I counted the market cash at the kitchen table with a chipped mug keeping the notes from sliding. The chipped mug was mine. The ones I sold were better.
My name is Nadia. I sell pottery at weekend markets and put what I can toward a home. That Saturday's cash sales totalled $120. I recorded them before packing the stall away.
On Monday I deposited the same $120. My bank import offered to label it "sales." I almost agreed.
One sale, two movements
The customer payment was the sale. The later bank deposit moved money from the cash tin to the account. Recording both as revenue would turn $120 into $240 without another mug leaving the shelf.
CRA requires business-income records to identify the date, amount and source, supported by documents. Cash belongs in those records just like other payment methods. CRA's business-income guidance.
My working trail became: sales record, numbered customer receipts, cash count, deposit slip, bank entry. I treated the deposit as a transfer of money already recorded. This example leaves sales tax out; registered businesses also track the tax collected separately.
Count the opening float too
The $40 of change I brought to the stall wasn't income. Neither was money I added from my personal wallet to break a large note. I recorded the opening float and any additions separately, then compared the cash remaining with sales and legitimate cash payments.
For this simplest day, $40 opening float plus $120 sales left $160 in the tin. Depositing $120 left the original $40 ready for next time.
I kept the market totals beside the HST threshold worksheet. Small cash sales still belong in the relevant sales totals.
The next Monday's bank import was much less exciting. I matched the deposit, closed the laptop and washed the chipped mug.
Canadian reporting guidance checked October 20, 2026.
