Cash registers are used to record payment amounts and to handle cash throughout the business day. There are multiple types of cash registers, including electronic registers, Square iPad cash registers, and other computer-based registers.

While each register has some unique features, they all share similarities in their operation. Community Dashboard Random Article About Us Categories Recent Changes. Write an Article Request a New Article Answer a Request More Ideas Set up your cash register and plug it in.

Find a hard, flat surface to set your register on. Ideally, this will be on a countertop with room for customers to place their merchandise. Plug the register directly into an outlet do not use an extension cord. Batteries provide backup memory for the cash register in case of power failure and should be installed before you program any functions in the cash register.

Take off the receipt paper cover and locate the battery compartment. You may need to use a small screwdriver to unscrew the lid to this area. Install the batteries according to the directions on the machine. Put the lid back on the battery compartment. Some battery compartments are located underneath the receipt paper area.

Change batteries once per year to ensure that they will work properly. Install the receipt paper. Take off the cover to the receipt paper compartment. Make sure the end of your paper roll has a straight edge so it will be fed easily into the paper feeder. Feed the paper roll through so that it will run up through the front of the register where you will be able to tear off receipts for customers. Press the FEED button so that the register will catch the receipt and feed it through.

Unlock the till drawer. The till drawer usually has a key that locks it up for safety. Do not lose this key. You can just leave the key in the drawer when it is unlocked so that it is easily found when you need to lock it up. Turn the cash register on.

Others may have a key on the front top of the machine. Turn on the machine, or turn the key to the REG register position. Newer registers may have a MODE button instead of a physical key. Press the MODE button to scroll into a REG or operational mode. Most registers have buttons that can be programmed to categorize similar items.

These categories, or departments, can also be associated with taxable or non-taxable items. You can also set the date and time. The program function is usually accessed by either turning the key to PRG or P, or pressing the mode button to PROGRAM.

Other registers may have a manual lever underneath the receipt tape cover that needs to be switched to a Program option. Many cash registers have at least 4 tax buttons. These can be programmed at different tax rates, depending on if you have a flat sales tax as some states in the U.

Enter a security code or password to use the register. Many registers will require that you enter a clerk number or other security code to use the register. Clerk numbers are useful so that each sale is attributed to a particular person. This is helpful in tracking sales and clearing up errors.

If you work in a restaurant, you may need to enter your employee code along with the table number and number of customers. Key in the amount for the first item. Use the number keys to type in the exact amount of the item.

Typically you do not need to add a decimal, as cash registers do this for you. Some registers will use a scanner, rather than asking you to manually enter in item prices. Hit the corresponding department button.

Most registers require that you hit a button after the amount that assigns that item to a category of sale for instance, clothing, food, etc.

Department keys can be programmed to be taxable or nontaxable. Looking at the receipt: Every item you add on will be added to a running total, which is usually displayed on the cash register reader or screen. Add any necessary discounts to the price. If an item is on sale, you may need to enter in the percentage discount. This key is usually in the bank of buttons to the left of the number pad. Key in amounts for the remaining items.

Use the number keys to enter in the exact dollar amount for each remaining item. Be sure to press the corresponding department key after each item is entered. For example, if you have 2 books priced at R6. Hit the subtotal button. This button will give the total of the merchandise rung up. It will add any necessary tax that has been pre-programmed into the department buttons. Determine how the customer is going to pay. Customers may pay in cash, with a credit card, or with a check.

You may also accept gift cards or certificates, which are most often treated as cash. Many registers will tell you how much change to give the customer.

Some do not, however, and you will have to do the math in your head. Once the till drawer pops open, you can place the cash or check in the drawer and count out any necessary change. Press CREDIT button sometimes CR and use credit card machine to run the credit card. Key in the exact amount of the check, press the CK or CHECK button, and put the check in the drawer. To open the till drawer if you have not made a sale, you can press the NO SALE or NS button.

This function may be protected for manager use only and may require that a manager uses a key to put the register in a different mode to access the NO SALE function.

Close the till drawer. Always close the cash drawer immediately after you use it so that it is not left hanging open. This could put you at risk for theft. Always empty out or remove the till drawer at the end of the business day and store it in a secure place. If you have mistakenly entered in the wrong price for an item, or a customer decides they do not want to purchase an item after you entered it in, you may need to void the item or sale. This will remove it from the subtotal.

Type in an amount, press department key, press VOID sometimes VD button to remove it from the total.

