Even in a card-first world, cash handling is a critical part of tour merch operations. Fanhaven tracks every dollar in and out of the cash drawer and ties it to staff shifts for accountability.
Cash drawer
Starting cash
At the beginning of each shift, the cash drawer starts with a set amount of starting cash (your float). This is configured in the POS settings.
During the event
As cash sales come in, the POS tracks:
- Cash received — Total cash taken in from sales
- Cash refunds — Cash returned for refunds
- Expected total — Starting cash + cash received - cash refunds
Drawer counts
Staff can perform a drawer count at any time to verify the physical cash matches the expected amount.
From the POS settings or shift screen, select “Count Drawer.”
Count all bills and coins and enter the total.
The POS shows the expected amount and any variance (over or short).
Always perform a drawer count at the end of every shift. Unexplained variances should be investigated promptly.
Shifts
A shift represents a staff member’s working session on the POS. Shifts track:
| Data point | Description |
|---|
| Start time | When the staff member started their shift |
| End time | When the shift was closed |
| Transactions | All sales processed during the shift |
| Cash sales | Total cash received |
| Card sales | Total card revenue |
| Tips | Tips collected during the shift |
| Drawer counts | Cash counts performed during the shift |
Opening a shift
A shift opens automatically when a staff member signs into the POS and selects their event and booth. Alternatively, shifts can be opened manually.
Closing a shift
Stop processing new transactions.
Perform a final cash drawer count.
The POS closes the shift and generates a shift summary with all key metrics.
Auto-close
If a staff member forgets to close their shift, Fanhaven will automatically close it after a configured period of inactivity.
Dashboard view
Tour managers can view shift data from the dashboard:
- POS → Shifts — View all shifts across the tour, filter by event, booth, or staff member
- POS → Cash Drawer — See cash drawer history and variance reports
Cash reconciliation
At the end of each event, compare:
- Expected cash (from POS records) vs. Actual cash (from physical count)
- Variance — Any difference indicates an error, theft, or uncounted transaction
Small variances (under $5) are common and usually due to rounding or miscounted change. Consistent or large variances warrant investigation.
