Setting Your Opening Float

The Problem

You're ready to start using BarSight's cash drawer tracking, but the system is asking you to "Set Float" before you can record transactions. What's a float? What amount should you enter? And why does it need a starting date?

The Solution

The opening float is the amount of cash you keep in your drawer to make change—your starting balance. Setting it tells BarSight how much cash should be in the drawer at the beginning of each day before sales, deposits, and transactions happen. Once configured, the system tracks everything from that baseline.

How to Set Your Opening Float

First-Time Setup

1. Navigate to Logbook → Cash Transactions
2. If no float is configured, you'll see a "Set Float" prompt
3. Click Set Float
4. Enter the Starting Date:
   • This is the date you first started using this cash drawer
   • Usually today's date when setting up for the first time
   • Warning: Changing this later will delete all transactions before the new date
5. Enter the Opening Balance:
   • The amount of cash physically in your drawer right now
   • Common amounts: $100, $200, $300, $500
   • Include all bills and coins you use for making change
6. Click Save

What is a Float?

Your "float" is the starting cash you keep in the drawer specifically for making change. Think of it like this:

• Float: $200 (what you start with each day)
• Sales: +$500 (cash you collect during the day)
• Deposits: -$400 (cash you remove to take to the bank)
• Ending Balance: $300 (what's left in the drawer at close)

Tomorrow morning, you take $100 out to bring the drawer back down to your $200 float, and the cycle repeats.

How BarSight Uses Your Float

Daily Balance Calculation

Each day, BarSight calculates your drawer balance like this:

Opening Balance (your float amount)
+ Cash Sales (from POS)
+ Cash In transactions
+ Loan In transactions
- Cash Out transactions
- Loan Out transactions
- Tips Out transactions
= Ending Balance

Reconciliation

At the end of each day, count your physical cash and compare it to BarSight's calculated ending balance. They should match. If they don't, review your transactions to find the discrepancy.

Changing Your Float Later

If you need to change your float amount or starting date later:

1. Navigate to Logbook → Cash Transactions
2. Click Set Float again
3. Enter new values
4. Warning: This recalculates all daily balances from the new start date

Important: BarSight limits how many times you can change the float to prevent accidental data loss. If you hit the limit, contact support.

Pro Tip

Choose a float amount that covers your typical change needs without being excessive. $200-$300 is common for restaurants and bars. Too little means you'll run out of change; too much means excess cash sitting in the drawer (security risk).

Learn More

Once your float is set, see Managing Cash Transactions in Logbook to start tracking transactions. For multiple cash drawers, check out Setting Up Multiple Cash Registers.