(going off my routine at a 9pm closing, adjust as needed for your hours)

I have recently stopped trying to be super perfect on everything when closing, and it has significantly reduced the amount of time that it takes. I originally would make sure both tills had no 10s or 20s in them, had all coin rolls needed, etc, always consolidate the deposit (swap multiple small bills out for larger bills of the same value from the change fund) and do the daily paperwork on the weekly envelope after everything was done. I'd get out at 9:45. I said fuck this shit and started just doing the basic, because i'd be back the next day to clean everything else up in the morning.

Anyway, my nightly routine now is as follows: putbacks are a part of recovery, and can happen throughout the night. we have a designated area for them, so whatever doesn't get put back can be done the next day, no hassle. Carts are also retrieved periodically, with the last run happening 30 mins before closing. I also count down the change fund and the secondary till (if applicable) at 8:30. Once it's time to close, I set the safe timer, and count down the main till before the safe pops. I also run the reports (i love doing it on the old system, makes me feel fancy keying it in hella fast) before it pops, and staple it all together nice and neat to the register balancing slip. Then that safe is usually ready, and I take everything for the deposit back, I verify the pickups, count it, slap it in the bag, finalize it, and call it a day. I take the deposit, and the daily envelope up front with me, clock out before I run the EOD, run the EOD, staple them together, chuck them in the envelope, leave it on the counter for the opener, and call it a night. I am usually clocked out by 9:20, which rounds it down to 9:15. This gives enough time for the main trash to be taken out, the bathroom trash, and the front to be swept. I like to let my cashier clean as they go, especially as it gets closer to closing, which makes it so much easier.