Opening the Register

Before any sales can be processed, a cashier must open the register by logging in and declaring the starting cash amount. This process creates a new register session that tracks all transactions until the register is closed.

PIN Login

When the POS Terminal application starts, it displays a numeric PIN pad. Each cashier has a unique PIN assigned through the HQ Manager. Enter your PIN and press "Login". The system verifies the PIN against the local user database and checks that you have the pos:open_register permission. If authentication fails, an error message is displayed and you can try again.

Cashiers can only have one active session at a time. If you are already logged into a register session that was not properly closed, the system will prompt you to either resume the existing session or close it before starting a new one.

Declaring the Starting Cash

After logging in, the system prompts you to enter the initial cash amount in the register drawer. This is the float -- the amount of cash placed in the drawer at the start of the shift to make change for customers. Count the bills and coins carefully and enter the total. Common starting amounts are pre-configured as quick-select buttons (e.g., $100, $150, $200) but you can type any amount.

The opening amount is recorded in the register session and will be used at the end of the shift when calculating expected cash totals. Accurate opening counts are essential for detecting overages or shortages at closing time.

What Happens Behind the Scenes

When you open the register, the system creates a new RegisterSession record with your user ID, the opening timestamp, and the declared opening amount. All sales, refunds, and cash movements during this session are linked to this record. The session remains open until you explicitly close the register through the Z Report process.

If the register was previously closed by another cashier, the system starts fresh. If the previous session was not closed (for example, due to a power outage), a manager with the pos:force_close_register permission can force-close the stale session before you open a new one.

Multiple Registers

In stores with more than one register terminal, each terminal operates independently. A cashier logs into a specific physical terminal and that terminal's session is separate from all others. The Store Manager can view all open register sessions at any time from the Store Manager dashboard.