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Money counters work well with cash drawers

Money counters work well with cash drawers

A money counter is a valuable tool to have in the back office. It can detect counterfeit bills, count daily sales without needing receipts and process batches in the middle of a shift, among other processes. Additionally, it can scan and record bills regardless of the order they're in. However, for many retailers, the primary benefit of using these machines is sorting out the cash drawers for each shift. Clerks and cashiers need tills with a consistent number of bills totaling a specific starting count. With an automated system that sorts that cash, the process is constant and simple for many businesses.

Cash counters should align with basic cash drawer features

Any store front that works with customers will likely use a cash drawer in some capacity. Even newer businesses that use point-of-sale systems designed for smartphones and tablets still expect some customers to pay with cash, so a till is necessary that links up with the computer-based hardware. With this in mind, businesses have to take some consideration in what kind of drawers they purchase and how many, according to the Point of Sale News.

The first factor is cost. The typical price range for a cash drawer is $100 to $400 each. A business should establish a budget first and foremost before procuring this equipment. From there, an owner should have questions regarding quality and reliability, especially based on their needs. Heavy-duty tills will have a variety of features designed to last a long time, such as ball bearing slides and sturdy latches. They last for millions of cycles and work best in heavy traffic environments. Standard duty models last up to 1 million transactions electronically or 300,000 manually, so it is better suited for lighter business.

Counter space is also a major issue to resolve. Depending on how a business sets up the point of sale, a drawer can be on top of or underneath the counter. Either way, a key point of contention is the till's length when ejected. There should be enough space for it to fully open without pushing the cashier against the wall.

Especially when taking into account new smartphone-based POS systems, compatibility becomes an important issue. The drawer should connect electronically to whatever system is in place and work in accordance with it. Along with system compatibility, a business should consider the drawer's power source. Some require direct access to an AC outlet while others can draw power from the POS system through a printer serial or USB cable.

After a business accounts for these crucial features, other features are brought into the fore depending on need. Drawer space comes into play, with some models offering only room for the cash and receipts, while others have undersides to store lost credit cards, large-denomination bills and spare coin rolls. Depending on if the till opens automatically after each transaction, a media slot for credit card receipts could be useful. Finally, something that works in conjunction with cash counters can quickly fill tills before a shift, ensuring cashiers have exactly what they need before opening their registers.