How to calculate change quickly and accurately

Speed at the register comes from using the same short routine every time. Keep the customer's payment visible, calculate the difference, assemble the change, and put the payment away only after the handoff is complete.

Calculate change in three steps

1. Confirm the purchase total and the amount received.
2. Subtract the purchase total from the amount received.
3. Choose notes and coins that add up to the result, usually starting with larger denominations.

For a $34.65 purchase paid with $50.00, the change is $15.35. One possible combination is a $10 note, a $5 note, a quarter, and a dime. The combination can vary; the total cannot.

Check by counting up

Start at $34.65. Add $0.35 to reach $35.00, then add $15.00 to reach $50.00. Those two increments total $15.35, confirming the subtraction with a different method.

A routine for busy periods

• Say or display the purchase, payment, and change amounts.
• Do not combine two customers' transactions.
• Restart the check after an interruption.
• Use a calculator whenever the amounts are unclear.