Retail Store Opening and Closing Checklist
A store that opens late, short of change or with last night's display still half-reset loses the best part of the morning. A store that closes with unreconciled cash or an unlocked back door loses more.
This checklist covers both ends of the day for a retail outlet. Add the items that are specific to your store, such as fitting rooms, a stockroom, offers and a weekly planogram change.
- When
- Every day, at open and at close
- Who
- Store manager or shift supervisor
- Time
- 20 minutes at open, 30 at close
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Opening: premises and systems
- Check the shutter, doors and locks for signs of tampering before anyone goes in.
- Switch on lights, AC and any display lighting.
- Turn on the POS and card machines, and check UPI and internet connectivity.
- Confirm CCTV is recording and the camera views are clear.
- Count the cash float, record it and note any difference from the closing figure.
Opening: floor and stock
- Check that today's offers and prices are on the shelves and loaded in the POS.
- Replenish the shelves and the display from the stockroom.
- Check the displays against the visual merchandising plan.
- Clean the floor, glass, counters and fitting rooms.
- Check staff uniforms and name badges, and brief the team on targets and promotions.
Closing: sales and cash
- Run the day's sales report and reconcile it with the cash, card and UPI totals.
- Count the cash, record any difference with a reason, and bank or lock it away.
- Process pending returns, holds and exchanges.
Closing: floor and lock-up
- Tidy the floor, straighten the displays and restock fast-moving lines for tomorrow.
- Clean the store and empty the bins.
- Record any theft, damage or incident.
- Switch off lights, AC and equipment that need not stay on.
- Check CCTV is still recording.
- Lock the shutter and set the alarm, with a second person present where you can.
- Send the manager a photo of the finished store and the locked shutter.
Common mistakes
- Counting cash at close without recording the opening float, so nobody can tell where a difference started.
- Leaving the planogram check to the area manager's visit. If displays only change when someone visits, they drift.
- Not checking that the CCTV is actually recording. A camera that is on but not recording is no use after an incident.
Run this checklist on WhatsApp
Roundzo sends this checklist to the right person at the right time over WhatsApp. They answer step by step in the chat, with nothing to install. Steps that need proof ask for a photo, and the time and location are recorded. A manager sees what was done, late or missed at every outlet, and only the exceptions need a decision. Good steps to ask proof for:
- A photo of the main display or the front of the store at opening.
- A photo of the cash count and the POS total at close.
- A photo of the finished store and the locked shutter.
Frequently asked questions
What should be on a retail opening checklist?
Security and premises, systems such as POS and CCTV, the cash float, offers and prices, replenishment and display against the merchandising plan, cleaning, and a short team briefing.
How do I check that all my stores are opening on time?
Have each store confirm opening with a photo and a timestamp, and look at all of them in one view. Late or missing confirmations show up straight away, without calling each manager.
Who should close a retail store?
A named closing supervisor, with a second person present for the cash count and lock-up where possible.
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Used by: Retail chains
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