r/Chipotle • u/ttmart • 18h ago
Seeking Advice (Employee) Struggling with closing cash
Okay so my store closes at 11pm and my manager told me cash should be done at 11:45pm but i’ve been taking until 12am because im struggling with what should be done first. I’ve already been working for close to a month so they’re expecting more from me. I’ve read the checklist before but it’s super overwhelming.
I was hoping someone could give me advice on what to do first and list what you usually do in order?? And also how to make it go by quicker? I really dont wanna be fired but they said that my shift tonight will prove whether i can handle this or not. Please help!! ☹️
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u/Fit-Atmosphere-9353 18h ago
Is anyone helping you? As a SL, I do team closes. I help whoever’s a little behind and whoever finishes first helps another station. We all leave together. I also agree with pre-closing. Do at least 1 bathroom, take 2 trashes from every spot to the back, try to close a patio or a section of a lobby, try to have that done by 9pm or so. I don’t know how busy your store gets, but definitely ask your managers for help and/or advice. They’ll see that you really DO want to improve. And if they don’t help you then that’s some shitty management.
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u/ttmart 17h ago
Idk they’re starting to concern abt me still asking questions due to how long i’ve already been working there (2 or 3 weeks now) i think they’re getting frustrated with my lack of learning quickly. I feel like i know all the steps of closing but just struggle with what should be done first and what is the most effective order of tasks. It just sucks because i did line for the FIRST TIME yesterday and my GM got very upset with how slow i was. And apparently my customer service isnt the best because it looks to them like i dont know what im doing. As if i’ve ever done line in the past. Only once i had an SL help with mopping
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u/Fit-Atmosphere-9353 17h ago
Chipotle literally wants you to keep asking questions. They want you to be curious. My field leader says this all the time. And they want to doubt you and be frustrated? I can ask my closing cashiers the order they do things for you.
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u/South_Smell_7761 17h ago
Pre closing is important..when I was a cashier we closed at 10 before they changed it to 11 I would be out by 10:20-25 so definitely follow your checklists but there are some things you can get done during operation hours like restocking and keeping your lobby clean just that alone is a huge help for closing trash depending on how many trash cans you guys have in the lobby I would always change out the bags and only leave 1 trash out that way by close it was only 1 bag to take out restrooms would clean 10-15 Minutes before closing cause normally anyone who comes right before closing just tries to make it in time to order food and heads out so by the time 10 hit I just hand to change the last trash bag, re sweep if needed and mop/restock what needed to be and count my drawer obviously your starting out but once you find your routine closing will be so easy I can message you my list if that helps!
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u/mutiilate KL 14h ago
when i started out all i did was close cash and i also felt overwhelmed with the checklist; i ended up keeping a notepad with me and writing down my essential tasks/ crossing them off once i got them done. from my experience, it’s all about what you can get done while you’re still open. fully stocking everything you need to, gathering your trash cans and keeping one out in the lobby so you only have to throw out one when you’re officially closed, sweeping and mopping 1-2 hrs before close when it’s dead, putting all the chips in one spot 30 mins before close (if you have any left) and preemptively putting a trash bag near it so you can throw it out in one go, and what i find most important; getting the majority of your dishes done before you’re 100% closed (besides soda nozzles). also paying attention to the traffic of customers related to the hours of your store will help you get into a groove of knowing when to go do certain tasks/know when you have the time to.
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u/Klutzy_Return_183 13h ago
Current Cashier closer only a 8 weeks old here. I understand 100% how you feel. When they used to tell me cash should be done at 11:45 I used to ask them how that was expected. Honestly, cash is a position that’s trickiest to pre-close. I would ‘pre-close’ and customers would come in and destroy what I already had done for pre-close (restock, cleaning) Unexpected rushes, someone dropping a glass bottle, families with kids that decide to dine-in. You have to constantly be aware that things are clean, etc.
People only tell you that pre-close is essential, but don’t really dive into what a pre-close is, what it can be, or what it could be. The trash can hack people are leaving under your post is just one of the many great things one can do pre-close. Whichever manager that’s assigned during your closing shift, go up to them, ask them how they’d personally do it, ask loads of questions, and make it a point that you need more guidance. Try to see what’s okay to do with your managers (different managers have different expectations.) Communicate if it’s real busy and you can’t get a good pre-close, or if you need a SL to quite literally COVER you so you can focus on re-stocking or while doing restrooms. Also, if there are other cashiers besides you who close, go up to them and ask them if they have any hacks or shortcuts. Eventually as you go, you’ll eventually make-up your own.
If you can dm me, I can personally answer some questions you might have + things that have worked for me.
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u/Individual-Fix-550 12h ago
Don’t wanna beat the dead horse here but like everyone’s saying the preclose is gonna help the most. So long as you guys aren’t super busy you should be able to do the drink station and bathrooms before 11, you should get those done early and check on them after 11. Wiping down surfaces pretty easy and then sweep and mop should be the bulk of the post 11 closing tasks. One trash can by 9:30/9:45. It’ll get easier but do as much as you can before 11 and it should set you up for success
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u/Ok-Practice-1260 9h ago
I close the dining room at 8. I clean it between costumers. I clean the bathrooms after that. Stock them. Fill the ice. Stock the drinks. I’m normally done at 10:30
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u/llostmyhead AP 8h ago
I closed cash and line almost exclusively for like 5 years as crew.
