any suggestions? POS system development

[szlamany]

This is a great thread to have found...

I'm developing a POS system for a friend right now - to run a dance studio and shop that sells dance wear.

I'll keep this thread posted with what we discover and do as we go along...

Here's a question - how do you open the cash drawer in the morning and close it out in the evening. How do you account for the take during the day and what's left in the drawer for making change the next day?

I was going to ask the coffee shop below my office this question - but figured it fit here as well.

[Al42]

Here's a question - how do you open the cash drawer in the morning

Usually any particular business operates by starting the day with the same float (cash on hand), so allow system input to set that as one of the system parameters.

and close it out in the evening.

A separate function (I use a separate form). The user counts cash, Amex, MC, etc., and enters each total. I reconcile the entered amounts with what should have been there, and call out any discrepancies in red.

		Counted		Calculated		Difference
Cash:		$123.45		$123.55		$0.10 [in red]
Amex:		$100.00		$100.00		$0.00
etc.

Deposit:		$173.55 (Assuming a $50 float)

Have a textbox for them to enter the deposit amount (the cash take-out) after they reconcile any differences. Then your calculation will stay in sync.

How do you account for the take during the day

A separate function (passworded, maybe?), adding to a total of cash removed during the day. When you rconcile the drawer at the end of the day, you account for that total.

and what's left in the drawer for making change the next day?

That's your system param for the float at the start of the day.

For taking out cash, you should also allow for taken-out cash to be put back (I took out $100 and entered it ... oops, I meant to take out $50), and for the cash take-out to be accumulated during the day, or to be deposited as taken out. (Some businesses make periodic deposits during the day - to the bank or to the safe - others make one deposit after close of business.)

Add a function to print a deposit slip, even if it's not in a form the bank will accept. It makes it easier for the employee to take the cash, print the slip, then go to the office and write out a real slip.