Steps to count, balance and secure the till at the end of a shift.
Counting a drawer alone leaves room for mistakes and for suspicion. Have a second person verify the count, and both initial the sheet. Compare the count against the register report. A small difference of a few dollars over or short is common. Decide an investigation threshold, for example $5, and write it on the sheet so everyone knows the rule.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Opening float | $150.00 |
| Cash sales per register | $842.30 |
| Expected in drawer | $992.30 |
| Counted | $990.80 |
| Difference | -$1.50 |
Put the day’s deposit in a sealed bag with the date and amount written on the slip, and record the safe drop on the sheet. Take the bank deposit at varying times where possible, with two people if your policy allows. Keep the closing sheet with the deposit slip.
Closing takes time that must be paid. If the counting, the deposit and the reconciliation add 25 minutes, schedule the cashier for it and record the clock out after the sheet is signed.
| Denomination | Count | Value |
|---|---|---|
| $20 bills | 28 | $560.00 |
| $10 bills | 19 | $190.00 |
| $5 bills | 24 | $120.00 |
| $1 bills | 61 | $61.00 |
| Quarters | 84 | $21.00 |
| Dimes, nickels, pennies | $11.80 | |
| Rolled coin | $27.00 | |
| Total | $990.80 |
Writing each line, rather than only the total, makes recounts fast: if the total is off, recount the denominations with the most bills first. Leave the opening float in the same mix every day, so the opener does not have to break larger bills.
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, a deduction for a cash shortage cannot reduce pay below minimum wage or cut into overtime pay owed. Many states are stricter. New York Labor Law section 193 generally bars deductions for cash shortages, and California allows them only when the shortage was caused by a dishonest or willful act or gross negligence. Treat a repeated shortage as a training and control issue first, and get advice before touching a paycheck.
A drawer that holds $1,500 at 8 p.m. is a target. Set a cap, such as $400 above the float, and have the cashier make a safe drop when it is reached, with a manager initialing the drop slip. Record each drop on the closing sheet, so the end-of-day count compares counted cash plus drops with the register report.
Record it, recount and tell your manager.
It is a common control. Decide what fits you.
Look at who used the drawer and when, check for process errors like wrong change, and speak with the person privately.
Keep them with your accounting records. Ask your accountant for the period.
Check your state’s wage deduction rules before deducting anything.
Knowing the expected number in advance makes it easy to stop counting when it matches. A blind count gives an honest figure.
At least daily. Unsettled batches can delay funding and make reconciliation harder.
Card slips if your system prints them, gift card sales, checks, coupons and any paid-out vouchers, such as cash taken for a supply run. Each should match a line on the register report.
Count it, bag it with the amount written on the bag and lock it in the safe, separate from the deposit, so the opener does not mix the two.
Templates help with consistency. A time and attendance system helps you see who worked when. Book a demo to see how EZTime handles it.