How should a mattress store owner handle open customer orders when selling?

Open orders are promises the business has made but not yet kept, and the money for them often sits in the bank account the buyer is about to take over. Build a clear schedule: customer, model, size, deposit paid, balance due, the maker’s expected ship date and any delivery booking. Check it against the supplier’s records so nothing is missing.

Decide how deposits are treated at closing. If the buyer is to complete the orders, the deposits usually need to move with them or be credited in the price. Your lawyer and accountant should shape that wording, because a mistake leaves customers unhappy and both parties exposed.

Plan the customer message together. A short call or note that explains who is delivering, how to reach the store, and that the order is unchanged avoids surprise. Keep returns or trials in progress on the same schedule. A tidy list, shared early, also shows a buyer that the shop is well run, and it lowers disputes after the keys change hands. Keep copies of confirmations and deposit receipts for every order, and have a staff member who knows the details available to answer calls from customers during the first weeks.

Key takeaways

• Build a schedule of open orders with deposits, ship dates and delivery bookings.
• Ask your lawyer and accountant how deposits should move at closing.
• Tell customers before delivery who is now responsible.
• Include trials and returns in progress on the same list.