Why Is the Till Short? 5 Reasons for End-of-Day Discrepancies

First, the right question: what should have been in the till?

Before talking about a shortfall, the expected amount has to be clear: opening float + cash collections + cash in − cash out. If this is calculated by hand, the arguments never end. Orderly calculates this amount itself at the end of the day; you just compare it with your count.

The 5 most common reasons

• 1. Mixed-up payment methods. If a card payment is recorded as cash, cash looks higher and card looks lower. Fix: close every payment with the correct method and get a breakdown by method at the end of the day.
• 2. Unrecorded voids and comps. Every action that comes out of the till but isn't recorded creates a shortfall. Fix: require permission for voids, refunds and comps, and report them as separate lines.
• 3. Forgotten open tabs. If a bill marked “they'll pay later” isn't closed, the end of day won't balance. Fix: assign it to an open account — don't delete it. The amount is added to the customer's balance and appears as a separate line at the end of the day.
• 4. Change and rounding errors. Change calculated by hand at busy times goes wrong. Fix: take payments through the system, with the amount suggested.
• 5. Spending out of the till. Cash handed to a courier, ingredients bought… If it isn't recorded, it shows up as a shortfall. Fix: record cash-outs immediately.

Make end of day a ritual

When closing the day, a single screen should show: collections by method, voids/refunds/comps, amounts assigned to open accounts, cash in and out, and the cash that should be in the till. In Orderly, end of day comes ready with these lines; if it's forgotten, it's done retroactively and automatically on the first sign-in the next day, and a summary can be printed on the thermal printer.