Counting the Tills

  1. On a front computer, pull up the credit card program and settle.  All credit cards are on the same print-out.
  2. Gather all 3 tills and the visa printout.
  3. In the Cactus menu, go to Sales, Return.  Type "do visa".  Change every 5c and 5a to 5b.  This is to get all credit card sales on the front till to help with counting.
  4. In the Cactus menu, GL, Till Balancing, Daily Totals.  Be sure to get the dates right.
  5. In the Cactus menu, GL, Till Balancing, Count Tills.
  6. The count for each till should be 20's-3, 10's-5, 5's-8, ones-25, quarters-$10.00, dimes-$5.00, nickels-$2.00, pennies-$0.50.  In each field, record what was actually there, then either add or subtract currency to make the till contain the "should be" number.
  7. Any currency which doesn't fit the above categories is entered in "Cash Removed".  It's OK to put the tills back in their spots before you count the checks and Visa and do the balancing.
  8. To make it easier for large groups of checks, run Excel.  Pull up the file called "tills".  Type at least the last name of the check writer, and the amount.  If it's a common name, type the whole thing.  We want to be able to go back and find errors if necessary.
  9. Enter the total of the checks and discover and visa/mc separately in each till's window.  If the till balances (long or short less than about $2.00 is OK) you're through.  If not:
  10. Look at the till balancing form to try and see if it's off in cash, cards or checks.  In the Cactus program, do Misc, Sales by Till.  On the printout, check off the cards or checks actually in the till against the listings.  If a card was actually used but the computer thinks a check was used, it can often help to adjust the computer to actuality, to narrow down where to look for additional errors.  Scan the print for obvious double-invoices.  If there are credits (negative sales) check the checkbook to see if a refund check was written.  If it was, enter it as a voucher for a negative amount, and put a comment below.
  11. To adjust the computer to actuality, Sales, Return, do fixsale.
  12. When the tills balance, print the Excel sheet and close it.  DO NOT SAVE.  Make out the deposit slip, stamp the checks, and in the Cactus program, GL, Checking, Daily Checking.  Enter the numbers, correct the date and save.  Staple the Visa slips to the till balance sheet, sign it, and file in the top drawer behind the desk.