Your cash drawer tracks the cash in your register for a shift. Starting a drawer records your opening cash, and ending it reconciles what's left against your sales, so your cash reporting stays accurate. This guide covers both.
Before you start
Cash drawer functionality must be enabled for your location. If you don't see the Cash Drawer option, see How to Enable the Cash Drawer at a Location.
Starting or ending a drawer requires an employee code, you'll enter it to authorize the action.
You can see the current status, Active or Not active, next to Cash Drawer on the Employee App home screen.
How to start a cash drawer
From the home screen, tap Cash Drawer (it will show Not active).
Enter your employee code and tap Continue.
To pop the physical drawer, tap the three-dot menu in the top right and select Open Cash Drawer.
Count the cash in the drawer and enter each bill and coin denomination.
Tap Start Drawer. The status changes to Active.
How to end a cash drawer
From the home screen, tap Cash Drawer (it will show Active).
Enter your employee code and tap Continue.
Review the Current Drawer summary: when the drawer started, who started it, starting cash, cash sales, refunds, and any cash in or out.
Tap End Drawer.
Count the cash in the drawer and enter each denomination. The Cash Amount in Drawer totals as you go.
Tap End Drawer. The status changes to Not active.
Important things to know
Only one drawer can be active at a time on a register. End the current drawer before starting a new one, for example at a shift change.
Cash added or removed mid-shift (Cash In / Cash Out) is tracked separately and appears on the Current Drawer summary.
Ending a drawer reconciles your counted cash against what's expected. Review any difference before you finish.
You can review past drawers anytime from the three-dot menu, then Drawer History.
Your cash drawer summary printout
When you end a drawer, a summary receipt prints automatically. It shows:
Store Name: the business where the session happened
Started at / Ended at: when the drawer was started and ended
Started by / Ended by: the employees who started and ended the drawer
Starting Cash Amount: the opening balance
Ending Cash Amount: the counted balance at the end
Cash Sales: total cash transactions
Cash Refunds: cash returned to customers
Cash Out / In: manual adjustments not tied to a sale
Expected in Drawer: what should be in the drawer
Actual in Drawer: what was physically counted
Use the summary to spot discrepancies
Compare Expected vs. Actual in Drawer. Lower than expected can mean a counting error, a missed refund, or an unrecorded cash out. Higher can mean a forgotten cash in or over-reported sales.
Check Cash Out / In entries. Every cash movement outside a sale should have a reason. Ask the employee who worked the shift about anything unexplained.
Audit across shifts. Use Started by / Ended by to see who handled the drawer and spot repeat discrepancies.
Cross-check with your daily sales report. Cash Sales on the summary should match the report.
Check the timestamps. Make sure the session covers the full shift, especially if a drawer was ended early or late.
Troubleshooting
Don't see the Cash Drawer option? Cash drawer functionality may not be enabled for your location. See How to Enable the Cash Drawer at a Location.
Asked for an employee code? That's expected. Starting and ending a drawer require authorization, enter a valid employee code to continue.
Physical drawer didn't open? Make sure your cash drawer is connected, then use the three-dot menu, then Open Cash Drawer to open it on demand.
Can't start a new drawer? A drawer may already be active. End it first, then start a fresh one.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to count the cash to start or end a drawer?
Yes. Entering the denominations keeps your opening and closing counts accurate for reporting.
Why do I have to enter an employee code?
Starting and ending a drawer are tracked actions, so the app records who performed them.
Can I open the physical drawer without ending it?
Yes. Use the three-dot menu, then Open Cash Drawer.
Where can I see past drawers?
Tap the three-dot menu, then Drawer History.
What if the counted cash doesn't match?
End the drawer with the actual amount you counted. The difference is captured for your cash reporting so you can follow up.
Need assistance?
Feel free to text our Cents Support team at 888-302-8809.