Get the floor, the register and the team ready before doors open.
Opening tasks have an order. Disarm the alarm first, then check that the doors and displays are as they were left, turn on lights and registers, and count the opening float before the first customer is let in. A float counted by two people and written on the sheet prevents arguments about shortages later. A typical float is a set amount per register, for example $150, in a mix of bills and coins decided by the manager.
Weekly price changes and promotions should be checked before doors open, not after the first complaint. Assign one person to walk the sale zones with the promotion list, and note any mismatches on the sheet. This is also the moment to fix fitting room hooks, restock bags and clear the entrance.
Schedule the opener 30 minutes before doors open and record the arrival time. If the checklist is regularly finished earlier or later, change the start time. A store that opens late three mornings a week loses sales that no promotion will win back.
Store displays move around, and opening is the time to catch the ones that block a route. OSHA’s exit route rules, 29 CFR 1910.37, require exit routes to be kept free of obstructions and exit doors to be unlocked from the inside while people are in the store. Under the 2010 ADA Standards, accessible routes generally need at least 36 inches of clear width. A pallet of new stock left in an aisle overnight can break both, so walk the main aisles and the exit doors before you unlock.
| Time | Task | Owner |
|---|---|---|
| 9:20 | Disarm, lights on, check alarm log and doors | Key holder |
| 9:25 | Count float for each register with a witness | Key holder and associate |
| 9:35 | Walk sale areas with the promotion list | Associate |
| 9:45 | POS test sale and card reader check | Associate |
| 9:50 | Team huddle: goals, breaks, zones | Key holder |
| 9:55 | Final walk of entrance and fitting rooms | Key holder |
A two-person opening in 40 minutes is tight but realistic for a small store. Times will vary, so time your own for a week before setting the schedule.
Several cities and one state, including New York City, Seattle, Chicago, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Oregon, have fair workweek or predictive scheduling laws that cover larger retail employers. They require schedules to be posted in advance, often 14 days, and some require extra pay when a shift is added or changed at short notice. If you are covered, set the opener’s start time in the posted schedule rather than adjusting it the night before.
Time it for a week and plan from the real figure.
The opening manager.
Two people where possible. It is safer and lets you count the float with a witness.
Time the checklist for a week. Most small stores need 20 to 40 minutes. Schedule that as paid time, not as unpaid prep.
Have a second key holder on call and note the time on the sheet.
Yes, if it is required. Time spent waiting for a second key holder or checking the building before entering is work when you require it.
Do not enter. Call the police and your manager from outside, and note the time on the sheet.
Templates help with consistency. A time and attendance system helps you see who worked when. Book a demo to see how EZTime handles it.