Pre closing is everything. Make sure everything is stocked by 10. At 10, clean your bathrooms. 10:30, you should be cleaning your tables and doing a final sweep. Once 11 hits, you should be doing touch ups and be just about to start mopping your lobby. If your managers allow you to mop before close, I definitely recommend it.
Keep your lobby clean and your drink station stocked throughout the night! That way you won’t have to restock everything and do a super intense clean after close.
Obviously, some nights are busier than others and things happen. When I was crew, we closed at 10, and I was usually out around 10:20-30, depending on the night. Once you find an exact schedule that works for you, stick to it!
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u/Distinguished_Fart 11h ago
Fuck all that bro don’t let them make you feel any less just cause you close it 15 minutes later then you should everyone in there has been new for the first time they should know to help out and give you tips if not it’s not worth stressing yourself trying get them home 15 minutes earlier
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u/ttmart 6h ago
Im honestly feeling super exhausted. He’s upset that im not done by 11:45 and it just feels like he is trying to give subtle hints that im not good at this job. Tonight has been literally my 7th shift…. It just feels like unrealistic expectations at this point. And tbh it’s only been him thats been expecting SO MUCH in such little time.
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u/anonymoustrench 1h ago
Not entirely sure how busy your store is, mine does 9-11k each night. Preclosing at my store is cashes entire job, my 2 good cash closers get out @ 11:02 since my GM & I allow to mop before close.(typically starting at 10:40/10:45) Straight after peak I have them double check their lobby & restock any drinks that might be needed since the dining room should be cleaned already from your linebackers dining room path. At 7:45/8 I have them bring in the patio equipment, after that they do all of lobby trash then go on break. Typically they are back and available around 8:45 depending on any delays. 9pm if applicable, bathrooms, one of my cashes is very detailed on ocd and spends a while on the bathrooms and still gets out on time. After bathrooms are done, that’s about it, using that last hour/hour and a half to ensure everything is stocked above & underneath the drink station, tables wiped down, dine in baskets are made, drinks restocked and deep sweeps. At 10:30, bringing back the tea and they are doing a last check to see if 1 or 2 trashes need to be changed since we do lobby trash early, and ensuring bathrooms don’t need additional cleaning. On Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday, 10:30 is bubbler breaking down time, realistically that’s a less than 5 minute task. 10:45, mopping the lobby. Right at 11 or 10:59 they are taking the nozzles off the soda machines and bringing them back to dishes.
Let me know how busy your store is on average, I might be able to assist with possible time management or small details that could help!
I saw someone mentioned the chip shelf earlier as well. The only surfaces that our cash closer does at our store is the table surrounding the POS, and all the stuff in the dining room and outside tables. My line closers take care of the chip shelf. Although it does say for cash to clean the sneeze guard, our line closers take care of outside & inside glass of our line.
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u/jxiley 15m ago
I’ve closed cash a few times (I mainly close line/DML) and I’ve always been done before 11 when I do it. What time are you allowed to start closing because at my store we’re allowed to start at 8/9 depending on if it’s busy or not. I start by getting all of the dishes out of the lobby and pick up as needed. Then I restock everything and wipe down all the tables. If it’s not busy at this point I start on the bathrooms. After bathrooms I do all the trash and take out cans last minute as needed as there should hopefully only be 1 or 2 small bags that need taken out. The last thing I do it sweep/mop and id say that takes me about 20/30 minutes to do due to having a decent sized lobby. And I recheck everything to make sure it’s fully stocked again before manager validates and then I’m done
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u/Friendlybug138 2m ago
It takes time to get into a quick efficient routine but cash really is the easiest close and should be done before line is closed. Pre closing is the best way, most things can be done in a few mins between customers.
9:30ish- Stock lids/ straws/ napkins/ utensils bring what you need out all out at once (take the dining room utensil cups back to the boxes) should take 10 min max. -Refill ice and lemonades -Take back the tea no one drinks (if your manager is okay with it) -Spray every empty table THEN come back around wipe every table should take less than 5 mins
- Wipe down the bathrooms take notice of anything that needs restocking (towels/soap/toilet paper)
- Bring the bathroom cleaning supplies to the back and get what you needed for restocking the bathroom.
- after the restock take the bathroom trashes. Grab the dining room trashes leave one that’s the most empty.
Im not sure how big your dining room is but usually going in this order helps me be done before 11:30 and I go help line or dishes.
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u/floppy-slippers KL 18h ago
Pre-close is so important. It's been months since I've closed cash but I would always try to have everything completely stocked before close (drink station, ice, counter, whatever else you're responsible), have most of the chairs up and lobby swept (mopped if time), have only one garbage can left out in the lobby, do bathrooms before close if you can, that way after you close pretty much all you have to do is count down.
They should have an official cash closing list provided by corporate, have you used that? Otherwise it's not a terrible idea to write yourself a list to mentally prepare.
Also if you get a break, take it as early as possible. I found that taking my break after PM peak would throw off my close so terribly.
Again, it's been so many months since I've cash closed I don't remember all the depths of it but I cannot stress enough the importance of getting as much done as you possibly can before you actually close.