---
key: open-and-close-the-register
title: Open and close the register
audience: staff
section: sales-billing/pos
routes: ["/pos/lane"]
permissions: ["pos.registers.open"]
features: ["pos.lane"]
since: 0.0.1
updated: 0.0.1
status: published
summary: Start the day by opening the register with a float, record cash going in and out of the drawer, and close it with a count at the end of the shift.
keywords: [cash drawer, float, till, shift, cash out, closeout, over short, blind close, paid out]
related: [ring-up-a-sale, review-pos-reports]
---

In the sidebar, open **Sales & Billing**, then **Counter Sales (POS)**, then **Register**. The page address is `/pos/lane`. The **Register control** panel is at the bottom of the right-hand column.

## Before you start

- Opening, closing and moving cash are separate permissions. If a form is missing from **Register control**, ask your admin.
- Nova opens the lane on the first register it finds for you and remembers that choice on this device.

## Steps

To open the register at the start of the shift:

1. Under **Register control**, type the starting cash in **Opening float**. Amounts here are in cents, so $200.00 is 20000.
2. Check the **Business date** and pick an **Assigned device** if a card terminal sits at this register.
3. Add an **Opening note** if you want, then press **Open register**. The strip at the top changes to **Register live**.

To record cash going in or out during the shift:

1. Under **Cash movement**, choose the **Cash action**: **Paid in**, **Paid out**, **Adjustment** or **No-sale drawer open**.
2. Type the **Amount**, pick a **Reason code** and add a **Drawer note** saying what happened.
3. Press **Record cash movement**.

To close the register at the end of the shift:

1. Under **Closeout**, count the drawer and type the total in **Counted cash**. Type any cash you are taking out in **Cash removed**, with a **Cash removal reason**.
2. Pick a **Close reason** and add a **Close note** if needed.
3. Press **Close register now**. The strip returns to **Register closed**.

If you cannot count right now, tick **Blind close** and press **Submit blind close**. The drawer is closed without a count and reconciled later.

## What you see

- While the register is open, **Register control** shows **Expected cash** and **Over / short**, so you can see where the drawer stands before you close.
- Every movement and closeout appears under **Store-Day Closeouts** and **Cash Movements** on the **Reports** page. See [[review-pos-reports]].

## If something looks different

- **Open register** does nothing: the register is already open on another session, or your role cannot open registers.
- The panel says to open the register before taking cash, drawer or closeout actions: there is no open session yet. Open it first.
- The closeout is refused and mentions approval: your organization requires a manager to approve a closeout that is over or short. Have a manager approve the request under **Manager approvals**, then type its reference in **Approval request** and close again.

[[route:/pos/lane|Open the POS lane]]