What a float is for
A float is the cash that stays in the drawer so the next shift can make change. It is also called a starting bank, a till float or an opening bank. It is not sales money. It is the same amount every day, so the drawer is easy to check.
What a good float looks like
A float made only of $20 bills cannot make change for a $3 coffee. A good float is mostly small bills with some coins. The calculator follows this rule. It aims for about 40% of the float in $20 bills, then $10, $5 and $1 bills, with a few quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies.
It never leaves $100 or $50 bills in the drawer. If your cash cannot make the float exactly, it tells you how much is missing, so you can break a bill by hand.
Sample float breakdowns
These are three common starting points. Your shop may use a different mix.
| Bills and coins | $100 float | $200 float | $300 float |
|---|---|---|---|
| $20 bills | 2 | 4 | 8 |
| $10 bills | 2 | 5 | 6 |
| $5 bills | 4 | 10 | 10 |
| $1 bills | 12 | 12 | 15 |
| Quarters | 24 | 20 | 40 |
| Dimes | 10 | 20 | 30 |
| Nickels | 10 | 10 | 30 |
| Pennies | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| Total | $100.00 | $200.00 | $300.00 |
How to pick the amount
- Think about your busiest half hour. The float must cover all the change you give in that rush.
- Count how many customers pay with a $20 bill. Each one needs change from the float.
- Many small shops use $100 to $300 per drawer. Your owner or manager sets the number. Use theirs.
- If you run out of $1 bills or quarters before closing, the float is too small or the mix is wrong. Tell your manager.
Use the opening count as your float
At the start of a shift, count what is in the drawer. Type the counts into the calculator and press "Use this count as my float". The float field fills in with the total. The calculator keeps it on your device, so tonight you only enter the closing count.
Common questions
Is the float part of my sales?
No. The float is the cash that was in the drawer before the first sale. Sales are the cash you took in after that. The deposit is the total minus the float.
Can the float be all $1 bills and coins?
It can, but you will run out of change for larger bills. A mix of $20, $10, $5 and $1 bills with some coins works best.
What if I cannot make the exact float?
The calculator leaves as much as it can and shows the missing amount. Swap a larger bill for smaller ones at the safe, then count again.
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