Count by denomination, subtract the float, and compare against what the till says. The variance is the number worth writing down every night.
Short
−$2,750.00
Cash taken $-300.00 against $2,450.00 expected
Counted by
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MinimalPOS reports cash takings separately from card and QR for any shift — so the number you count against is the number the till actually recorded.
How this free tool helps
Count each denomination, enter your opening float and what the till says you should have taken in cash, and this works out the variance. A drawer that is short every Friday is telling you something — but only if you write it down consistently.
The expected figure has to come from somewhere reliable. MinimalPOS reports cash takings separately from card and QR payments for any shift, so the number you reconcile against is the number the till actually recorded.
Explore MinimalPOS Restaurant POSCount every denomination to get the total in the drawer, subtract the opening float to get cash taken, then compare that against what the POS says you took in cash. The difference is your over or short.
Usually wrong change given during a rush, a missed void, a refund not recorded, or a sale rung to the wrong payment type. Persistent shortages on the same shift or the same person are worth investigating; occasional small variances are normal.
Most venues set a tolerance and investigate anything beyond it. Set one, apply it consistently, and record every count — the pattern over weeks is far more informative than any single night.
Common practice is for a second person, usually the closing manager, to verify the count and sign it. That is why this sheet prints with a signature line.
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