Bill customers at your counter

What the counter screen is for

Counter billing is where you bill customers who walk into your shop. It sells from the same stock as your website, so one stock count stays right for both.

It runs in the browser on a phone, tablet or PC. On a PC you can work fully from the keyboard with a barcode scanner. On a phone or tablet you tap item tiles or scan with the camera.

Three things must be true before you can bill here:

• Your plan includes counter billing. Every paid plan does.
• The switch Counter billing (POS) is on in Settings → Counter billing.
• Your role has the Bill at the counter permission. Owners and Managers have it. The Cashier role has it too, but not discounts, returns, closing the day or cancelling bills — add those in Settings → Roles & permissions if you want a cashier to do them.
• Other useful buttons on the counter: Customer display (shows the bill and a UPI QR to the customer on a second screen), Install the billing app (opens straight to billing, full screen) and Save as estimate (a quotation you can bill later).

Make your first counter bill in 5 steps

1. 1

   Open the till (once a day)

   Top bar of the counter

   Tap Open till, count the cash in the drawer and type it, for example ₹2,000. Now the day's cash count can be checked when you close.

   This is optional. You can bill without opening a till, but then cash refunds and Close day are not available.

2. 2

   Scan or search the item

   Search box: Scan, or type a name / code

   /

   Press / to jump to the search box. Scan the barcode, or type a few letters of the name or the code, and press Enter to add the top result.

   To add 3 at once, type 3* before the code (for example 3*8901234). Use + and - to change the quantity of the selected line, and Delete to remove it.

3. 3

   Add the customer (if needed)

   Walk-in customer → Add customer

   F7

   Press F7 and type the customer's phone number, then Find. A known customer shows their points, store credit and Udhaar left. A new number can be saved with a name.

   Skip this for a walk-in sale. You need a customer only for udhaar, store credit, points, or when your store asks for a phone on every bill.

4. 4

   Take the payment

   Pay panel

   F2

   Press F2 (or tap Pay ₹…). Your default payment is picked — Cash, unless you changed it in settings. Type what the customer handed over, or tap a quick note like ₹500, and Change to return shows in big numbers.

   Customer paid the exact amount in cash? Press F4 instead — it finishes the bill in one key.

5. 5

   Finish, then print or send

   Pay panel → Finish bill

   F9

   Press F2 again (or Finish bill). The screen shows Bill … done. Press F9 to print, or tap Send bill to share it on WhatsApp.

   Press N (or Esc) for the next customer. F10 finishes and starts a new bill in one go.

Keyboard shortcuts

Hold Alt (Option on a Mac) to see the key on every button. Press F1, or ? when the search box is empty, to open this list on the counter. On a Mac use Cmd where it says Ctrl.

Payments, udhaar and discounts

The Pay panel has four ways to pay. Alt+1 picks Cash, Alt+2 UPI, Alt+3 Card and Alt+4 Udhaar (credit). To collect shows what is still due.

• Cash: type the amount handed over or tap a quick note (₹100, ₹200, ₹500, ₹2000 by default). If the bill is ₹347 and the customer gives ₹500, Change to return shows ₹153. Only cash can give change.
• UPI: if you saved your UPI ID in Settings → Payments, a QR for the exact amount shows on the screen. Check the money reached your UPI app before you finish. You can type the UPI reference (optional).
• Card: use your own card machine, then pick Card. You can type the card slip number (optional).
• Udhaar: the customer takes the goods now and pays later. Add the customer first (F7) — a walk-in can't take udhaar. The customer needs a credit limit on their page in Customers, and Offer business credit must be on (Settings → Advanced settings). The screen shows Udhaar left; a bill above it is refused.
• Split payment: tap Split payment to add a second payment, for example ₹500 cash and the rest on UPI. Each line shows The rest: ₹… so you know what is left.
• Exact cash: F4 (or the Cash button beside Pay) finishes the bill as paid in exact cash.
• Discounts: F8 gives a discount on the whole bill, Shift+F8 a discount or a new price on the selected line. You need the Give counter discounts permission. The most a person can take off is set in Settings → Counter billing (Largest counter discount, and Largest discount a cashier can give). Each discount is saved on the bill with your name.
• Coupons, reward points and store credit are on the bill's totals: type a Coupon code, or tap Use … points / Use store credit for a known customer.

Hold a bill and come back to it

Serving two customers at once? Press F5 (Hold bill) to keep the current bill aside and start a fresh one. Nothing is billed and no stock is taken while a bill is on hold.

