What is a consignor account?
A consignor account is the record a store maintains for each person who brings items in to sell. It tracks who the consignor is, what they've brought in, what has sold, what they're owed, and what has been paid out. It's the foundation of the consignor relationship — financial, operational, and personal all in one place.
Why does a consignor account matter?
Without accurate account records, the consignor relationship breaks down fast. Consignors want to know their items are being tracked, their earnings are correct, and their payouts are coming. A well-maintained account gives them that confidence — and gives you a paper trail when questions arise.
Accounts also protect the store. When a consignor disputes a payout or asks about a missing item, the account is where you go to resolve it. Stores that rely on sticky notes, spreadsheets, or informal tracking invite exactly the kind of friction that damages consignor relationships and reputation.
What does a consignor account include?
Most consignor accounts contain:
Contact information — name, phone, email, address
Account number or ID — a unique identifier used to tag inventory at intake
Active inventory — items currently on the floor, with intake dates and prices
Sales history — what has sold, when, and at what price
Account balance — earnings that have accumulated but haven't been paid out yet
Payout history — a record of payments made and how they were issued
Consignor agreement — the terms the consignor agreed to, including consignor split and expiration terms.
Some stores also record consignor preferences — notification settings, whether they want unsold items returned or donated, etc. — directly in the account via notes.
How does a consignor account work?
Consignor accounts can work differently across different types of consignment software, but generally an account is opened when a consignor first brings in items. Each item is associated with their account number so sales are automatically credited to the right record.
When an item sells, the consignor portion of the split posts to their account balance. That balance accumulates until a payout is issued.
From the consignor's perspective, a good account system means they can check in at any time — in person or online (via a consignor portal) — and see exactly where things stand. From the store perspective, it means every question about inventory or earnings has a clear answer.