# Stock control: how to prevent selling into negative stock

URL: https://bimpsoft.com/en/help/inventory/negative-stock-control/
Updated: 2026-11-06

> To prevent selling goods that are not in the warehouse, turn on the "Product stock control" switch in the accounting settings: open your profile, choose "Settings → Accounting settings", turn on the switch and save the changes. If the switch is off, Bimp lets you sell goods into negative stock.

## What stock control does

Stock control is a company-wide switch that determines whether you can sell goods that are not in the [warehouse](https://bimpsoft.com/en/help/inventory/warehouses/). How all warehouse documents fit together is shown in the [inventory overview](https://bimpsoft.com/en/help/inventory/inventory-overview/).

| Switch state | Behavior |
|---|---|
| On | Goods can be sold only if the required quantity is in the warehouse; selling into negative stock is not available |
| Off | The system lets you sell goods even if the required quantity is not in the warehouse |

Stock control is needed by companies that keep product records: it prevents selling goods that are physically absent and helps you notice shortages, accounting errors or theft in time.

## How to turn on stock control

1. Click the account icon and choose **Settings**.
2. Go to the **Accounting settings** tab.
3. In the "Accounting" block, turn on the "Product stock control" switch.

   ![The "Accounting settings" tab in company settings, the "Accounting" block: in the first row the "Product stock control" switch (the cursor is on it), next to it "Cash control", "Product reservation (Customer order)" and "Product booking (Customer order)"; below are "Keep product records by batches" and "Keep product records by serial numbers"](https://bimpsoft.com/help/_img/f7b23a0f-9a80-4ae2-84ff-bf663b7e6078.webp)

4. Click **Save changes**.

## How stock control works with reservations

A reservation reduces the available balance: goods [reserved](https://bimpsoft.com/en/help/sales/reserves/) for a customer order cannot be sold to another customer. The reservation and booking settings are in the same "Accounting" block. For more details, see [Accounting settings](https://bimpsoft.com/en/help/getting-started/accounting-settings/).

## What to do if system balances do not match actual stock

If stock control is on, the goods are physically there, but the system does not let you sell them, the records most likely lag behind reality: [receipts](https://bimpsoft.com/en/help/purchasing/goods-receipt/) or surpluses have not been posted. Run a [stock count](https://bimpsoft.com/en/help/inventory/stock-count/) and create a [Stock posting](https://bimpsoft.com/en/help/inventory/stock-posting/) or [Write-off](https://bimpsoft.com/en/help/inventory/write-off/) based on it.

## FAQ

**How do I allow selling goods that are not in the warehouse?**

Turn off the stock control switch in "Settings → Accounting settings" and save the changes. After that, the system will let you sell goods even when the required quantity is not available.

**Where do I find the stock control setting?**

Click the account icon, choose "Settings", go to the "Accounting settings" tab: in the "Accounting" block there is the "Product stock control" switch.