Press F6 (Held bills) to see them, with the total, item count and customer. Tap Resume to bring one back and finish it, or Discard to throw it away.

Ctrl+R bills the last bill's items again — handy for a regular who buys the same things. If a bill was open, it is put on hold first.

Held bills stay on this device Held bills are kept in this browser only, up to 20. A 21st pushes out the oldest one, and clearing the browser's data removes them all. Another counter can't see them. Finish or discard held bills before the end of the day.

Returns, refunds and exchanges

1. 1

   Find the bill

   Counter top bar → Returns

   Type the bill number, or tap Scan receipt QR and show the QR printed on the bill. Recent bills are listed below, so you can also just tap one.

   You need the Counter returns & refunds permission. Website orders can be taken back only if Take back online orders at the counter is on in Settings → Counter billing, and only once delivered.

2. 2

   Pick what is coming back

   What's coming back?

   Use One less / One more or All for each line. Pick a Reason, like Damaged or Size or fit.

   Leave Put back on stock on for pieces you will sell again. Turn it off for damaged pieces.

3. 3

   Choose money back or exchange

   What does the customer want?

   Money back refunds the value. Exchange lets you add the new pieces; the screen shows whether the customer pays more or gets some back.

   • Cash — needs an open till, so the drawer count stays right.
   • UPI or Card — Slaby records it; you send the money back yourself.
   • Store credit — for a known customer, when store credit is switched on.
   • Reduce udhaar — only on a bill that was on udhaar, up to what is still owed on it.
4. 4

   Confirm and give the money

   Review & confirm

   Check the summary and tap Confirm. Hand over the money only after you see Return saved — a saved return can't be undone.

   A credit note number is issued. Tap Print credit note, or send it on WhatsApp.

When the internet drops

Turn on Keep billing when the internet drops in Settings → Counter billing. It is off until you switch it on. With it on, the counter keeps billing without internet and sends the bills when the line is back.

When the connection drops, the top bar shows Offline and a banner says bills are saved on this device. The customer gets a provisional bill with a temporary number; it gets its final bill number when it syncs.

• Works offline: search, scanning, quantities, cash with change, and UPI (check the payment on your phone first).
• Needs the internet: card, udhaar, coupons, reward points, store credit, customer lookup and switching cashier.
• Totals on an offline bill are an estimate. GST and offers are worked out when it syncs.
• The queue bar shows N bills waiting to sync. They go by themselves; tap Sync now to send them at once.
• If the server refuses a saved bill — say the last piece sold online meanwhile — it moves to Needs attention. Tap Review, then Retry, Edit & send again, or Close with note. A bill is never billed twice.
• With the switch off, a bill made without internet is not sent. It stays on screen with Retry; tap it when you're back online. It will never be billed twice.

Get each device ready while online Open counter billing once on every billing device while the internet works, in a normal browser window. A private window can't keep bills on the device, and the screen tells you if that is the case.

Print or send the bill

1. 1

   Pick your paper size

   Settings → Counter billing → Bills & receipts

   Set Receipt paper to 58 mm thermal, 80 mm thermal (the default) or A4 sheet. A4 prints the full GST invoice.

   Add a Receipt footer, such as your exchange policy. Leave it empty for a simple thank-you line.

2. 2

   Print with the print window (works with any printer)

   After a bill → Print

   F9

   Press F9 or tap Print. The browser's print window opens. Choose your printer; for a thermal printer set margins to None and scale to 100%.

   Choose Save as PDF in the same window to keep a soft copy.

3. 3

   Or connect the printer directly (faster, no print window)

   Counter top bar → This device (sliders button) → Printer → Set up

   Under How bills print, pick USB printer (serial), USB printer (direct), Bluetooth printer or Network printer (bridge). Tap Connect printer and choose your printer from the list the browser shows.

   This needs Chrome or Edge on a computer, or Chrome on Android. The setting is saved in this browser only, so do it on each billing device.

   On iPhone and iPad the browser can't talk to a printer directly. Keep Print window (any printer) there.

4. 4

   Set the options and print a test page

   Printer settings

   Set Paper width (58 or 80 mm) and Copies. Turn on Cut the paper if the printer has a cutter, Open cash drawer if the drawer plugs into the printer, and Print automatically to print each bill as soon as it is finished.

   Tap Print test page. It prints a Hindi line and a QR code, so you can check both come out right. If long bills come out cut off on Bluetooth, open Advanced and pick a smaller Bluetooth packet size.

