Spot Checks
Perform unannounced mid-shift cash counts to verify drawer balances without closing the shift.
A spot check is a mid-shift cash count performed by a manager or shift lead. Unlike closing a shift, a spot check does not end the cashier’s session — it simply verifies that the drawer balance is correct at that moment. Spot checks are one of the most effective deterrents against cash theft because they are unannounced and can happen at any time.
When to perform a spot check
- Randomly — Best practice is to perform unannounced spot checks at irregular intervals so cashiers cannot predict when they will happen.
- After a high-value transaction — If a large cash sale or refund was processed, a spot check confirms the drawer reflects it.
- When an alert fires — If the system detects a potential issue (e.g. drawer over threshold), a spot check is a good immediate response.
- During shift handovers — If your store operates overlapping shifts, a spot check during the transition helps catch issues early.
Performing a spot check
- 1
Select the shift to check
From the Cash Dashboard, find the register you want to check and click Spot Check. Alternatively, open the active shift detail page and click the spot check button.
- 2
Count the drawer
Count the physical cash in the drawer and enter the amount. If your policy requires it, you can enter a full denomination breakdown. Eleo calculates the expected amount up to the current moment based on all transactions since the shift opened.
- 3
Submit the spot check
Click Submit. The system immediately compares your count against the expected amount and displays the variance. The spot check is recorded in the shift’s audit trail with a timestamp and the performing manager’s name.
If the spot check reveals a variance that exceeds your store’s configured threshold, an alert is generated automatically. Depending on your escalation settings, this may notify additional managers or the store owner.
Spot check history
All spot checks for a shift are visible in the shift detail page under the Overview tab. Each entry shows the time, who performed the check, the expected amount, the actual count, and the variance. This history is also included in the shift’s audit trail for compliance purposes.
Stores that perform regular spot checks typically see significantly lower cash shrinkage. The deterrent effect of knowing a check could happen at any time is often more valuable than catching discrepancies after the fact.