Bookstore software for independent shops
Your shelves, your register and your website, run from one place.
Colophon is the simple system for stores that sell new, used and consigned books. Scan a book and it's priced, labeled and ready to sell.
- Price and shelve a book in one scan
- New, used and consigned books in one place
- Keep your own card processor
Beta opens December 10, 2026. Works on your phone, tablet or computer, with nothing to install.
Add a bookWhat you get
Everything your bookstore needs, in one simple system.
No more juggling a register, a spreadsheet for consignors and separate tools for your website and events. Here's what Colophon does for you.
At the counter
Shelve books in seconds
Scan the barcode and the title, author, cover and genre fill in for you. Print the label and it's on the shelf.
Know what to charge
Every book gets a suggested price based on what it sells for elsewhere. You always have the final say.
Buy books at the counter
Scan what a customer brings in and see a fair cash offer and a store-credit offer for each book.
Pay consignors right
See exactly what each consignor is owed, record every payout, and never pay twice by mistake.
Across your whole store
A register that uses your card processor
Take cash, card or store credit. Card money goes straight to your own account. Colophon never touches it.
Square at launch. Stripe and Clover coming.
Your website, always up to date
Books you shelve show up on your Shopify site and eBay. When one sells anywhere, it comes off everywhere.
Included in Pro
Staff, to-dos and events together
Each employee gets their own login. Share the day's to-do list and keep book clubs and author nights on one calendar.
Bring regulars back
Remember every customer's store credit and wishlist, and let them know when the book they want arrives.
Also included
- Shelf labels and receipts
- Simple sales and inventory reports
- Book bundles and box sets
- Shipping cost estimates
- Store credit tracking
- Book descriptions written for you
- Works on phones, tablets and computers
- No charge for extra staff
How it works
Three steps. No training manual.
Scan it in
Scan a book with a barcode scanner or your phone or tablet camera. Colophon fills in the details, suggests a price and prints the shelf label.
Sell it anywhere
Ring it up at the register, or let it sell on your website. Your shelf count updates on its own either way.
See how you're doing
Open the dashboard to see today's sales, what's on the shelves and what you owe consignors, at a glance.
All you need to start is a phone, tablet or laptop. A barcode scanner and label printer make it faster, and we'll help you set them up.
See it
A look inside Colophon.
Pick a screen to see it.
Works on your phone, tablet and computer.
Colophon runs in the web browser, so there's nothing to install. Open it on whatever you have, and everything stays in sync.
Phone
Scan and look up books on the shop floor.
Tablet
Ring up sales and add books at the counter.
Laptop or desktop
See your numbers and pay consignors in the back office.
Who it's for
Made for shops that sell more than just new books.
Most store software handles new books or used books, not both. Colophon keeps this week's releases, the box you bought this morning and a consignor's signed first editions in one place.
Bookstores selling new books
Scan a new release and the details and list price fill in. Each extra copy you scan adds to the count.
Used and rare booksellers
Get a suggested price for every used book, buy books at the counter, and buy whole boxes at once.
Consignment
Set each consignor's share, see what they're owed and keep a record of every payout.
Bookshop cafés
Keep the bookshop side organized: books, regulars, wishlists and events. Café menu items at the register are coming.
Record shops and collectible dealers
Track each record or collectible on its own, buy collections at the counter and manage the people who consign them.
- Tell us about your shop
Not sure it fits your shop?
Tell us what you sell and how you track it today. We'll tell you honestly whether Colophon is a good fit.
Try it yourself
Click around a working preview.
Pick a task below and try it. These are sample books, so you can't break anything.
The Left Hand of Darkness
If a book can't be found, you can still fill it in by hand.
Pricing
One simple price for your whole store.
Less than half what most bookstore systems charge. No setup fee, no contract, no cut of your sales and no extra cost for staff.
Base
Everything you need to run the shop
Cancel anytime.
- Scan, price and label books
- Price a whole shelf from one photo
- Buy books from customers for cash or store credit
- Consignor balances and payouts
- Customers, store credit and wishlists
- Register with your own card processor
- Staff logins, to-dos and an events calendar
- Reports, labels and receipts
Pro
Base, plus selling online
For shops that also sell on a website or eBay.
- Everything in Base
- Your Shopify website stays in sync with your shelves
- List books on eBay from the same inventory
- Sold anywhere means sold everywhere, so nothing sells twice
- Discogs for records is coming next
Both plans open with the beta on December 10, 2026. Prices in US dollars. Most bookstore systems start around $245 a month.
Questions
Common questions
Do I need a website to use Colophon?
No. Colophon runs your shop on its own. If you have a Shopify store or sell on eBay, the Pro plan keeps both in step with your shelves.
What devices does it work on?
Phones, tablets, laptops and desktops, including iPhone, iPad and Android. Colophon runs in the web browser, so there's nothing to install, and you can add it to your home screen like an app. Many shops scan with a phone on the floor and ring up sales on a tablet at the counter.
What equipment do I need?
Nothing to start. Your phone, tablet or laptop camera can scan barcodes. Most shops add a handheld barcode scanner and a label printer to go faster. We'll share a list of equipment that works before the beta opens.
Does Colophon handle my payments?
No, and that is on purpose. Card payments run through your own processor account, so the money goes straight to you. Square works at launch, and Stripe and Clover are coming. Colophon adds no payment fees.
How does the suggested price work?
Colophon looks at what the same book is selling for at other used-book sellers and suggests a starting price. You can change any price before it goes on the shelf.
What about books or items without a barcode?
You can add any item by hand, fill in its details and set your own price.
Can I bring my existing inventory?
Yes. Scan it in, or photograph whole shelves at a time. If you have a spreadsheet, tell us when you sign up and we'll help you bring it over.
Who owns my data?
You do. Your inventory, customers and consignor records belong to you.
What do I get in the beta?
Everything in the Base plan, plus personal setup help from the founder and a direct line to shape what gets built next.
Is there a contract?
No. Pay monthly and cancel anytime, or pay yearly and get two months free.
Join the beta
Ten shops get in first.
The beta opens December 10, 2026 with a small group of independent stores. Tell us about your shop and we'll be in touch to get you set up.
A note from the founder"I built Colophon because booksellers lose hours re-typing barcodes and fighting software made for clothing stores. If you join the beta, I'll set up your store with you personally."