5. 5

   Send the bill or print it again

   After a bill

   CtrlP

   Tap Send bill for a secure link that opens without a login: WhatsApp it to the customer's number or Copy link. The link keeps working for 365 days by default (Shared bill link works for, in settings).

   F9 or Ctrl+P prints the last bill again. For an older bill, open Recent bills or press Ctrl+K and type the bill number. A reprint never opens the cash drawer.

   If the direct printer fails, the screen says why, opens the print window instead, and offers Try printer again.

One counter, many cashiers (cashier PIN)

1. 1

   Switch it on and set PINs

   Settings → Counter billing → Shared counter

   Turn on Shared counter (quick cashier switch). Each person who will bill sets their own counter PIN in Settings → Sign-in security → Counter PIN, using their password. A PIN is 4 to 6 digits; 1111 or 1234 are not allowed.

   The PIN works only on a shared counter, never to sign in.

2. 2

   Start the shared counter

   Counter top bar → Shared counter

   An Owner or Manager signs in on the billing device and taps Shared counter → Start shared counter. They need their own counter PIN for this.

   Settings, reports and the team stay closed on this device while it is shared.

3. 3

   Each cashier unlocks with their PIN

   Who's billing?

   The cashier taps their name and types their PIN, then Enter. The top bar shows Billing as … and every bill is saved under that person.

   Only staff with a counter PIN and the Bill at the counter permission are listed.

4. 4

   Switch cashier

   Counter top bar → Switch cashier

   CtrlShiftL

   Tap Switch cashier or press Ctrl+Shift+L to lock the screen for the next person. A bill in progress is kept for whoever unlocks next — handy when a manager steps in for a discount.

   To lock by itself, set Lock the shared counter after (minutes) in settings. 0 means it locks only when someone taps Switch cashier.

   Switching cashier needs the internet. Too many wrong PINs lock that PIN for a few minutes; the owner can reset it in Settings → Team → Reset PIN.

5. 5

   Leave shared mode

   Lock screen → Leave shared counter

   Only the person who started the shared counter can leave it, with their own PIN. The device then goes back to their full account.

The till and closing the day

The till is the cash drawer for one shop location, from Open till in the morning to Close day at night. Devices billing at the same location share it.

• Open till: count the drawer and type the opening cash. Anyone who can bill can open it.
• Cash in / out: money that is not a sale, like ₹50 for tea or ₹5,000 deposited in the bank. Pick Put in or Taken out and what it was for (Shop expense, Owner took, Add change, Bank deposit, Other). Needs the Cash in / cash out permission.
• Udhaar paid in cash from the Udhaar page is added to the open till by itself.
• Close day: count the cash and type the total. You see Expected cash, Counted cash and the Difference. Once closed, that count can't be changed. Needs the Close the day permission.
• Day book (F12): the day's bills, payments by cash, UPI and card, the cash drawer, GST collected, returns, sales by cashier, top items and cancelled bills. Use Previous day / Next day and Print. Needs Close the day or View orders.

Cancel or edit a bill

Open Recent bills on the counter (the last 20 bills on this device), or the bill in Orders, and use Cancel bill or Edit bill.

• Cancel bill: pick a reason, like Wrong items or quantity. The items go back on stock and the payment is reversed. Needs the Cancel counter bills permission.
• A bill from today, in the same month, is cancelled outright and leaves your GST sales; its number stays in your series marked cancelled. Give the cash back from the till; refund UPI or card yourself. You can widen this to a few days with Cancel bills outright for.
• An older bill may already be in a filed GST return, so it is reversed with a credit note dated today instead.
• Edit bill: works only if Edit a bill within is more than 0 minutes in Settings → Counter billing (it is 0, off, by default). The bill opens at today's prices; change it and take payment again. The old bill is cancelled and a new bill number is issued.
• A cashier may edit their own bill. Editing someone else's bill needs Cancel counter bills.

What the labels on the counter mean

Round off

The small amount added or taken off so the customer pays a whole rupee. It shows only if Round off counter bills is set in Settings → Counter billing.e.g. Bill ₹347.60, set to the nearest whole amount: Round off +₹0.40, customer pays ₹348.

Held bills

Bills you put aside with Hold bill (F5). They are not billed yet and live on this device only.e.g. 2 held bills — press F6 and tap Resume on the one the customer came back for.

Offline

This device has lost the internet. With offline billing on, cash and UPI bills are saved here and sent later.e.g. Offline, then 3 bills waiting to sync — they go by themselves when the line is back.

