It says I cannot take a payment because no shift is open
Open your shift first — the dashboard shows a badge when none is running. It exists so every rupee taken belongs to somebody's till.
Open Shift / Day Close and start a shift with the cash you are beginning with. Take payments as normal, then close it at handover and count.
Why the system insists
Without a shift, money taken at 2am and money taken at 2pm land in one undifferentiated pile, and a short drawer cannot be traced to anybody. Closing at handover — not at midnight — is what ties the money to the person who took it.
Still not sure? Ask us the exact question about your property and we will answer it.