Inventory service built
for convenience stores.
Overnight counts, tobacco and lottery reconciliation, and POS-ready exports for c-stores across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.
We know the c-store rhythm.
Convenience stores never close. Inventory counts have to happen overnight, around fuel deliveries, around the morning rush — and the SKU mix is unlike any other retail format. Tobacco behind the counter. Lottery scratchers in their own drawer. Food service. Fuel-side margin items. Age-restricted alcohol. Each category has its own shrink patterns, regulatory needs, and reconciliation logic.
Apex has been counting convenience stores across the Pacific Northwest for years. We staff overnight crews who know the rhythm of a c-store and the difference between a tobacco shrink issue and a lottery accounting error. Every count comes with category-level variance reports, a POS-ready export, and the documentation you need for ownership transfers, lender reviews, or year-end reconciliation.
Industry context: the NACS State of the Industry Report puts U.S. convenience store sales at over $700 billion annually, with shrink rates averaging just under 1% — a tight margin that makes accurate physical inventory critical to protecting bottom-line profitability.
C-store-specific capabilities.
Four things that make Apex different for convenience stores.
Overnight & off-hours scheduling
Most c-store counts run midnight to 5 a.m. so the store stays open and sales never stop. We coordinate around fuel deliveries and morning rush.
Tobacco & lottery reconciliation
Counted as distinct categories with their own logic. Spot shrink by section, track regulatory inventory, and reconcile against state lottery commission reporting.
High-velocity SKU accuracy
Soda, snacks, beer — the fast-moving categories where small percentage errors cost real money. Trained crews and scanner verification keep variance below 1%.
C-store POS integration
Exports formatted for Petrosoft, Cobalt, Ruby (Verifone), NRS, and PDI Enterprise. The file drops in cleanly — no reformatting, no manual cleanup.
Integrates with c-store systems.
Apex exports cleanly into the POS and back-office systems convenience stores actually use.
C-store inventory, answered.
Can you do a convenience store inventory count overnight while we’re closed?
Yes — overnight is our specialty for c-stores. Most counts run between midnight and 5 a.m. so you can keep selling fuel and snacks without disruption. The full report and POS-ready export are ready before your morning shift.
Do you handle tobacco and lottery inventory separately?
Yes. Tobacco and lottery are counted as distinct categories with their own reconciliation logic, because shrink patterns and regulatory tracking differ from general merchandise. We deliver category-level variance reports so you can spot loss by section.
How long does a convenience store inventory take?
A typical c-store takes 2 to 4 hours overnight. Larger or higher-SKU stores can run 4 to 6 hours. Apex schedules around your operating hours and fuel delivery windows so the count never interferes with sales.
Which c-store POS systems does Apex work with?
Apex integrates with all major convenience store POS systems including Petrosoft / CStoreOffice, Cobalt, Ruby (Verifone), National Retail Solutions (NRS), and PDI Enterprise. The final export drops directly into your system with no manual reformatting. See our full service list for details.
Can Apex help with a count before an ownership transfer?
Yes — ownership transfers are one of our most common c-store engagements. We deliver a defensible, documented count with category-level valuation that holds up to lender, broker, and buyer scrutiny. Schedule 2 to 3 weeks before close for a clean handoff. Contact us to start.
Let’s count what’s on your shelves.
Tell us a little about your store. We’ll come back within one business day with pricing and an overnight slot.