How to balance the till at the end of the day
The cash count is when the drawer has to match what the system says. With a simple method it stops being scary and warns you of problems in time.
What the cash count is
Balancing the till means counting the real money in the drawer and comparing it with what the POS says should be there. If it matches, great. If not, you have a discrepancy worth understanding.
Closing step by step
1. Note the float. The money you started the day with (the opening change).
2. Count the real cash. Notes and coins now in the drawer.
3. Subtract the float. Counted minus opening float = your cash takings.
4. Compare with the POS. The system knows how much you took in cash. It should match your subtraction.
5. Split by method. Card and instant payments reconcile with the terminal and the bank, not the drawer.
A small one-off discrepancy is usually a change error. If it repeats at the same time or shift, look calmly for the pattern.
Why do it every day
Daily balancing keeps any error small and easy to find. If you only balance now and then, discrepancies pile up and you no longer know where they come from. Five minutes at closing saves a lot of grief.
How a POS simplifies it
A POS with cash closing gives you the breakdown by payment method and the expected cash instantly. You just count the drawer and confirm. It also records who closed and with what result.
Close the day in five minutes
Bipe gives you the expected cash and the breakdown by payment method at closing. Try it free and forget about discrepancies.
Try Bipe free →Frequently asked questions
How often should I balance the till?
Ideally daily, at closing. That keeps any discrepancy small and easy to trace. With multiple shifts, also at each shift change.
What do I do if there is a discrepancy?
Note it and check the likeliest causes first: change errors, a mischarged sale or cash taken from the drawer without recording it. The key is to spot patterns.
Do card and instant payments count in the cash count?
The drawer count is cash only. Card and instant payments are reconciled separately with the terminal and the bank.