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A shortage that only shows up at closing can no longer be explained: it happened at some point during the shift and nobody knows when. The cash count counts the drawer in the middle of the shift, without closing the register, and compares it against what there should be. If there is a difference, you see it while you can still find out what happened.
The minimum you need to know
  • The cash count does not close the register or move money: it only records what was counted.
  • It is blind: the cashier counts without seeing how much there should be. The expected amount appears after recording.
  • It requires a manager’s code from Access → Cash count. Each code is good for one cash count.

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Prerequisites

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1. Enter the manager’s code

Tap your name at the top right to open Settings and choose Cash count. Ask the manager for a code from Access → Cash count, type the 6 digits and tap Continue.
Cash count window with the 6-digit authorization code typed

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2. Count the cash

Count all the cash in the drawer, including the opening float. The window does not show how much there should be: that way the count does not bend to fit the expected number.
Blind count: Counted cash at zero, with no expected amount in sight
Tap each bill and coin you count and the total adds up on its own. With − you remove one and with Clear you go back to zero. You can also type the total with the keypad.
Counted cash with the bills and coins buttons: 8 pieces adding up to $ 179.700

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3. Record the cash count

Tap Record cash count. Only now does the POS show the opening float, cash sales, the expected amount, what was counted and the difference, and it prints the receipt. The title says The cash count matches, Cash count with overage or Cash count with shortage.
Cash count result: expected $ 179.700, counted $ 179.700, difference $ 0
Tap Done to go back to selling. Reprint prints another copy of the receipt.
If the result says the register stays open, you are done: keep selling as usual.

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How it is calculated

  • Expected = opening float + cash sales − withdrawals.
  • Difference = counted − expected.
There is no margin: if the difference is zero, the cash count matches; if it is positive, there is an overage, and if it is negative, a shortage.

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See your cash counts in the POS

In Settings → Cash counts you have your cash counts on this register, with the expected amount, what was counted and the difference for each one. At the top you choose Today, 7 days or 30 days, and each cash count has its own Reprint button.
POS Cash counts screen with a balanced cash count and its Reprint button

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Review cash counts in the backoffice

In the backoffice, Fire POS → Cash counts shows the cash counts of the store selected at the top right: date, cashier, terminal, who authorized it, expected, counted and difference. With Only with difference you keep the overages and shortages.
Backoffice Cash counts section with one balanced cash count and one with a shortage
Tap a row to see the detail. If the cashier counted with the bills and coins buttons, the Count by bill and coin appears.
Cash count detail with the count by bill and coin

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Recipes

  1. Generate a code from Access → Cash count.
  2. Ask the cashier to open Settings → Cash count and type the code.
  3. Let them count without telling them how much there should be.
  4. Look at the result in the POS or in Fire POS → Cash counts.
  1. In the backoffice, open Fire POS → Cash counts.
  2. Choose Last 7 days.
  3. Turn on Only with difference.
  4. Tap each row to see who counted and who authorized it.

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Mistakes that cost money

Counting without the opening float. The expected amount includes the float the register was opened with. If you leave it out, the cash count comes out with a shortage equal to the float.
Telling the cashier how much there should be. The cash count is blind so the count does not bend to fit the number. If the cashier knows the expected amount before counting, the cash count stops detecting differences.
Treating the cash count as a close. The register stays open after the cash count. At the end of the shift you still have to close it. See Close the register.

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Frequently asked questions

Each code is good for one cash count. Ask the manager for a new one from Access → Cash count.
The code is for another operation, such as opening the drawer or cancelling. Ask the manager for one from Access → Cash count.
The cash count is saved. Check the printer and tap Reprint on the result or in Settings → Cash counts.
Yes. Each one asks for its own code and is recorded separately.
No. The close does its own count and compares it against the expected amount for the whole shift. The cash count only leaves a record of that moment.
It appears only if the cashier counted with the bills and coins buttons and the total was not changed by hand afterwards.