Udhaar left

How much more this customer can buy on udhaar: their credit limit minus what they already owe.e.g. Limit ₹5,000, owes ₹3,800 → Udhaar left ₹1,200. A ₹1,500 udhaar bill is refused.

To collect

What the customer still has to pay on this bill, after discounts, points, store credit and round off.e.g. To collect ₹348.

Change to return

Cash to hand back when the customer gives more than the bill.e.g. Bill ₹348, given ₹500 → Change to return ₹152.

Short by

The payments you entered don't cover the bill yet. Add a payment or raise the amount.e.g. ₹200 cash on a ₹348 bill → Short by ₹148. Add ₹148 on UPI with Split payment.

Cash

The button beside Pay (also F4). It finishes the bill as paid in exact cash, with no change.e.g. Customer gives exactly ₹120 for a ₹120 bill — press F4.

Needs attention

Offline bills the server didn't accept. The customer already paid, so each one waits for you to fix it.e.g. The last piece sold online meanwhile: Edit & send again without it, or Close with note.

Day book

The day's summary: sales, payments, the cash drawer, GST and returns. F12 opens it.e.g. Close day shows Expected cash ₹8,450, Counted cash ₹8,400 → Difference −₹50.

Read next

• Keyboard shortcuts for fast billingThe fastest key sequences and search-box tricks.
• Offline billingHow bills sync and what happens to conflicts.
• Udhaar book with WhatsApp remindersCredit limits, due dates, part payments and reminders.
• Barcode billing and label printingScanners, barcode labels and thermal printers.
• GST billing with B2B invoicesGSTIN, CGST + SGST or IGST, invoice designs.
• Estimates and quotationsGive a quotation and turn it into a bill later.
• StockAdd items, barcodes and stock counts the counter bills from.
• Tax and invoicingYour GSTIN, GST rates and invoices.
• Team and rolesGive staff the counter permissions they need.

Common questions

My printer isn't printing. What do I check?

With the print window, pick the right printer and set margins to None and scale to 100%. With a direct printer, open This device → Printer, check it says Connected and tap Print test page; if it says the printer didn't respond, check it is on and has paper.

Can I print to a Bluetooth thermal printer?

Yes, in Chrome on Android or on a computer: This device → Printer → Set up → Bluetooth printer → Connect printer, and pick it once. On an iPhone or iPad, use Print window (any printer) instead.

I made a wrong bill. How do I fix it?

Open Recent bills and tap Cancel bill with a reason; today's bill is cancelled and its stock goes back. If your store has turned on Edit a bill within, tap Edit bill to change it and issue a new number.

The customer will pay later. How do I give udhaar?

Give the customer a credit limit on their page in Customers, add them to the bill with F7 and pick Udhaar (Alt+4). When they pay, open Udhaar → the customer → Receive payment; it clears their oldest bills first.

Why does my bill show a Round off line?

Your store has Round off counter bills set to the nearest or a lower whole amount, so the payable is a whole rupee. Set it to Don't round in Settings → Counter billing to bill exact paise.

Is GST on the counter bill? Can I make a B2B invoice?

Yes. GST is worked out from each item's rate, and when GST applies the receipt is titled TAX INVOICE with a GST summary. For a business buyer, tap GST invoice (B2B) on the bill and type their 15-character GSTIN.

Can I bill when the internet is down?

Yes, if Keep billing when the internet drops is on in Settings → Counter billing. Cash and UPI bills are saved on the device and sent when the line is back, never twice.

Can two counters bill at the same time?

Yes. Open counter billing on each device. Each device keeps its own held bills, recent bills and printer setup; devices at the same shop location share one till.

Which barcode scanner works?

Most USB or Bluetooth scanners that type the code like a keyboard work with no setup — just scan on the billing screen. On a phone, tap Scan to use the camera. An unknown code shows No item with code …, and F3 lets you add it as a new item if you can edit products.

It says Not enough stock at the counter, but the item is on my shelf.

The stock count in Slaby is lower than what you have. Correct it on the Stock page. If you want to bill anyway and fix counts later, turn on Sell more than the stock shows in Settings → Counter billing.

Can I stop a cashier from giving big discounts?

Yes. Only roles with Give counter discounts can discount at all. Largest discount a cashier can give in Settings → Counter billing caps staff who can't close the day; owners and managers keep the store-wide Largest counter discount.

How are counter bills numbered?

By default they continue your website order numbers. In Settings → Counter billing → Counter bill numbers you can give them their own series with a prefix, like S-00001.