Opening and Closing Your Dispensary: A Complete SOP

Why Written SOPs Matter More Than You Think

Every experienced dispensary manager has a version of this process in their head. The problem is that it lives in their head, which means when they call in sick, the assistant manager does it differently, and two months later you have four versions of "how we do things here."

Written SOPs accomplish two things: they make training faster, and they make variance visible. When you have a written procedure, you can compare what happened to what should have happened. That is how you improve.

Opening Checklist

This assumes a POS with electronic cash drawers. Adjust for your setup. The 15 minutes before open are as important as the first hour of operation.

• Verify alarm deactivated and building ready for operation
• Walk the floor: check product displays, signage, and any overnight issues
• Count and verify the cash float for each drawer against the documented standard float amount
• Log in to both POS and METRC — verify both show correct on-hand quantities
• Confirm today's specials and any pricing changes are live in the POS
• Review the manager's handoff note from last close
• At open: brief the team on specials, notes from close, and expected deliveries

Closing Checklist

The close is where most process failures happen — the rush to finish, the late customer who walked in at 9:58, the staff who have somewhere to be. Build the close checklist so it cannot be shortcut.

• Notify customers of closing time at 30 and 15 minutes out — no new check-ins after cutoff
• Process last transactions and close all POS sessions for each register
• Count each drawer: current balance should equal float plus shift sales minus any paid-out amounts
• Log any variances immediately — do not wait until tomorrow
• Verify METRC sync completed (automatic) or submit manual sync
• Secure product: return display inventory to vault or secured storage
• Complete the close log, write the manager handoff note, set alarm, lock up

How to Handle Cash Variances at Close

Cash variances happen. How you handle them shapes your team culture more than almost anything else.

• Under $5: log it, watch for patterns, but do not make it a performance issue for a single incident
• $5-$20: log it, review the shift's transaction history, note who was on the drawer; if it happens twice, review camera footage
• Over $20: treat as a formal discrepancy — document, review footage, escalate per your HR policy

The Manager Handoff Note

Every close should produce a brief handoff note for the opening manager. Cover: any METRC issues, cash variances, inventory discrepancies, equipment issues, and anything the opening team needs to know about tomorrow (deliveries, staffing, events, promotions).

This note takes three minutes to write. Over a year, it creates a searchable record of your store's operational history that is invaluable for audits, performance reviews, and training new managers.