Petty cash — June 2026
Every outflow this month as a record with payee, amount, purpose, and till receipt.
Cash float · Petty cash
Organize your petty-cash log as records
A petty-cash tin works fine until the month it doesn't balance and nobody can say where the missing twelve dollars went. Logging every small outflow as a record — with payee, amount, purpose, and the till receipt attached — turns the tin into something you can reconcile. Cash Workspace gives you one petty-cash folder where each outflow is a clean record you can total against the float.
The problem
Why petty cash stops balancing
Petty cash is spent in tiny, casual amounts by whoever needs it, so without a logged record per outflow the tin and the paper trail drift apart.
- Someone takes cash for stamps and forgets to drop the receipt back in.
- The tin is short at month-end and there's no log to explain it.
- Receipts pile loose in the tin with no record of what each was.
- You can't tell who spent what or why.
- There's no running total, so you only notice problems when the float runs out.
The workflow
Log every outflow and reconcile monthly
Record each withdrawal the moment it happens, then total the log against the float at month-end.
- 1
Set the float amount
Note the starting float, e.g. a 200 tin, so you have a fixed figure to reconcile against.
- 2
Record each outflow
Every time cash leaves the tin, create a record with the date, payee, amount, and a purpose note.
- 3
Attach the till receipt
Attach the receipt for the purchase to its record and keep the paper in the tin until logged.
- 4
Total the log
At month-end, total the logged outflows and the remaining cash to see if they add back to the float.
- 5
Note and resolve gaps
Add a note for any shortfall and top the float back up to its set amount for the next month.
Record structure
What to record for each petty-cash outflow
A consistent record per withdrawal is what makes the monthly reconciliation possible.
- Date
- When the cash left the tin.
- Payee
- The shop or person paid, e.g. the post office, the corner store.
- Amount
- The cash amount taken for this purchase.
- Purpose note
- What it was for, e.g. stamps, milk for the break room, parking.
- Who took it
- The staff member who withdrew the cash, so outflows are accountable.
- Till receipt
- The purchase receipt attached to the record.
- Category
- A product-defined category so petty-cash spending groups with the rest of your expenses.
Example setup
An example petty-cash folder
One way to keep the float and its log organized inside your workspace.
Float reference
A note stating the set float amount and any top-ups during the month.
Reconciliation notes
Month-end notes on the totalled log, the cash counted, and any shortfall explained.
Common mistakes
Mistakes to avoid
- Taking cash without logging the outflow at the moment it happens.
- Leaving receipts loose in the tin instead of attaching them to records.
- Not noting who took the cash, so shortfalls can't be traced.
- Forgetting to write a purpose note, so vague outflows pile up.
- Skipping the monthly count so the tin drifts unnoticed.
How it helps
How Cash Workspace helps
A record per outflow
Log each withdrawal with date, payee, amount, and purpose in one running list.
Receipt attached
Attach the till receipt to its outflow record so cash and proof stay together.
Dedicated petty-cash folder
Keep the float's records in their own folder so reconciliation is straightforward.
Notes for reconciliation
Record the float amount, top-ups, and any shortfall as notes you can review monthly.
Related
Related cash-handling workflows
Monthly expense summary
Roll petty-cash totals into the month's review.
Monthly expense cleanup
Reconcile petty cash as part of closing the month.
Business receipt organizer
Organize all your receipts, including cash purchases.
Small business expense tracker
Organize every expense category in one place.
All finance workflows
Browse the full Cash Workspace workflow library.
FAQ
Petty cash log FAQ
- How do I reconcile the petty-cash log?
- At month-end, total your logged outflows and add the cash remaining in the tin; if it matches the set float, you're balanced. Cash Workspace keeps the records so you can total them, but you do the count and comparison.
- What if the tin is short?
- Add a note explaining the shortfall, then top the float back to its set amount. The logged records help you see which outflows might be unrecorded.
- Does the workspace track my cash balance automatically?
- No. You record each outflow and reconcile against the float yourself; Cash Workspace does not connect to any cash or bank balance.
Organizing help — not tax, accounting, or legal guidance
Cash Workspace is a free workspace for organizing invoices, expenses, receipts, clients, and documents. This page is organizing guidance only — not tax, accounting, legal, or bookkeeping guidance. Cash Workspace does not connect to your bank, does not scan or read your receipts for you, and does not move or collect payments. Whether an expense is deductible depends on your situation, so confirm it with a qualified accountant or tax professional.
Make the tin reconcile every month
Start a free workspace and log every petty-cash outflow with its receipt, so your float balances and every small spend is accounted for.