Color Bar / Backbar Inventory & Restock: the full procedure
Track and restock color, developer, and backbar product to par so the bar never runs out mid-service and waste is controlled.
- Applies to: Inventory lead / manager.
- Frequency: Counts weekly; audit monthly; reorder at the reorder point.
- Scope: Covers professional/backbar stock. Retail-product inventory can follow the same method tracked separately.
What you need
- Inventory list with par + reorder points
- Supplier order system
The procedure, step by step
- Separate backbar from retail — Track professional/backbar stock (color, developer, shampoo, treatments) separately from retail so service supply is protected.
- Set par and reorder points — For each item set a par (target on-hand) and a reorder point based on usage and supplier lead time (reorder point = avg daily use × lead time + a safety buffer).
- Count on a cadence — Count weekly (audit monthly) the same way each time, using low-stock alerts where your software provides them.
- Reorder to par — When an item hits its reorder point, raise a supplier order back up to par — generate the PO rather than ad-hoc ordering.
- Receive and verify — Check deliveries against the order, then shelve FIFO.
Quality check before you finish
- Backbar tracked separately from retail.
- Par + reorder points set per item.
- Counted on the weekly/monthly cadence.
- Reordered to par at the reorder point.
- Deliveries verified; shelved FIFO.
This is a free, source-anchored standard operating procedure (SOP) you can print and hand to staff. It documents the work sequence for a Hair Salon business — not safety or regulatory rulings, which defer to the cited authorities, the applicable code, and your own health-and-safety plan. Open the tool above to print it, toggle ink-saver, or (with a free ToolFluency Business account) edit it to match your own workflow.
Sources
- Suplery — Reorder Point vs PAR Level (salon) (suplery.com)
- Phorest — Salon Inventory (min/max + PO) (phorest.com)
About Free Salon Inventory SOP
Free printable salon inventory SOP: track and restock color, developer, and backbar product to par levels — so the color bar never runs out mid-service and waste is controlled.
How to use
- Read the full procedure top to bottom before the work — the SOP runs in order and each step builds on the last.
- Toggle Ink-saver (black & white) for a cheaper mono print for the binder; leave it off for the full-color version.
- Click Print SOP to print or save as PDF. Print one per crew, laminate it for the binder, or attach it to the job in your scheduling system.
- Train new hires on it and have staff sign off. Found something out of date? Use the feedback link — flagged SOPs are re-researched against the source list.
Frequently asked questions
How do you manage salon color-bar inventory?
Set a par level for each color, developer, and backbar item based on use, count on a regular cadence, and reorder to par before anything runs out. Track professional (backbar) stock separately from retail so service supply is protected.
Why track color-bar stock?
Running out of a shade or developer mid-service is a client-experience failure and a rebooking risk. Par-based restocking keeps the bar reliable and surfaces over-ordering and waste.
Part of ToolFluency’s library of free online tools for Printables. No account needed, no data leaves your device.