Chapter 4 · Day-to-Day Checklist
A concrete, reusable routine — opening, through-shift, and closing. Print it, laminate it, and hand it to anyone (including your first hire).
Learning objectives
- Have a repeatable daily routine you can follow even when tired.
- Know the weekly and monthly cycles to keep machines profitable.
- Hand a simple checklist to anyone without a long training ramp.
Opening routine (about 15–30 min)
- ☐ Turn on lights, flip the OPEN sign, unlock.
- ☐ Scan cameras / walk the shop — any mess, hazard, or machine issue?
- ☐ Check every machine is on and the claw works (test 1 play).
- ☐ Verify prize levels — restock any machine that looks thin now, before traffic hits.
- ☐ Confirm cashless/card readers are online and accepting payments on each machine.
- ☐ Empty/verify machine coin boxes if needed (log amounts).
- ☐ Clean the glass/windows & wipe fronts where traffic will be.
- ☐ Tidy the floor, clear any wires/hazards.
- ☐ Set up the "star" prize display to face the street/door.
Through-shift (every couple hours)
- ☐ Glance at cameras / walk-through — crowded machines, empty ones, any issue.
- ☐ Restock as machines get low (don't let them look bare).
- ☐ Fix simple jams (a claw full of prizes, a stuck claw) on the spot.
- ☐ Reset any stuck cashless/coin reader.
- ☐ Keep the front of machines clean during peak (fingerprints, etc.).
- ☐ Greet players; celebrate visible wins (good for atmosphere & repeat traffic).
- ☐ Watch for a dead machine — a down unit loses money; mark it and fix or post "out of order."
Closing routine (about 15–30 min)
- ☐ Count/collect machine cash (two eyes if possible) and log it.
- ☐ Reconcile the day's revenue (cash + card/QR reports).
- ☐ Bank cash or secure it in the lockbox/vault — don't leave piles of cash in machines overnight.
- ☐ Restock the top machines so tomorrow's opening is faster.
- ☐ Turn off or secure machines per your power policy (some stay on; be code-safe).
- ☐ Turn off lights, flip sign, lock up, arm alarm.
- ☐ Do a final camera sweep before you leave.
Weekly (pick a light day — often mid-week)
- ☐ Full cash reconciliation for the week; log all revenue.
- ☐ Deep-restock and re-arrange prizes; rotate a few machines to look fresh.
- ☐ Full machine service pass — check claws, string, joints, sensors (Vol 4 · ch 6).
- ☐ Review play counts / revenue per machine — spot slow or hot units.
- ☐ Adjust win rates down on hot machines / up on cold ones (Vol 1 · ch 3).
- ☐ Order prizes to replenish what was won (Vol 4 · ch 5).
- ☐ Update social media with wins / new prizes.
- ☐ Check the Google/Apple listing is accurate; nudge happy customers to review.
Monthly
- ☐ Review monthly revenue vs expenses vs budget (Vol 6).
- ☐ Set aside money for taxes (Vol 6 · ch 4).
- ☐ Deep-inspect every machine for wear; schedule repairs.
- ☐ Evaluate which machines/prizes are profitable — cut or rework losers.
- ☐ Plan next month's promotions/events (Vol 5 · ch 3).
Turn this into a printed sheet on your counter. A checklist turns "what am I forgetting?" into "just follow the list." This is exactly what you'll hand your first part-timer — clear, no-training-required expectations.
Summary
A low-touch shop stays healthy with a simple rhythm: a 15–30 min opening, hourly cameras/restock through the shift, a clean close with cash secured, and a weekly/monthly cycle for prizes, win-rate tuning, and financial review. None of it is hard — it's just consistent. That consistency is what makes the "low employee count" model work.
Checklist takeaways
- ☐ Print and laminate this page for the counter.
- ☐ Keep a cash log and reconcile daily/weekly.
- ☐ Restock before a machine looks bare, not after.
- ☐ Keep a service rhythm so machines don't die silently.
- ☐ Review revenue and win rates monthly.
Looking ahead
Now the shop runs. Volume 6 makes sure the money is tracked right and taxes get paid — so all this work builds wealth instead of surprises.