AIBU to put up a sign encouraging customers to pay in cash?

I would not put up a sign like that. Do what most businesses do and hike your prices a bit to cover the loss. A sign like that indicates you’re in financial trouble.

I go via the cash point to my beautician and my local greasy spoon - it does the best breakfast.

I do this because they have signs saying cash preferred. And I want them to stay in business, so I do what I can to help them thrive. Saying that, I can do this, as they are close to cash points.

Well done on the super fast growth @Theydidnt

I prefer to use my card via apple wallet mostly these days - a lot more secure. I have chosen to use a chiropractor who takes cash only and its an annoying trek for me to have to get cash out for him when everyone else I use including the car wash guy takes card payments. I hope he cures my pain eventually, that's the only reason I'm sticking with him and there are no other local chiros around.

Was it a nail bar? I’ve swerved a local nail bar for this exact reason and gone to one that accepts card payments. It might be perfectly legit but as you say - it’s a sector that’s notorious for it and asking for cash is supposedly a red flag.

Not if they are paying suppliers, knife sharpening and other people in cash then no need to bank it

If you were employed and your employer says you can have £13ph but actually we’re going to knock a small percentage off so you won’t get the full £13 would it not annoy you?Obviously when running a business these fees have to be factored in and they need to be paid because not all payments are going to be cash no matter how cute a sign is but it’s still annoying earning money and giving some away

I run a small business also. You need to shop around if your card fees are high. Is it really a viable business if card fees make a difference?

I think it's very off-putting for customers to be told you prefer cash. I'd assume you want me to trek off to an ATM so you can dodge declaring income and pay less tax. I'd buy elsewhere as I've no interest in supporting the black economy.

You do know it is legal to pay employees in cash

I used to make an effort to have cash to buy a coffee from the little independent kiosk at my local station but then I overheard someone asking what they preferred and they said card. Apparently it cost them more to bank the cash than the card fee.

I wouldn't assume tax dodge but I rarely carry cash so would probably go elsewhere even though you accept card payments.

I remember many businesses only accepting card payment over a certain amount although that seemed to mostly stop when covid started.

If it's doing so well, why do you care about card fees?

Some older people still prefer cash.
One bistro I go to is card only. Recently an elderly couple came in, obviously didn't see the sign, sat down, ordered some food, were asked for a card payment, they didn't own either a dc or a cc...they had to leave.

Whats the point in that, the business then ends up loosing X % anyway

I don't think I'd put up a sign saying 'Cash is king' because it looks dodgy. I'd assume some sales were not being declared.

The initial note you had is quite long but explaining about the credit card fees is something I have seen quite a few times and it definitely wouldn't put me off.

Neither sign would make me pay in cash though as I don't tend to carry it these days. I'd hazard a guess most people who pay in cash these days are self employed or kids.

I suppose people might like to ponder on why there are these charges from banks for card payments for businesses. Seems like they have businesses over a barrel.

Seeing as we have no choice to use banks, I think it should be free. We cant carry our money around in wooden chests any more, we're forced to use banks

You are not being unreasonable to say cash payments are preferred, but I would think you would lose business if you tried to enforce cash only (which you haven't said that you will).

If encouraging cash payment you need to make sure you have a decent float to pay the correct change.

Our local chippy posted on Facebook explaining how much they had to pay in bank charges, and asked if people could pay by cash if possible. There is also a small sign by the till to say something along the lines of card accepted but cash preferred. ( They have since had a cash point put in- not just for customers, for anyone to use. There is a cashpoint not far away, but if I needed to use one, I would prefer the one inside the chippy, to the one in the wall outside the local supermarket).

I wouldn't take offence at it. If I had the cash available I would pay that way. I would prefer that to being told i could only use one payment method.

Different businesses will have different things that work for them. At a guess some prefer cash due to bank charges. Others may prefer card because they don't want to have to go to the bank with cash, no risk of fake notes, no mistakes in change, could be easier for accounting purposes.

I think I would change the wording a bit to something like-

As a small business we are charged by the bank for every card transaction. These charges add up each month.

If you are able to please consider paying by cash.

If you are not able to then card payment or bank transfer are also accepted.

What sort of sums are we talking about people generally paying? I think that is relevant when thinking about cash or card

My son's Barbers has a similar sign and I always make an effort to pay cash. It never crossed my mind it was a tax scam I don't know why people always assume cash means tax isn't paid. Do they think that any shop where someone pays cash they doesn't go through the books, only card transactions do 😆

Sorry but I can’t be arsed with cash OP, I only have my phone with me when I go to a shop or etc these days. Put your PA sign up but it will be a case of “big mistake, huge” for me.

I think many who have worked dealing with the general public would agrre with that statement.

YANBU

I see these signs in shops everywhere and it doesnt cross my mind its about tax or unprofessional.

I never ever ever have any cash, I dont use it, so I use cards all the time.

My guess is that that would result in lost business, especially if there are no cash machines near the shop.