Error

You must void an item before entering in a new item. This will subtract the incorrect amount from the subtotal. If you need to void the entire sale with multiple items, go through each item and void each one.

To refund a sale, press the REF key, type in the exact amount of the item, and press the corresponding department key. The till drawer will open and you can issue a refund to the customer. Certain buttons and functions such as refunding money can be protected for manager use only.

These might require that a manager uses a key to put the register in a different mode to use void or refund. Check with your supervisor regarding the correct policy for handling returns and refunds.

Stop the error sound. Some registers will beep or emit an error sound if keys are pressed in the wrong order or wrong combination. To stop the error sound, press the CLEAR or C key. Clear numbers that were entered incorrectly. If you already hit the department button, you will need to void the transaction.

Read running totals for the day. Some managers may want to check the sales totals periodically throughout the day. To read the running totals, turn the register key to X or press the mode button and scroll to the X option. Your daily sales totals thus far will print out on a receipt. It is important to remember that X will read running totals, while Z will reset the daily totals.

Run an end-of-day sales report. At minimum, this report will tell you the sales totals for the day. Many cash registers will also report hourly sales, sales by clerk number, sales by department, and other reports.

To run these reports, press MODE key and scroll to the Z mode function or turn the key to Z to run report. Balance the cash register. After running the sales report for the day, count out the money in the cash drawer. If you have checks or credit card receipts, add these into the total. Most credit card processing machines will also run daily total sales reports, so that you can easily reconcile your daily sales totals.

Subtract your overall total from the amount of money that you started with before your first transaction of the day. Keep a written ledger of the currency, credit card transactions and checks. This will help with your overall accounting. Replace a base amount of money to the drawer for the start of the next business day.

Be sure to store the money in a safe, secure location when your business is not open. The cash register then displays the amount of change, which is shown on the receipt. This is not necessary, but it is helpful for clarification purposes on the customers' receipt. Not Helpful 5 Helpful Does the cash "tend" button open a cash register? Only if you have already rung up a sale. Not Helpful 1 Helpful Tomorrow is my first day working as a cashier and I am nervous because I don't know anything about cash registers.

What should I do? Try and keep calm and listen to instructions when given.

Ask questions if you need to and be honest if something is not clear to you. Don't worry too much, you'll do fine. Not Helpful 3 Helpful How do I open up a register without ringing something up? Not Helpful 4 Helpful The department key is a coded key to identify a department within a store.

Sharp Cash Register Manuals

Not Helpful 2 Helpful 8. What happens if I hit charge button instead of the subtotal button? The customer will be prompted to swipe his or her credit card. Not Helpful 7 Helpful What can I do if the cash register is not on after plugging it in? First check that the plug has been inserted correctly in both the machine and the outlet.

If you're not finding any obvious issues there you may need new batteries or to contact an electrician. Not Helpful 1 Helpful 4. How do I print out a receipt on a cash register? It prints by itself. When you enter the amount of cash the customer gives you, it prints. Not Helpful 0 Helpful 2. How can I complete a transaction with a cash card? Type the amount into the card machine and then allow the customer to enter their PIN.

If the pin is correct and the money is in the account, the transaction will go through and a receipt of sale will begin to print. Remove the batteries and unplug the register. You may have to wait up to 24 hours for the memory to fully reset. The reason cash registers don't have a reset button is so that no one can mess with them and delete sales records.

Not Helpful 5 Helpful 8. How to open the cover of the paper feed? Answer this question Flag as How do you enter partial debit and partial charge and part cash payments for the same bill?

How can I reset my password and a create new password? How do I disable function key on a cash register? Already answered Not a question Bad question Other. If this question or a similar one is answered twice in this section, please click here to let us know.

If you are using a Square point-of-sale machine, most of the instructions for using a regular cash register will apply. Edit Related wikiHows WH. Job Strategies In other languages: Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read , times.

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These pictures help me to be comfortable in getting a job where I have to use the register. I would not fill out an application before, for fear of using a register. Now I feel a little better. LS Leona Smith Jul 11, I had no knowledge of how one of these registers worked. After slowly going through these steps, I had it down and was able to use my new skill at work.

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DL Debra Luth Sep 13, This showed me just how much they are alike. CF Catherine Fairfax May 17, It gives on-point and detailed information concerning your research. Hopefully that will help me out with my first job! KK Krishnan Karuthethil Dec 14, RM Robyn MacDonald Jul 22, More stories All reader stories Hide reader stories. Home About wikiHow Jobs Terms of Use RSS Site map Log In Mobile view. All text shared under a Creative Commons License.

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