FIRST: Make sure the subtraction on the back of the gift certificate is correct before you start the sale. If you are the first business that the customer has visited then the back of the certificate will be blank. Make sure you are working with the correct total, or the base amount that is on the front of the certificate.

SECOND: ALWAYS USE INK. Record the amount of the sale on the back of the Gift Certificate, (in the amount of purchase space) and subtract that amount from the previous balance (if any) and enter the new certificate balance that remains.

THIRD: Fill out the bottom stub attached to the Gift Certificate, detach it, and retain it, and your sale is complete. Return the stub you retained to the Chamber with some sort of proof of purchase for your payment.

FOURTH: If there is a balance left on the certificate, return it to the customer so they may continue spending it in other authorized businesses.

FIFTH: If the entire amount of the certificate is spent in your business or if the remainder of a certificate is completely spent in your business, retain the entire certificate including all the remaining stubs and return it to the Chamber for your payment. The proof of purchase is necessary to process the certificates quicker and provides a paper trail in case a business has any questions pertaining to a Gift Certificate payment.