How to Balance Cash on a Cash Register

Every cashier should know how to correctly balance a register.

In order to keep an accurate record of profits, as well as to prevent employee theft and identify individual error, business owners and managers generally expect cash registers to be balanced at the end of each shift.



Every cashier should know how to correctly operate the register they are working on, as well as how to balance that register at the end of the day. Modern cash registers can separate cash, check and credit card transactions at the touch of a button, making it easier to correctly balance the register once the shift is completed.

Things You'll Need

• Sales slips
• Credit card receipts
• Cash and checks
• Calculator

Instructions

1. 

   Count the drawer at the start of your shift.

   Count all of the cash in the drawer at the start of each shift. Counting the register is best accomplished with the use of a calculator.

   Begin by counting the change. Be sure to include any rolled change, in addition to loose change in the register. After you finish counting each piece of currency, enter the total amount on the calculator. For example, if you counted $2.40 in pennies, enter that number on the calculator before counting the nickels. This makes it easier to keep your count if there are distractions or interruptions.

   Count bills smallest to largest. Enter the total for each stack on the calculator. If required, add all checks and credit card receipts. Write down the total and keep it in a safe place until the end of your shift.

2. 

   Keep track of all credit card receipts.

   Keep track of all sales, refunds and voids that occur during the shift. Modern cash registers keep track of sales and refunds for you. Some small businesses may still use manual registers to conduct sales transactions. If a manual register is being used, receipts are generally hand-written.

   Most businesses accept credit cards as a valid form of payment. Credit transactions are rung into the register. A credit card machine is used to validate payment. Credit card machines generally produce another set of receipts. All receipts generated throughout the shift should be placed in a designated location.

   A void is a transaction which was canceled after being started at the register. Keep careful track of all voids, as these can interfere with the total sales shown at the end of the day. If you refund any money during your shift, be sure to keep a record of that transaction as well.

3. 

   Use a calculator to find your total sales.

   Use a calculator to find the total amount of sales that took place during the shift. This is done after the last transaction has occurred on the register. A modern register will give you a print out of the total sales for the shift. If a manual register was used, however, you will need to add the receipts yourself.

4. 

   Count the register at the end of your shift.

   Count the register, following the same method you used when starting the shift. Be sure to include the total amount of all checks and credit card transactions, when totaling the drawer.

5. 

   Subtract the starting total from the actual total.

   Subtract the amount of starting cash from the amount of cash in the drawer. This figure should be equal to the amount of sales generated throughout the day.

   If the register does not balance, there are several things you can do to troubleshoot the problem. Start by recounting the drawer. If there is a lot of cash present it is fairly easy to make a mistake when counting it for the first time. If this does not fix the situation, try checking all of the sales receipts, looking for voided transactions that are showing up as sales, ensuring that all credit card receipts are present and totaled correctly, and checking that all refunds are correctly accounted for.

References

• Learn Cash Registers: Balance a Cash Register
• Food Service Warehouse: Eduction- Restraunt Operations; Procedures for Balancing a Cash Register in a Restraunt