Consignment, thrift and resale shops face many challenges, especially in managing consignment sales. Our free Airtable template offers practical solutions designed specifically for the needs of such businesses.

Here is the direct link to the free Airtable template.

1. Aspects of consignment sales

Consignment sales are more than just a business model – they’re a way to promote sustainability. This system allows shops to resell items while strengthening connections in the local community. Sellers bring in their items, the shop displays them, and when an item sells, the seller gets part of the profit while the shop takes a commission.

2. Features and benefits of the free software template for consignment

With our second-hand consignment Airtable template, managing consignment items becomes more efficient. From easily adding new items via a mobile app to automatically generating receipts for consignors – every step is designed to simplify daily operations.

• Simple Consignor Registration: A user-friendly form lets consignors sign up easily. Their consigned items are automatically linked to their profile.

• Quick Item Entry: Add new items in seconds using the mobile app and attach photos. Each item gets a barcode, which can be scanned with the Airtable app. This makes finding and tracking items a breeze (labels can be ordered online)

• Automatic Receipt Generation: The "Page Designer" tool creates a document listing all the consignor's items. This document can be downloaded and sent as a receipt.

• Seamless Sales Processing: When an item sells, just scan the barcode with the Airtable app. The system marks it as sold and automatically calculates the consignor’s commission. The "Commissioners" table keeps track of each consignor’s total earnings.

• Clear Transaction Tracking: The "Transactions" table logs all payments and automatically updates the consignor’s balance in the "Commissioners" table. Payments can also be recorded with a receipt.

3. Automated notifications with Integromat

Whenever an item sells, an automated email or SMS can notify the consignor with details like their updated commission balance. (Emails are free; SMS costs €0.07 per message.) This Airtable template doesn’t just simplify management—it helps optimize and automate your entire consignment process.

4. Make everything easier with Circle-Hand

Want even more features and a smoother setup? Circle-Hand goes beyond the Airtable template:

• Fast, No-Hassle Setup: Get started in minutes—no tech skills required.

• Automate Your Workflow: Save time with automatic email updates, delivery and payment receipts, and a client portal for accepting items and communication.

• Personalized Support & Community: We’re here to help with any questions, and you’ll be part of the Circle-Hand community. Sounds good? Sign up below!

Here is the direct link to the free Airtable template.

5. FAQ - Free software for consignment and resale stores

What’s the best affordable consignment software for small stores?

The most affordable way to open a consignment store and setup costs roughly $320 for hardware and $83–$100 per month for software. To avoid the high cost of legacy systems, pair Circle-Hand ($83/mo annually) with a free or low-cost system like Square POS (Free) or Shopify Starter ($5/mo). This specific combination is best for small stores because it automates the "consignor" side by tracking consignor payouts, without the expensive traditional retail hardware. For your physical register, a refurbished iPad ($200), a mobile card reader ($50), and an Amazon label printer ($70) are all you need. You can keep your initial investment under $350 by using the iPad’s built-in camera for barcode scanning and sending digital receipts via SMS or email, allowing you to scale into professional scanners and printers only as your shop grows.

Is there good free software for consignment stores?

Yes, you can start with Google Sheets, Excel or this free Airtable template. This works for a small setup, usually under 10 vendors. Once you grow, spreadsheets become hard to manage. Many stores end up with multiple files for inventory, payouts and sales, which leads to errors and lost trust with consignors. Free tools also lack vendor portals, automated commissions and clear payout tracking. At that point, switching to dedicated software like Circle-Hand helps keep data accurate and operations manageable.

What are the limitations of free consignment software?

Free tools are fine to get started, but they don’t integrate well with Shopify, Square or Zettle. Commission calculations and payouts are usually manual, which increases the risk of mistakes and damages trust with consignors. As inventory and vendors grow, spreadsheets become slow and hard to audit. Store owners often spend evenings fixing admin work instead of focusing on customers, sales and marketing. Paid consignment software removes this overhead and scales with the business.

How much should I budget for consignment store software?

Most consignment stores should plan to spend around $100–$200 per month. This typically covers inventory tracking, vendor management, commissions, payouts and POS or POS integrations. Proper software replaces hours of manual spreadsheet work, reduces payout errors and improves inventory accuracy. For most stores, the time saved and mistakes avoided easily outweigh the monthly cost.

Can I start a consignment business with free POS software?

You can start with a free POS and an Airtable template. This works at the very beginning, but you’ll quickly need separate systems for vendors, commissions and payouts. Keeping everything in sync becomes manual and error-prone. As soon as you have regular drop-offs or multiple vendors, dedicated consignment software like Circle-Hand simplifies daily work and prevents problems before they grow.