What equipment inventory should a security installer count before a sale?
Count everything that holds value or could be disputed: panels, sensors, cameras, cable and recorders on shelves and in vans, plus tools, ladders and test gear. Note condition and age beside each item, and separate sellable stock from old or discontinued parts that will not move.
A buyer will walk your shop and your vans, so do it first. Count by location: the shop, each service vehicle, any storage unit and any stock sitting at a job site. A van that carries a little of everything is the usual source of count disputes, because items come and go daily. Pick a quiet day, stop ordering for that period, and count with a second person.
Split the list into stock, tools and equipment. Stock is what you sell or install. Tools and test gear are what keep the crew working. Customer-owned equipment, such as rental or leased hardware that is still on your books, needs its own tab, because the buyer must know what stays on site and who owns it.
Mark discontinued or incompatible items honestly. Old panels that no longer connect to current monitoring are not the same as fresh stock, and a buyer’s inspector will find them. Check the returns pile and anything on order but not received. Keep the count sheet, photos and your last supplier statements together. Ask your accountant how the count ties to your books before you share it.
Key takeaways
- Count by location, with a second person and a pause on ordering.
- Keep stock, tools and customer-owned equipment on separate lists.
- Flag old or discontinued items yourself before the buyer does.
- Ask your accountant how the count ties to your books before sharing it.
Related reading
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Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentWhat is inventory
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentEquipment valuation: How to do it
- 03Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
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