How to Choose the Right Consignment Software for Your Resale Business

Running a successful resale or consignment store isn’t just about great inventory, it’s about having the right technology behind the scenes. The right consignment software can help you streamline inventory management, automate payouts, and track profitability. Turning what’s often a complex process into a scalable business model.

Choosing the wrong system, on the other hand, can lead to manual errors, double work, and lost sales. Here’s how to make sure you pick the best consignment POS for your business.

What Is Consignment Software?

Consignment software is a inventory management software built specifically for resale, thrift, and consignment businesses. Unlike regular retail POS & inventory management systems, it’s designed to handle the unique dynamics of consignment: multiple sellers, variable pricing, and shared revenue models.

Typical features include:

  • Seller account management and contracts
  • Split payments and automated payouts
  • Real-time inventory tracking for single-SKU items
  • Barcode printing and labeling
  • Sales tracking and analytics
  • Integrated e-commerce listings
  • Customer and seller notifications

7 Key Features to Look For

1. Inventory Management Built for Resale

Your software should make it effortless to intake, tag, and track secondhand items, often one-of-a-kind products with unique pricing. Look for features like bulk changes, barcode generation, and clear visibility into what’s sold, returned, or expired.

2. Multi-Store & Multi-Channel Support

As your resale business grows, managing several stores (or pop-ups) becomes complex. The right consignment POS should centralize data across all locations and sync with online channels, physical stores or marketplaces seamlessly.

3. AI-Powered Pricing

AI pricing assistants are transforming how resale businesses operate. They analyze brand, condition, and sell-through data to suggest fair, profitable prices - helping you move inventory faster while maximizing margins.

4. Seller Payouts & Accounting

Consignment involves sharing revenue between store and seller. Automating payouts and statements saves hours of manual work and reduces accounting errors. Look for integrations with your accounting software, file exports or direct bank transfer options.

5. POS & E-Commerce Integrations

Your system should connect easily with platforms like Shopify, Square, Zettle, or Extenda GO. Integrations reduce duplicate data entry and help unify online and in-store sales for a seamless customer experience.

6. Analytics & Performance Dashboards

Profitability in resale depends on insight. The best consignment software gives you dashboards to track sell-through rates, top categories, average days on shelf, and store performance - helping you make smarter, faster decisions.

7. Ease of Use & Onboarding

Even the most advanced features won’t help if your team can’t use them. Look for an intuitive, user-friendly interface and responsive support. Modern systems should get new staff up and running in minutes, not weeks.

How to Compare Consignment POS Systems

Use this simple checklist when evaluating vendors:

  • Consignment item tracking: Must-have
  • Seller portal & payouts: Must-have
  • AI pricing automation: Must-have - improves margins
  • Multi-store support: Must-have - essential for scaling
  • E-commerce sync: Must-have
  • Analytics dashboard: Must-have - critical for growth
  • API / integrations: Must-have
  • Customer support: Must-have - fast response is key
  • User-friendly design: Must-have - great for intake and daily operations

Common Mistakes When Choosing Software

  • Using a generic retail POS: Regular systems don’t support consignors, payouts, or split ownership.
  • Ignoring scalability: Many stores outgrow entry-level tools within a year.
  • Skipping training and onboarding: Even the best system requires setup and process alignment.
  • Focusing only on price: The cheapest option often costs more long-term in lost productivity and missed insights.
  • Not testing user experience: Always run a demo with your actual workflows before committing.

Circular’s Approach: Modern Consignment Software

At Circular, we’ve built consignment software specifically for the next generation of resale - powered by AI and designed for resellers, by resellers. Circular automates manual work like item intake, pricing, and payouts, giving stores a faster, data-driven way to scale their resale operations profitably.

If you’re looking for a modern consignment POS that grows with your business, book a demo or explore how Circular helps you start, run, and scale resale: circular-resale.com

FAQ

What features should consignment software have?

Look for inventory management, seller accounts, automated payouts, analytics, and POS integrations. The best systems also include AI-powered pricing and multi-store support.

How much does consignment software cost?

Most consignment software platforms charge between $0–$600 per month per store, depending on features and users. Circular is the only tool that scales with you, and gives you full access to all features even if you're not a paid user.

Can I use a regular POS for consignment?

Not effectively. Regular POS systems lack features like consignor tracking, split payouts, and inventory lifecycle management - all essential for resale operations.

What’s the best consignment software for small stores?

For small or single-location stores, choose a system that’s affordable, easy to use, and scalable. Look for cloud-based solutions with intuitive dashboards and automation features to minimize admin time. Circular is the only software that works for small stores and in an enterprise setting

Is AI pricing really worth it?

Yes - AI pricing helps stores set consistent, data-backed prices that sell faster and maintain healthy margins. It’s one of the fastest ways to increase profitability in resale.

Ready to see modern consignment software in action?

Book a free demo with Circular and discover how to automate your resale operations: https://getcircular.ai