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

Great that your business is doing so well that you have the luxury to pick and choose customers!

Explain how she is dodging tax and promoting that “fact” because you’re talking utter bullshit.

Keeping 100% doesn’t mean no tax is paid. It means no fees are paid. She doesn’t actually keep 100% of it. You realise that at least half of that is actually covering the cost of the item being sold, then there are business overheads, then there is tax. But she keeps 100% of what you pay to be able to use it towards all those business fees which cannot be avoided, rather than also pay an extra fee in card charges before getting to any of that.

I’m self employed. I take cash, card and bank transfer. It all gets reported. And thank goodness because during Covid, it meant I got a self employed grant based on the full amount I usually earn, because it’s all reported.

Cash does not mean tax dodging. Saying 100% goes to the business does not mean she is keeping 100% - she is paying for stock/product/materials, overheads and tax.

I wouldn't be offended by that sign and if I knew I was intending to go to your shop and had cash I would take it.

My dry cleaner used to make me feel so guilty about paying by card, that I avoided going.

I don't even carry cash. I don't think your sign will do much.

If you're turning over £200k a year, your card fees should be well under 1%! If they're not you need to change your machine provider. Handling cash in these quantities will cost you more than card fees. You need to do your sums again and look at both the costs you would incur from your bank for increased cash handling, and what better deal you can get on fees.

Interesting, many of our local small businesses are now card only, and even those that still accept cash seem to prefer card as they don't like handling large amounts of cash, especially as all but one of the banks has closed down which makes deposits tricky to manage.

Yes you are being unreasonable to dodge tax and promote the fact

Your comment here makes me think that the poster who suggested your question is more about what’s best for you rather than what is good customer service isn’t so wide off the mark.

A local pub had a similar sign, I was happy to pay cash & just had enough on me so why would I not?
Explaining they could pay their (also) local suppliers in cash, the butchers, fishmongers etc which helps their businesses too I thought was great. I don’t want my local small town to become charity shops and estate agents, so I’m happy to help the local micro-economy.
My lunch was still rung up and a receipt given, so not a tax dodge.

I would love to know if you welcome cash.
I prefer to use it but not sure if it causes a problem for some businesses.
If you pay wages or suppliers in cash, you don't need to bank it so there are no bank charges.
Cash offers so many benefits to society, and entire generations now do not remember that.

I'm baffled by those who are offended by it too. And those who assume it's a tax dodge or rude in any way.

The only version I raise an eyebrow at is the ones that just say "CASH IS KING" because the ones that express it that way usually also believe that reduction in use of cash is a deliberately attempt by the government to control us and don't believe in vaccination.

No problem with OP's sign.

❤

This.

Jesus Christ, really?!

I came across a shop a couple of years ago that had a sign up saying how much they paid on a small transaction, I think it was a fiver and also how much they paid in bank fees the previous month. It really shocked me and now I do tend to use cash in small businesses if I can. I am lucky I walk pass/two minutes away 7 ATMs in my daily life so it is a bit easier for me than it would be for many.

I’m so baffled by all these easily annoyed/offended people. My local cafe has a similar sign, admittedly hand written and less wordy. All it prompts is a “oh Dave prefers cash so I’ll see if I’ve got any lying around” if not it’s all good and I pay by card. I don’t assume it’s tax dodging, I assume it saves them paying the bank a % of the transaction.

The excessive use of exclamation marks would put me off straight away, and as others have said I’d assume you aren’t declaring to HMRC if you are keeping 100% of the cost of whatever it is.

I’d definitely go elsewhere if I saw this sign.

I am perfectly happy with businesses that do this , I draw some cash every month and used it for businesses that prefer it .

I don't think it's unreasonable, you have the right to accept cash only, card only, or both.

My local market hall still has stalls where ONLY cash is accepted, if I want to use them I simply withdraw the money from the bank 100 yards away.
I understand some people insist on paying by card....you still offer that facility, so I don't really see a problem.

There's no need to elevate it to "insecurities". If a business only takes cash and I know that I can decide whether it's worth my while making a trip to a cash dispenser in advance, fair enough . Just be straightforward and don't put simpering signs up trying to influence me at the point of sale.

It isn’t illegal that’s why small businesses do it, it’s illegal to charge people extra to use a card.
People used to charge a % more for card payments, this illegal now.