# Restaurant daily operations: open, serve, close

> A daily routine for restaurants on SmartPOS Hub - opening checks, running service, closing open tabs and the register, and reading the day's reports.

Source: https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/restaurant/daily-operations/  
Last updated: 2026-10-30  
Product: SmartPOS Hub (https://smartposhub.com)

Once your restaurant is set up, every day follows the same rhythm. Use this page as a shift checklist for managers and cashiers.

## Before opening

1. **Open the cash register** at each till: the POS asks for the opening cash the first time you open it. See [Cash register and closing](https://docs.smartposhub.com/selling/cash-register-and-closing/).
2. **Turn on the kitchen screens**: open each station link and check that **Sound on** is set.
3. **Check today's bookings** in **Bookings**: the **Today's arrivals** panel and the timeline show who is coming and which table to hold.
4. **Check the floor plan**: tables still marked "needs cleaning" from yesterday can be marked clean.
5. **Handle sold-out items**: for stock-tracked items the POS and online menu follow the stock count; for others, deactivate the product in **Products › List Products** until it is back.

![Bookings page with bookings today, still to come, awaiting confirmation, arrived, completed and waitlist counts, and a calendar](https://docs.smartposhub.com/_astro/diner-bookings.DBX7U0H8.png) (web app page: `/bookings`)
*Bookings shows today's numbers at the top, a calendar or timeline, and Today's arrivals with the waitlist.*

## During service

- **Waiters** take orders on the POS or in the SmartPOS Business app and send them to the kitchen ([step 8](https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/restaurant/step-8-take-an-order/)).
- **The kitchen** works from the kitchen display: Start, tick items, Bump.
- **The manager** watches the **Orders board** for late orders (the red timers) and assigns delivery orders to riders.
- **Hosts** use the floor plan or host screen to seat walk-ins and move parties.
- **Online and QR orders** arrive on the kitchen display; check **Website › Orders** for anything that needs attention.

## Closing time

1. **Close every open tab.** Open **Open tabs** in the POS; the list should be empty. Take payment for any tab left, or cancel mistakes.
2. **Complete or cancel leftover orders** on the Orders board (tick **Show completed & cancelled** to check).
3. **Close the cash register** at each till: count the cash, enter it, and compare with the expected amount.
4. **Print the Z Report** for the day and location.
5. **Record expenses** paid from the till during the day under **Expenses › Add Expense**.
6. **Record wastage** of stock-tracked items with a [stock adjustment](https://docs.smartposhub.com/inventory/stock-adjustments/).

![Z Report with total item sales, sell returns, purchases, purchase returns, delivery charge, expenses and total sales in hand](https://docs.smartposhub.com/_astro/z-report.BdeX3ACB.png) (web app page: `/reports/z-report`)
*The Z Report sums up a day or any date range per location.*

## Read the restaurant reports

Open **Restaurant › Reports** and pick the date range and location. You see orders, revenue, average order, average prep time and late orders, then orders per day, orders by status, orders by type, prep time by station and top items.

![Restaurant reports with orders, revenue, average order, average prep time, late orders, orders per day chart and orders by type](https://docs.smartposhub.com/_astro/restaurant-reports.CsliGF5W.png) (web app page: `/modules/restaurant/reports`)
*Restaurant reports: compare dine-in, takeaway and delivery, and see which station is slowest.*

Other useful reports: **Reports › Profit / Loss Report**, **Register Report**, **Product Sell Report** and **Sell Payment Report**. See [Reports overview](https://docs.smartposhub.com/reports/reports-overview/).

## Weekly

- Review menu prices and modifier prices; update with **Products › Update Price**.
- Check **Website › Reviews** and the late-order count in Restaurant reports.
- Restock drinks and packaged items with [purchases](https://docs.smartposhub.com/inventory/purchases/).

  - [Go-live checklist](https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/restaurant/checklist/)
  - [Sales reports](https://docs.smartposhub.com/reports/sales-reports/)

## Frequently asked questions

### What should I do with open tabs at closing time?

Open Open tabs and make sure the list is empty. Take payment for any tab still open, or cancel tabs that were created by mistake. An unpaid tab keeps its table occupied.

### Which report shows today's cash in hand?

The Z Report shows total sales, returns, purchases, expenses and the total sales in hand for a date range and location. The register's own close window shows the cash, card and other totals for that shift.

### How do I see which dishes sell best?

Restaurant › Reports shows top items, orders by type and prep time by station. Reports › Trending Products and Product Sell Report give more detail.

### How do I record food wastage?

Use a stock adjustment for stock-tracked items such as bottled drinks or packaged desserts, with a reason in the note. Track wastage costs as an expense if you don't track ingredients.

### Can I see how long the kitchen takes?

Yes. Restaurant › Reports shows average prep time, late orders (over 20 minutes) and prep time per station.