What is Begin Period?
Begin Period is a security and performance feature that every store should use regularly.
You can check your last Begin Period date:
- On the POS Manager desktop (top of screen)
- In Portal under Inventory > Begin Period
Why Begin Period Matters
1. Improves System Performance
- Speeds up your POS by optimizing database processes.
2. Ensures Accurate Inventory Tracking
- Helps the system calculate inventory correctly.
- Adds a date stamp for on-hand counts, making it easier to investigate variances.
3. Strengthens Security
- Prevents editing of receiving invoices, adjustments, or inventory counts before the Begin Period date.
- Protects reports from being altered after the fact, reducing opportunities for internal theft.
How to Create a Begin Period Manually
In POS Manager, go to Inventory > Begin Period.
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Select a date (default is the most recent 1st of the month).
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Click Begin New Period—it takes only seconds.
Automatic Begin Period Setup
Barnet recommends using an automatic Begin Period Windows Task:
- It can be set to run before store opening on the 1st of every month.
- Or, use the new option: the 1st of the prior month (ensures you can’t forget to do it).
Please contact Barnet Support to set up automatic Begin Periods.
Notes for business efficiency
- Complete your monthly inventory counts and receiving , then run Begin Period at the start of the new month.
- After a Begin Period is set, you cannot edit or backdate prior work —this protects report integrity.
- If errors were made, reversals can be done in the new month.
Reporting with Begin Period Costs
Some reports use Begin Period costs, meaning:
- They use the cost from the most recent Begin Period before the report date.
- This ensures cost consistency for reports run at different times.
- Example: Inventory Evaluation report works best with Begin Period costing.
Key Takeaway: Running Begin Period regularly improves speed, strengthens security, and keeps inventory and cost reporting accurate.
