Market Stall Change Planner

Test a starting cash float in three steps

1. Count the bills and coins you plan to bring.
2. Enter a few final purchase totals and the cash each customer might hand you, in order.
3. Test the purchases. Review the change returned and the cash after each completed purchase. Edit and test again to explore another example.

Why the mix of bills and coins matters

$100 as one $100 bill cannot provide $13 change for a $7 purchase paid with $20. Neither can $100 as twenty $5 bills. But $100 as ten $5 bills plus fifty $1 bills can give $10 + $3, returning two $5 bills and three $1 bills. Total cash value alone does not tell you whether exact change is available.

Earlier payments can help later purchases

The example starts with ten $1 bills and two $5 bills: $20. For a $7 purchase paid with $10, return three $1 bills; cash becomes $27. For a $6 purchase paid with $20, return the earlier customer’s $10 plus four $1 bills; cash becomes $33. For an $8 purchase paid with $10, return two $1 bills. Cash after these examples is $41: one $20, one $10, two $5 bills and one $1 bill. The $21 increase equals the completed purchase totals.

How change is selected

The planner favors larger bills and coins when the rest of the change can still be made exactly. It uses cash received in the current purchase as well as earlier purchases. It does not plan ahead to save particular bills or coins for later customers.

For 30¢ change, a quarter and three dimes without a nickel cannot use the quarter: the remaining 5¢ would be unavailable. The planner returns three dimes. If a nickel is also available, it selects the quarter and nickel. These choices can affect a later purchase; the planner does not revisit earlier choices or search alternative paths through the sequence.

What a successful test means

A pass means these entered purchases completed under this policy. It does not forecast demand or guarantee enough change for a whole event. Cash after the examples is neither profit nor a measure of remaining change capacity. A stopped purchase adds no cash and gives no partial change; later purchases are not tested. Edit the inputs and run again from the original starting cash.

Frequently asked questions

How much change should I bring to a craft fair?

This tool does not calculate a guaranteed starting amount. Enter the cash mix you plan to bring and test a few example purchases; the results apply only to those examples.

Can I use it for a farmers market or bake sale?

Yes, for sample US-dollar cash purchases using the listed bills and coins.

Does it include pennies?

Yes. If you have none, leave the penny count at zero. It does not round prices or change; enter the final amount you actually charge.

Can I enter several bills or coins from one customer?

Yes. Enter the count of each under that purchase; the payment total is calculated for you.

Does money from customers become available?

Yes. The current payment is available for its own change calculation and, after success, later purchases. Failed purchases add nothing.

Why can a purchase fail when there is plenty of cash?

The available bills and coins may not form the exact change due. Total cash value alone cannot answer that question.

Could a different choice of change work better later?

Yes. The planner follows one fixed rule and does not revisit earlier choices or optimize the entire sequence.

Are my figures saved?

The calculator processes them in the browser and has no project-saving feature. Copy or print results if you want to keep them; see the shared Privacy page for site analytics details.