Cash Drawer / Cash Envelope

[uywi]

I'm new to Square. I use it for conferences in which we issue small petty cash funds to various volunteers (one for registration, one for our t-shirt sales booth, one for donations).  The volunteers keep this cash in an envelope and process transactions on a mobile iPad or phone. 

I want to use the cash drawer feature to track the amount of cash I gave a volunteer, and how much should come back at the end of the day, but I don't want to have large physical cash drawers. 

In my app, when I try to enable a cash drawer all I see is "No USB Cash Drawer Found".   Do I have to have a physical USB cash drawer to use this feature, or is there some way to track my envelopes? 

[EJ_ · Accepted solution]

Hi there, 

What type of device were you using at your conferences?

You should see the Cash Management feature in your settings, however this feature is only available on iPads and Android Tablets, so it wouldn't appear on a smart phone. 

It sounds like it would work perfect for what you're trying to do.

Here's an article that goes into more detail about Cash Drawer Management and all of the features that come with it: 

Cash Drawer Management

[uywi]

Thank you.  As you mentioned, I just discovered that this feature is only available on tablets.   You're right that I was trying it on a smartphone.   I tried it on an iPad and it worked great.   Thanks!

[RAW]

When trying to start a cash drawer no USB cash drawers found comes up so I am not abe to use my manual cash box... I don't need to hook up a USB cash drawer but still need to manage cash at our markets. Help!

[RAW]

nevermind I figured it out! I was in the hardware set up and not in the report section where I can start a cash drawer.  All good now! functions well.

[puka]

Hey @RAW!

Glad you were able to figure it out! Definitely let us know if you run into any other issues.

[Scissorbella]

I can't seem to activate cash drawer managment to pay out tips during an entire shift, therefore my cash drawer is not adding up. 

[JustinC]

@Scissorbella - turn on Cash Management from Settings in-app. Make sure to enter your default starting cash amount and select your report delivery preferences. 

Then, start your cash drawer from the Menu > Reports > Current Drawer. From there, you'll see an option to Pay Out which sellers use when taking money out of their drawer to to pay out cash tips. 

[flippityflop]

Hi there,  

I'm wondering if someone can tell me the practical use/steps to doing what uywi  was asking.  I mostly deal with cc but do accept cash and have a small cash box (not usb,not connected to square) .    

I'm thinking back to waitressing days when we would cash out at the end of the night  - i'd like to do similar.  Wondering whether I start and "end" or "close" a drawer every day?   

2nd part question: when you "close" a drawer, it records the transactions (or so it says) but haven't we already recorded the transaction when choosing "cash" on our pos when customer pays?   

thanks for any help 🙂 

[AshleyK]

Hi @flippityflop and welcome to the Seller Community. 🙂 

1: If you are going to pay yourself tips at the end of the night, you need to mark a payout for said tips. You can do this while closing your cash drawer, which I recommend you do at the end of each night. 

2: You're correct! It will only record your cash transactions against your starting cash drawer amount. So, say you tell the system you have $100 in your cash drawer when starting the day (so you can give change back) and you accept $20 in cash transactions, your ending cash drawer amount will be $120. We report this, so you can count your cash drawer at the end of the day and know how much should be in there. It is a security measure to make sure none of the cash is going missing. 

Adding to your second question, we will always record each transaction individually under Transactions. We aren't reporting your sales twice in the cash drawer, just giving you a report of how much cash you should have in your cash drawer at the end of the day.

[flippityflop]

thankyou!  i'm getting closer to understanding the practical use for myself.  

so - i do not tip out at end of day.  I'm just using to keep track of cash.   I'd like to keep $50 in my cash drawer as a base and any cash transactions that have happened throughout the day will end up being deposited into the bank.  So... should my process be?:

each day: open my business; open a cash drawer with said $50 to start.. run my day like normal.  when i close my business for the day;  i "close" the drawer.  (vs "ending" the drawer) and take my cash to the bank!

is that the correct process?

thanks so much

[AshleyK]

Yes, that is the correct process! 🙂 

And, anytime! 

[Foremost1]

We have been using square for credit card transactions and for cash collections. My question is , How do you keep track of payouts?

[Foremost1]

How do you keep track the cash transactions and payouts?

[puka]

Hey @Foremost1 - I've merged your post with a thread on cash payouts. Check out more about Cash Drawer Management in EJ's answer above.