Dog walker wants cash in hand

It’s fine for him to ask but it’s also fine for it to not suit you, but that means you have to find another provider.

Personally I don’t want to pay cash for regular services as I find it annoying, it’s just another thing I have to remember and go out of my way to do when whatever I’m paying for is meant to make my life easier, so I wouldn’t want to choose someone who didn’t have bank transfer as an option, but it depends how much you value his services, really.

I feel sorry for your dog walker. I’m a dog walker. I’d pick up on this strangeness and you’d be dropped and I’d message my group of other local dog walkers and you’d be known as an awkward client and likely avoided.

All my clients pay cash or transfer. Weekly or monthly. Whatever they want. Into my business bank account. For my accountant to do my accounts each year. If I ever asked for an alternative payment method they wouldn’t hesitate. Gosh if I asked them if I could move in they wouldn’t hesitate.

Nothing wrong with asking for cash.

If paying cash doesn’t work for you then sounds like you might need a new dog walker?

is he good and worth keeping?

cash is correct. It’s just not what you want.

I would find that a pain in terms of getting cash (a lot of our local ATMs are gone after coop raids) and having the right change. agree with others - ask if there is another solution like paying for walks in advance by bank transfer.

Look at table 1.1

The 60% doesn’t tell you the % of the £46bn, but the % of small business category having a tax gap.

The total tax gap in £ from small businesses:
PAYE was £0.9bn
Corp Tax was £14.7bn

Total £15.6bn

Hint: a dog walker isn’t going to have filed with companies house as a corporation,

I do the sort of work where people often assume I'd prefer to be paid cash (I don't, actually), and I think it would be totally reasonable to say no, it's not convenient for you. If you wanted to, you might suggest paying upfront by bank transfer? One of my clients offered to do this (so she'd pay a month's worth in advance). I don't care myself, but I appreciated the thoughtfulness. Otherwise, a bank transfer these days ought to be visible almost immediately and he could certainly send you the confirmation from his end so you'd see it straight off.

You don't have to use a business account to run a small business.

I hardly use cash at all these days and probably couldn't be bothered faffing about at an ATM on a regular (so many have closed near me recently). So it would be a no from me, but for the hassle factor more than anything else.

Banks charge businesses to put cash in, though.

No. Pay him as you have been, you need a paper trail to protect yourself. Is he insured?

You're assuming he wants cash so he doesn't pay tax?

Do you have reason to suspect that?

I pay my nail lady and cleaner cash. For both it's because they find it easier to manage their books and means they don't need to get a business account, which costs them money. Both pay tax and have all the legal paperwork.

If you don't like it, find another dog walker. But don't assume he's not paying tax.

That's not what the government says. It says 60% from small businesses.

This. I have to pay a fee to deposit cash.

Usually though the cash discount is because it’s not being declared for tax.

so yes, ask for a discount for cash. You are basically saying you expect him to not report is as earnings.

I'm a dog walker. Nearly all my customers pay bank transfer, only two pay cash. thats their choice, I respect their choice and work with them.
If you'd rather continue paying by bank transfer then tell him that. Its up to him if thats a deal breaker but most of us quite like holding on to our clients!

I pay cash for pretty much everything if I can
I’ve walked out of places that refuse cash even if I’ve ordered something

I don’t mind if I choose to pay by card
but I don’t like being told I can’t pay cash

Cash isn’t free to bank into a business account

Most of that tax gap- 71% is from big businesses not paying corporation tax, excise taxes and NICs

I was self-employed and often preferred to be paid by clients in cash. Sometimes I’d be chasing payments for weeks or would have to pay fees to the bank, etc. While you pay on time, perhaps others don’t and it’s easier to implement a blanket policy instead of trying to remember who pays by what method.

Yes, some people avoid taxes or child benefit by using cash but there are plenty other legal reasons. I also think it’s entirely up to the individual how he chooses to run his business.

I haven’t paid cash for anything in years, so I’d find the having to withdraw it a minor inconvenience. But not a big problem.

Do what you want, but if you're happy with the service he offers, I'd rather pay in cash than have to find another dog walker. (And I'd rather stay on the good side of the person I'm entrusting with my dog.)

My DDs both insist on cash payments for their PT jobs (dog walking/cat sitting and cleaning) as they find people remember much better.

My cleaner also does cash. Although she is confident enough to just be very black and white that if there’s no payment there she leaves. Makes no difference to me as we use cash at the local shops (butcher and fruit shop) anyways

If you are earning a really low annual salary (ie. under £12,000 whatever it is per year) being paid by bank transfer is a real pita because you have to submit accounts (time consuming) only to be told you don't owe any tax.

I was recently considering taking a job for 9 hours a week on just above minimum wage. I would have wanted paying cash.