site setup support through resellers.
- Subscription cancellations: increase retention with daily-used features such as credit tracking and profit reports, and monitor active usage in the first weeks.
Technologies
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to buy a barcode scanner?
No. The phone camera is enough to scan barcodes; shop owners who want to can also connect a Bluetooth scanner.
Do sales stop when the internet goes down?
No. The app works offline, and data is backed up when the connection returns.
Does this app replace a cash register?
No. The app is for sales and inventory tracking; an authorized device or integrator is required for legal receipt and e-document obligations.
How should I set the subscription price?
Set it based on the payment habits of shop owners in your target region and the level of support you offer; starting with a trial period makes selling easier.