The checklist
- Stop sales on the register. Do not ring any new sale.
- Print the end-of-shift report. Note the cash sales number.
- Write down any paid-outs, refunds and voids paid in cash.
- Take the cash tray out of the drawer. Look under it for loose bills.
- Remove tips, checks, coupons and gift cards. Count those apart.
- Count the cash with the calculator. Count each type once.
- Enter the float, the cash sales and the paid-outs.
- Read the result: over, short or balanced.
- If the result is not balanced, recount a different way.
- Take out the deposit using the list. Leave the float.
- Put the deposit in the bag with the printed count. Sign it.
- Lock the drawer or move it to the safe, as your shop requires.
Tips and checks
Tips are not part of the cash count. Follow your shop rule for tip-out. Paper checks go in the deposit but are not cash, so list them on their own line.
Handing over to another cashier
When one cashier hands the drawer to the next, both count it together. Both sign the count sheet. The next cashier starts from a known amount. This stops disputes about who caused a shortage.
What to keep
Keep the printed count, the register report and the deposit receipt together. Many shops keep them for a year or more. Ask your manager or accountant how long to keep them.
Common questions
What does it mean to cash up a till?
To cash up is to count the cash at the end of a shift, compare it with the sales report, and prepare the deposit. It is the same as closing out a register.
Should I count the drawer in front of someone?
Many shops require a second person to watch or sign the count. It protects you and the shop. Follow your policy.
How long does a close-out take?
With this calculator a single drawer takes a few minutes. Most of that time is sorting the bills.
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