> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.ofatoura.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Daily Operations Checklist

> A practical open-to-close guide covering attendance, shift and cash register opening, order flow, mid-day cash tasks, and end-of-day closing and reconciliation.

Use this page as a repeatable routine for each trading day. Follow the steps in order — skipping an early step often causes friction later (for example, taking orders without an open cash register).

<Note>
  Permissions are noted where relevant. If a button or section is missing, check with your manager that your role has the right access.
</Note>

## Opening the day

<Steps>
  <Step title="Clock in staff">
    Each staff member opens the ePOS waiter app on their device and clocks in through the attendance screen. Staff who are required to clock in before taking orders must complete this step first — the system will block order-taking otherwise.

    See [Clocking In and Out on the ePOS App](/epos-app/attendance) for the full steps.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open the shift">
    A staff member with permission to open shifts starts the shift for the day. This can be done from the ePOS app or the web admin.

    **Web admin:** Go to **Shift Management** in the sidebar, then click **Open New Shift**. Enter the starting cash amount and confirm.

    **ePOS app:** Open the Shift Management screen, tap the **Active Shift** tab, and tap **Open Shift**. Enter the starting cash float and confirm.

    See [Opening, Closing, and Reviewing Shifts](/operations/shifts) for more detail.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open the cash register session">
    After the shift is open, the cashier opens their cash register session. In the web admin, go to **Cash Register > Cashier** and enter the opening float. If your branch has the force-open setting enabled, the register prompt appears automatically after login.

    The session links to the open shift. Sales, cash-in, and cash-out movements recorded during the day all roll up against this session.

    See [Cash Register Sessions and Denominations](/operations/cash-register-sessions) for more detail.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Check table status and floor plan">
    In the web admin, go to **Floor > Tables** and confirm all tables show the correct status. If any tables are stuck in an unexpected state from the previous day, use the manual sync option to reset them.

    See [Table Status and Manual Sync](/floor/table-status-sync).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm printers are healthy">
    Go to **Settings > Printers and Devices** and verify that each printer is online. Send a test print if you are unsure. Printer issues discovered before the rush are much easier to fix than mid-service.

    See [Printer Configuration and Devices](/settings/printers-and-devices).
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Taking orders through to payment

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create orders">
    Orders can be created in three ways:

    * **Web POS** — from the browser dashboard. See [Creating Orders on the POS](/pos/creating-orders).
    * **ePOS waiter app** — waiters take table orders on their phone or tablet. See [Taking Table Orders on the ePOS App](/epos-app/taking-orders).
    * **QR code** — guests scan the table QR code and order from their phone. Orders flow into the system automatically. See [Generating and Managing Table QR Codes](/floor/qr-codes).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Send kitchen tickets (KOT)">
    Once items are added to an order, send a Kitchen Order Ticket (KOT) to the kitchen. The kitchen team prepares items and marks them ready.

    See [Kitchen Tickets (KOT) and Printing](/pos/kot-and-kitchen-print) and the [Kitchen Stations Overview](/kitchen/index).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Void items or process refunds when needed">
    If a guest changes their mind or an item needs to be removed after it has been sent to the kitchen, a staff member with the appropriate permission can void the item. Refunds on already-paid orders require a separate permission and, for amounts above your branch threshold, a manager override PIN.

    See [Voiding Items and Processing Refunds](/pos/voids-and-refunds) and [Manager Override PINs for Sensitive Actions](/staff/manager-override-pins).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Take payment">
    When the guest is ready, open the order and proceed to payment. You can split the bill, accept multiple payment methods, and add a tip.

    See [Taking Payments, Splits, and Tips](/pos/payments-and-tips).
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Mid-day cash tasks

<Steps>
  <Step title="Record expenses">
    If you pay for any operational costs during the day (supplies, deliveries, etc.), record them as expenses so they appear in the shift and daily closing report.

    See [Recording Expenses and Categories](/payments/expenses).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Run safe drops">
    When the cash drawer accumulates more cash than is needed on the floor, perform a safe drop: go to **Cash Register > Cashier**, enter the drop amount and a reason, and confirm. The expected cash balance is reduced accordingly and the drop is recorded in the cash ledger.

    Safe drops are validated against your current expected cash — you cannot drop more than is expected in the drawer.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Record any unplanned cash movements">
    If cash needs to come in or out of the drawer for any other reason, record it as a Cash In or Cash Out transaction from the Cashier widget. Always enter a clear reason — this appears in the cash ledger and is visible during end-of-day review.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Closing the day

<Steps>
  <Step title="Close the cash register session with a denomination count">
    Go to **Cash Register > Cashier** and start the closing process. You will be prompted to count the cash in the drawer by entering a quantity for each active denomination (for example: how many 50s, 20s, 10s, and so on).

    The system calculates your counted total and compares it to the expected cash. If the difference is greater than 1.00, you must enter a reason for the variance. If the variance exceeds the branch threshold, a manager override PIN is required before the session can be submitted.

    Once submitted, the session moves to **pending approval**. Closing the register session also closes the linked shift.

    <Warning>
      Make sure your denominations are configured before this step. If no denominations are set up, the closing form will error. See [Cash Register Sessions and Denominations](/operations/cash-register-sessions).
    </Warning>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Close the shift (web admin)">
    If you are closing the shift from the web admin (rather than the ePOS app), go to **Shift Management**, open the active shift, and use the Close Shift wizard. The wizard walks you through the same denomination count, variance preview, and variance reason steps.

    See [Opening, Closing, and Reviewing Shifts](/operations/shifts).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Submit for manager approval">
    A manager with the "Approve Cash Register" permission reviews the pending session in **Cash Register > Approvals**. They can see the counted cash, expected cash, discrepancy, and denomination breakdown. They approve the session to finalise closing, or reject it with a reason if something needs to be corrected.

    See [Cash Approvals, Dashboard, and Register Reports](/operations/cash-approvals-and-reports).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review the daily closing report">
    Once the session is approved, review the day's results:

    * **Daily Closing Report** — a summary of sales, payments, voids, refunds, and cash movements for the day. Go to **Reports > Daily Closing**. See [Daily Closing Report](/reports/daily-closing).
    * **Cash Register Reports** — for a detailed view of the cash ledger, discrepancy history, or X/Z reports, go to **Cash Register > Reports**. See [Cash Approvals, Dashboard, and Register Reports](/operations/cash-approvals-and-reports).
    * **Attendance records** — confirm all staff have clocked out. See [Staff Attendance Records (Web Admin)](/staff/attendance-admin).
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Permissions summary

| Task                                         | Permission needed                                             |
| -------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Open / close shift                           | Open Shift, Close Shift                                       |
| Open cash register                           | Open Cash Register                                            |
| View register and shift summaries            | View Shifts, View Cash Register Reports                       |
| Cash in / cash out transactions              | Open Shift                                                    |
| Close register with variance above threshold | Manager override                                              |
| Approve or reject register sessions          | Approve Cash Register                                         |
| Void items or process refunds                | Void permission or Process Refund permission (role-dependent) |

## Related pages

* [Opening, Closing, and Reviewing Shifts](/operations/shifts)
* [Cash Register Sessions and Denominations](/operations/cash-register-sessions)
* [Cash Approvals, Dashboard, and Register Reports](/operations/cash-approvals-and-reports)
* [Voiding Items and Processing Refunds](/pos/voids-and-refunds)
* [Daily Closing Report](/reports/daily-closing)
* [Staff Attendance Records (Web Admin)](/staff/attendance-admin)
* [Manager Override PINs for Sensitive Actions](/staff/manager-override-pins)