Key takeaways
- Train in a set order over the first week: the counter and the till first, then payments, then cash handling, then refunds and unusual cases.
- Write the shop's rules down. A one-page checklist beats explaining everything from memory.
- Give cashiers only the access they need. They should be able to sell, not see your costs or change prices.
Why training pays for itself
A new cashier who is half-trained makes small mistakes: wrong change, sales recorded under the wrong payment type, a product rung up at the wrong price, a refund nobody recorded. Each one is small. Together they make your takings, stock and reports unreliable.
A few hours of planned training in the first week prevents most of it, and gives the new person the confidence to work the counter on their own.
Before day one
- Write a one-page counter checklist: opening, each sale, closing. Keep it by the till.
- Set up their own login if your system has one, so their sales are recorded under their name.
- Decide the rules for discounts, refunds, staff purchases and taking cash out of the drawer. Write them down.
- Plan their first shifts alongside you or an experienced person, at quieter times.
A first-week plan
Day 1: Watch and learn the shop
Walk through where everything is. Let them watch you serve customers. Show them how to find products on the till by scanning, searching and using favourites.
Day 2: Ring up sales with you beside them
They work the till, you watch. Focus on finding products quickly and getting the quantity right.
Day 3: Payments
Cash, card, bank transfer and anything else you accept. The most important habit: record the payment type that was actually used.
Day 4: Cash handling and closing
Counting change back to the customer, the float, and cashing up at the end of the day. Have them do a cash up with you checking.
Day 5: Refunds, voids and odd cases
When a refund is allowed, how to record it, what to do with returned items, and who to call when something is unclear.
By the end of the week, they should be able to run a quiet shift alone, with you on the phone if needed.
The habits that matter most
- Every sale goes through the till. No "I'll put it in later". Unrecorded sales make stock and cash wrong.
- Count change back out loud. It prevents most disputes.
- Keep large notes out of the drawer until the sale is done.
- Never leave the drawer open or the till unattended.
- Record refunds properly, never by just handing cash back.
- Tell the owner when something runs out or a customer asks for something you do not have.
What cashiers should not have access to
Trust is not the point. Separation is good practice in any shop, and it protects staff as much as owners. A cashier who cannot change prices cannot be accused of changing them.
| Cashier can | Owner only |
|---|---|
| Make sales | See product costs and profit |
| Take each type of payment | Change prices and settings |
| Look up recent sales | See full reports |
| Show or share receipts | Manage staff access |
After the first week
Check in after a couple of weeks. Look at cash up differences on their shifts, any refunds and voids, and ask what they found confusing. Small differences early on are normal. A steady pattern is worth a conversation. See where your stock goes for more on spotting loss.
How Shopkeepa helps
Shopkeepa has separate owner and cashier access. Cashiers can sell, take payments and show receipts, but cannot see costs, profit or settings. The point of sale is built to be picked up quickly, with search, categories and favourites to find products, and barcode scanning from the phone camera or a scanner.
Refunds and voids stay on record with the sale, so you can always see what happened. Learn more about the point of sale. Shopkeepa is in development, and early access shops will help shape it.
Keep your shop on track with Shopkeepa
Shopkeepa is in development. Join the waitlist for early access and help shape it.
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