---
title: "Cash Register Shifts"
description: "How to open, operate, and close cash register shifts in Sarah, assigning responsible parties and controlling initial cash."
keywords: ["shifts", "cash", "opening", "petty cash", "operators"]
lastUpdated: "2026-07-24"
---

# Cash Register Shifts

In Sarah, each cash register is operated through **shifts**. A shift represents the period in which a user (or group of users) is responsible for a cash register's money.

Working with shifts allows you to:

- Know who handled the cash register at each moment.
- Record the initial cash of each shift.
- Control intermediate income and expenses.
- Facilitate cash closing and counting.

## Shift opening

1. Go to **Cash Registers → Open shift**.
2. Select the **cash register** you want to operate.
3. Indicate the **initial amount** (petty cash or cash you start with).
4. Assign the **responsible user** (normally who will be at POS).
5. Confirm the opening.

While the shift is open:

- All **POS sales** associated with that cash register are automatically recorded in the shift.
- You can record **cash movements** (manual income/expenses).

## Operation during shift

Common actions during a shift:

- Record sales from POS.
- Record extra income (for example, cash register replenishment).
- Record expenses (minor expenses, cash withdrawals).

Each movement is associated:

- To the **cash register**.
- To the **shift**.
- To the **user** who performed it.

## Shift closing

When you finish the day (or work period):

1. Go to **Cash Registers → Open shifts**.
2. Select the shift you want to close.
3. Indicate the **counted amount** in the cash register (actual cash).
4. Sarah will automatically calculate:
   - **Theoretical balance** according to sales and movements.
   - **Difference** between expected and counted.
5. Confirm shift closing.

The shift will be marked as **closed** and won't accept more movements.

### Admin close

If a cashier forgot to close their shift, an **administrator** can do it:

1. Go to **Shifts** and open **View details** for the open shift.
2. Click **Close shift** (top right).
3. Review suggested amounts from the theoretical balance and adjust if the physical count differs.
4. Confirm; the balance ticket is generated and the shift records who closed it.

## Closing ticket and WhatsApp

When closing a shift, Sarah generates a **balance ticket** with the closing summary:

- Theoretical balance and counted amount.
- Cash difference.
- Payment method and movement details.

From the ticket modal you can:

- **Reprint** the closing receipt.
- **Send via WhatsApp** an image of the ticket to a contact number (keyboard shortcut available in the interface).

Useful for informing the owner or accountant without leaving the closing flow.

## Best practices

- Use **one shift per user and day** to facilitate control.
- Avoid sharing users: create separate users with their own permissions.
- Always record manual movements (income/expenses) to avoid unexplained differences.

To see how this information is reflected in reports, consult [Cash Reports](/docs/boxes/reports).