How much money should be in a cash drawer?
Short answer: most small shops start the day with about $100 to $200, mostly in small bills and coins. Your right amount depends on how much people pay in cash and how big a typical sale is.
The money you start with is called a float. Its only job is to give change. Too little and you are running to the bank at lunchtime. Too much and you have cash sitting around for no reason.
Starting points by type of business
These are only rough starting points. Try one for a couple of weeks, then adjust it.
| Business | Try starting with |
|---|---|
| Market stall or small coffee cart | $50 to $100 |
| Small shop or café | $100 to $200 |
| Busy shop with lots of cash sales | $200 to $300 |
Three questions that settle it
- How many people pay cash? If most customers tap a card, you need less.
- What does a typical sale cost? A $3 coffee paid with a $20 bill eats through small bills quickly.
- When do you run out? If you are always out of $1 bills by 2 pm, you need more ones. You may not need more money overall.
How to split a $150 float
Keep it heavy on small bills. You rarely need large bills to make change, and they are the ones you don't want lying around.
| Bill or coin | How many | Value |
|---|---|---|
| $20 bills | 1 | $20.00 |
| $10 bills | 3 | $30.00 |
| $5 bills | 8 | $40.00 |
| $1 bills | 32 | $32.00 |
| Quarters | 2 rolls (80) | $20.00 |
| Dimes | 1 roll (50) | $5.00 |
| Nickels | 1 roll (40) | $2.00 |
| Pennies | 2 rolls (100) | $1.00 |
| Total | $150.00 |
A few habits that help
- Use the same float every day. It makes balancing the drawer much easier.
- Count it before you open, not just when you close. A money counter makes this quick.
- Move extra cash to the safe during the day. Don't let big bills build up in the drawer.
- Keep a spare roll of quarters and a stack of ones in the safe for busy days.
