Let's go over the basic functions of starting a register in GrowFlow and counting out the drawer. Starting a register in GrowFlow allows you to open a drawer and begin processing sales. This step ensures your cash drawer is balanced before transactions begin.
NOTE: Only users with permission to access the Sales section of GrowFlow will have the option of opening a drawer. If you do not see the Start Drawer option on the Sales page, consult your Organization Admin or Admin to ensure your User profile has sufficient permissions.
Before you start a register, make sure:
You need sales access permissions, so if you don’t see the Start Drawer option, check with your Organization Admin or Admin to confirm your profile has the right access.
See Retail: Users and Custom Permissions for more information on editing user permissions.
Make sure you know your opening count type: As Total Amount or As Tender Count. This is set by an Admin in Store Settings > Cashier, not in this flow.
See Retail: Store Settings for more information on your Cashier and Shift Drawer Count settings.
No prior shift is still open on the register you want to use. If it is, the register won't appear in your Start Drawer list — see the What Can Go Wrong section below.
Confirm whether your store uses default start amounts or previous shift values, ensure the default matches the cash in the drawer, and always perform a physical count before entering values to avoid discrepancies.
If your store uses a Default Starting Amount or carries over Previous Shift Values instead of a manual count, your Admin configures that separately in Store Settings > Cashier. See Retail: Set a Default Starting Amount or Previous Shift Values for Registers for guidance.
Do you need to physically connect or configure the cash drawer hardware? See Retail: Cash Drawer Setup.
How to Start a Register
1. Go to the Sales page.
2. Select Start Drawer.
3. From the drop‑down menu, choose the register that matches the drawer you’re using.
4. If As Tender Count is enabled, enter the totals for each tender type in the drawer, then click Start Drawer.
5. If As Total Amount is enabled, enter the total cash amount in the drawer, then click Start Drawer.
6. Once you’ve entered the correct opening count and started the drawer, the register is active. You can now process orders with accurate balances.
Once you start the register, the Register Status on the Sales page will show as Available. The Sales page will also show Current Drawer with the register you opened instead of Start a Drawer, your opening count will be recorded and time-stamped for that shift, and the Sales screen will be ready to take orders.
What Can Go Wrong
Register missing from Start Drawer list
If a prior shift was never ended, the register you want to use will not appear in your Start Drawer list. Log in with the account that opened the drawer and end the shift from the register screen, or ask your Admin to close it through Reports > Shifts > Close Shift.
See Retail: Closing a Register for steps on ending drawers and shifts.
Prompted to Start Drawer again
If you’re blocked from dropping or closing because you’re asked to start a drawer while one is already open, check the user session. This usually happens when someone logs in under the wrong account, so make sure you’re signed in with the same account that opened the drawer.
Opening count type confusion
If you’re confused about the opening count type, remember that the choice between Start Amount only and Full Tender Count is set in Store Settings > Cashier, and only an Admin or Org Admin can change it. It isn’t controlled in the Start Drawer flow, so confirm with your Admin that the correct option is configured before you open the drawer.
Start Drawer Greyed Out or Training Message
If Start Drawer is greyed out or you see the message Registers will be available after training, your store or register is still in onboarding mode. Please reach out to GrowFlow Support by clicking Talk to a person in the chat bubble to have this cleared before you can start a drawer.
The Cashier Has Been Disabled
If you see The Cashier Has Been Disabled, your store or register cannot start a drawer until this is cleared or once you have settled your payment. Please reach out to GrowFlow Support by clicking Talk to a person in the chat bubble so they can help you re‑enable the cashier function.