Definition
A receipt is a record of a sale given to the customer, showing what they bought, how much they paid and when. It is proof of purchase for them and a matching record for the shop.
What a receipt should show
- Shop name and contact details.
- Date and time, plus a receipt or sale number.
- Each item with quantity and price.
- Any discount and the total.
- Sales tax, if you charge it. Registered businesses may have to show a tax registration number, so check with the tax authority.
- How the customer paid: cash, card, transfer or wallet.
A worked example
A customer buys a notebook at $4.00 and 2 pens at $1.25. The receipt lists the notebook, 2 x 1.25 = $2.50 for pens, and a total of $6.50. They paid cash with a $10 note, so it shows $3.50 change and a sale number, 0187. A week later the customer brings back a pen with a broken clip. The sale number lets you find the sale in seconds, confirm the price paid and process a refund of $1.25.
Why it matters
- Refunds and disputes: it settles what was bought, when and at what price.
- Customer trust: it shows the shop has nothing to hide.
- Tax: a registered shop usually has to issue tax invoices or receipts. Check with the tax authority or an accountant.
- Cash control: receipt numbers that skip can show a void or a missing sale.
Printing is not required. In Shopkeepa, receipts can be shown on screen, printed or shared as a link, so no printer is needed. Shopkeepa is pre-launch. See point of sale for the wider picture.
Related terms
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