Module 07 of 09
Opening and closing procedures
A business that opens and closes the same way every day runs better than one where each shift is improvised. Consistent procedures protect your cash, your security, your cleanliness standards, and the first and last impression customers have of your business.
Why checklists matter more than memory
Experienced staff forget things. Rushed mornings cause skipped steps. The drawer gets missed; the sign gets left off; the alarm doesn't get set. These aren't signs of incompetence — they're what happens when humans rely on memory for repeated tasks. A checklist removes memory from the equation.
A printed or digital checklist that staff initial or check off also creates accountability — and documentation if something goes wrong. If the alarm wasn't set, you'll know who did the close.
Checklists - open and close
-
Disarm alarm and check entry points
Note any overnight issues, damage, or unusual conditions
Count and verify opening cash float
Record the count; compare to previous close deposit
Turn on lights, music, and displays
Confirm all lighting is working; replace burned bulbs immediately
Walk the floor and check presentation
Straighten displays, restock low items, remove anything out of place
Verify POS system is on and responding
Test a transaction or confirm the system loaded correctly
Check restrooms and common areas
Confirm any staff arrivals and assignments
Update the "open" sign / hours display
Note anything to address or communicate to team
-
Complete final customer transactions; lock front door
Count cash drawer before looking at POS expected amount
Record the count, then run the Z report to compare
Prepare the bank deposit or secure cash in safe
Never leave a full day's cash in the drawer overnight
Run end-of-day POS report; note any voids or discrepancies
Clean surfaces, restrooms, and public areas
Restock any low items for the morning open
Turn off lights, displays, and non-essential equipment
Check that back door, windows, and storage areas are secured
Set alarm and confirm activation before leaving
In this Module
Why checklists matter
Opening and closing checklists
Shift handoffs
Security basics
Real-world examples
Related Modules
Inventory management
Legal & compliance
Shift handoffs
When one shift ends and another begins, information gaps create problems: the morning person doesn't know about the vendor call that needs to be returned, or the evening person doesn't know about the customer who's coming to pick up a hold. A brief shift note — two or three lines written at the end of every shift — captures what the next person needs to know.
SHIFT NOTE TEMPLATE
Date/shift
Who closed: [name]
Issues during shift: [brief notes]
Items to action: [any callbacks, holds, orders, tasks for next shift]
Drawer: [matched / over / short by $X]
Security basics
Security for a small retail business doesn't require a sophisticated system. The basics matter most: consistent alarm use, keeping the cash drawer closed between transactions, never leaving the store unlocked and unattended, and having a protocol for when something seems wrong.
THE MOST COMMON SECURITY FAILURE
Alarm codes shared too broadly. Every employee shouldn't need the master alarm code — most systems allow individual codes so you can track who disarmed and when, and remove access when an employee leaves. Change the code any time a staff member with access leaves the business.
Real-world examples
Lily — children's clothing boutique
Two part-time staff, 18 months open
Lily had a string of small cash discrepancies — never more than $15 — that she couldn't explain. She added a rule: count the drawer before running the Z report, then write down the count. Within two weeks, the discrepancies stopped. She never found out whether it was counting error or something else, but the accountability created by writing down the number before comparing was enough to fix it. "I didn't accuse anyone. I just added a step."
Greg — outdoor and camping gear shop
Solo owner, seasonal staff
Greg printed his opening and closing checklists and laminated them — one at the register, one in the back room. New seasonal staff can open alone after one training shift because the checklist is comprehensive enough to follow independently. He updates it once a year in January. "The laminated sheet saves me from answering the same question six times a summer."