SKU Generator

A growing business is an exciting prospect, as it scales it generates more revenue. As a result, you expand your catalogue in a bid to meet demand. New lines and complementary products are an excellent way to increase your average transaction, but it is also an efficient way to gain a larger market share than your competitors.

Growth is good, but with growth can come inventory issues if you aren't tracking your products well internally. The more items you stock, the greater the risk of missed picks or lost inventory.

Create SKU codes automatically using this handy generator:

What is a SKU? 

An SKU number is a Stock Keeping Unit. Some people would choose to use the term product code, but it is not the same as a barcode. 

Is there a difference between SKU and UPC? 

A UPC is a numeric universal code established by the Global Standards Organisation. An SKU is an internal code a business uses to track inventory levels and manage stock. SKUs contain a product's more critical information. It isn't a case of SKU vs. UPC, businesses use both.

How SKUs are useful 

Properly coding your products with SKUs will make it easier to find, reference, and search for an item, whether it's on an invoice, order form, list, or otherwise. If you stock one product that comes in a variety of colours or sizes, each individual item should have its own unique identifier SKU. Think of the SKU as the product details, but abbreviated for ease. 

As an example, if you sell a t-shirt that comes in two different colours, your SKUs should reflect product variants. 

T-Shirt, red = TS01-R

T-Shirt, blue = TS01-B 

Any additional colour would be assigned an SKU that reflects this pattern. If you are dealing with a more complicated set of products, then your SKU can include seasons, size, colour, type, and name. For example:

Winter 2022, Polar Tee, Small, Blue = W22T-Pol-SB

Winter 2022, Polar Tee, Medium, Blue = W22T-Pol-MB

How to use the SKU generator 

You can manually create SKUs for the various product types you stock. However, this is only suitable for small businesses with limited product lines. Creating SKUs can be tedious and there is a risk of human error. This is time that could be better spent elsewhere. 

A SKU number generator is a more effective way to assign article numbers. Not only will it save you time, but it also reduces the risk of errors. More importantly, it will ensure you do not create duplicate SKUs in your system. 

You can use our free SKU Generator found above if you need to generate SKUs. The SKU barcode generator is easy to use. Input the product name and up to three pieces of relevant information about your product. Please note that you shouldn't input unnecessary spaces or special characters in the boxes provided.

How QuickBooks can help

Staying on top of your inventory and finances can be tricky without an intuitive piece of software to help. QuickBooks is a one-stop shop for all your business accounting needs, from cash flow tracking to expense management.

Visit our pricing page to find a plan that is right for your business, or sign up for a free 30-day trial.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are SKUs important?

SKUs help you identify your inventory to keep it organised, manage promotions and orders, and improve the customer's overall experience.

Can one SKU be assigned to multiple products?

No, SKUs are unique identifiers. It isn't a Code 39 barcode or a QR code – it is a separate code businesses use to track stock, which means it's important that every variant has its own code.

Is an SKU a barcode?

No, you print a barcode to place on a product that barcode scanners read for sales or stocktaking, but SKUs aren't necessarily on the product.

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