Employees started work at around age 10, working as apprentice ("decchi" in Osaka area and "kozo" in Edo area) and running errands and minor duties and eventually working their way up to "tedai" (clerk) or the banto (head clerk).
10歳前後で商店に丁稚（上方ことば）・小僧（江戸ことば）として住み込んで使い走りや雑役に従事し、手代を経て番頭となる。