Managing Your Cash Float and Drawer
How to set an opening float, record cash movements during the day, and reconcile your cash drawer at the end of each shift using AskBiz POS.
Key Takeaways
- Set an opening float when starting each till session to enable accurate end-of-day reconciliation.
- AskBiz calculates expected cash in the drawer automatically — float + cash sales minus cash refunds.
- Any shortfall or overage is flagged and logged in the Audit trail for manager review.
- The Reports section shows your Stock value (KSh 170,787.75 in this example) alongside daily cash metrics.
Understanding your financial position from the Reports screen
The Reports page in AskBiz is your financial control centre. It shows Revenue, Gross profit, Margin, and Stock value — in this account, the stock on hand is worth KSh 170,787.75. Below the headline metrics are eight report types covering every aspect of your business. For cash management, the Sales report and Audit trail are the most relevant — they show how much cash moved through the till and whether it matches your expected float calculation.
Setting your opening float each morning
When a cashier clicks Open till at the start of the day, AskBiz prompts them to enter the opening float — the physical cash in the drawer before any sales. Count every note and coin and enter the total. This figure is stored against the session. If your drawer always starts with KSh 5,000, make this a standard operating procedure so that the end-of-day calculation is always based on the same baseline. A consistent float amount also makes it easier to spot unusual discrepancies.
Recording cash in and cash out during the day
Throughout a shift, cash doesn't only enter the drawer through sales. A delivery might require a cash payment out, or the manager might remove cash for banking (a 'cash drop'). Record these movements in the till's Cash management section: select Cash in or Cash out, enter the amount and a reason (e.g. 'Banking run', 'Petty cash - cleaning supplies'). These movements are deducted from or added to the expected drawer total so your reconciliation remains accurate.
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See this in action for your business
AskBiz tracks these metrics automatically — just connect your data and start asking questions.
Start for free →Running the end-of-day cash count
When the cashier clicks Close till, AskBiz shows the session summary: Opening float, Total cash sales, Cash refunds, and any Cash in/out movements — from these it calculates the Expected cash in drawer. The cashier physically counts the notes and coins and enters the Actual cash count. AskBiz instantly shows whether there's a match, a shortage, or an overage. Any variance is flagged for the manager and recorded in the Audit trail with the cashier's name and timestamp.
Investigating cash discrepancies
If the actual cash count doesn't match the expected total, open the Audit trail (Operations > Reports > Audit trail, or via the Audit tab) and filter by the session date and cashier. Look for any transactions that were cancelled after cash was tendered, or cash movements that weren't recorded. Common causes include: change given incorrectly, a refund paid in cash that wasn't logged, or a cash-in movement forgotten during the day. Resolving these before closing gives you a clean daily record.
Best practices for cash float discipline
Keep a single consistent float amount — something between KSh 3,000 and KSh 10,000 depending on your typical transaction size. Remove excess cash to a safe during the day rather than letting the drawer fill up (this also reduces theft risk). Train cashiers to count change before handing it to customers rather than after, and to never put customer cash in the drawer before giving change. These habits eliminate the most common causes of end-of-day discrepancies.