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

[Theydidnt]

I run a small business and we are taking SO much less cash than we used to. It's really having an effect on how much we are taking. But I'm interested to know whether people would be put off by a sign with this wording or whether people support it. I know lots of people think cash is a way of avoiding the tax man and may find it unprofessional. Interested to know people's thoughts

I would fix the typo on the word “the” and the fact one sentence is repeated twice but wouldn’t be offended by the concept at all

That looks reasonable. Very polite. You’re not expecting people to trek to the cash machine, they have the option to pay by card if they’ve no cash.

TBH I still think that most will pay with card simply because many people don’t really carry cash. That said, if regular customers know that you prefer cash, they’ll remember to bring it I’m sure.

I live in a village our nearest shops are in a small market town many have this kind of sign (nobody seems to complain and many shops are long standing). My only issue is that I can't always get cash (only one cash machine and no banks left so if the machine is empty its not possible). What is the local area like for getting hold of cash in the first place?

I get your reasoning and the sign seems fine by me (though you may want to proof read it). It’s good to give customers the choice.

It's a good idea but far too wordy.

Just say your business prefers payment in cash for smaller transactions so that you can keep your costs and prices low.

Yes I’ve seen similar at various places

I find it a bit rude..you either want my custom or you don't. I don't generally carry cash and while your note is worded politely I might feel that it's a hassle to you if I pay by card, potentially taking my business elsewhere.

It’s sycophantic and a lot of it is pointless. You’re not going to reduce your prices if everyone suddenly starts paying cash are you?

Why bring other businesses into it?

if it were me I’d put up a cute sign that says ‘cash preferred’ and leave it at that.

Our local shops have signs quite agressively pushing cash payments - to the extent I feel guilty using my card.
i much prefer your sign.

Several local cafés near me give a discount for cash.

I was initially wary tbh, because cash in hand can be a sign of modern slavery or tax evasion.

However, one café owner put up a sign quite like yours explaining the fees she faced so I was happy to go along with it.

Some small businesses prefer card payments

In our village loads of shops, cafes have signs like this. Our local pub sells half pints for £2.00. If they had to pay a card charge on top of that it would be brutal.

I almost always use cash now.

I'm not put off by it or any of the other versions I've seen including the far blunter "Cash preferred" ones. But I'm afraid it wouldn't change my behaviour. I never have cash on me. So I would still buy from you happily but it would still be on card.

It's too wordy, and saying you retain 100% of the value makes it sound like you're not declaring it to HMRC.

I'd just put something simple like - 'due to the costs involved with facilitating card payments, cash is preferred please'

It's fine to put a sign up. I've seen similar in other small businesses.

You think you are losing a substantial sum of money from the 1-3% card transaction fee?

Or you think you should pay less tax so you can have more money?

I think cash is important so I'm happy to see signs up. I'm not great at carrying it though. I seem to burn through it so quickly.

I don’t carry cash. I don’t mind your sign as long as customers who don’t are not made to feel guilty. Can i ask what are the bank charges as i genuinely dont know and see small business saying its awful but we non business people don’t understand the cost to the business, so can you provide an example eg is it £20 in every £100 ? Sorry im not business savvy

I would still assume that you were not declaring it to HMRC.

I've not paid for anything using cash, literally nothing, for at least the last 2 years. It would be an absolute faff for me to pay cash and i would go elsewhere.
Why dont you accept bank transfer - no fees for you and no hassle for tge customer?

Businesses asking for cash put me off. I never carry cash, and I always wonder how much of it they're pocketing without putting it through the books.

Do businesses not factor in these types of costs in their business plans?

Why don’t you just have a ‘minimum card spend £10’ or something, instead of that essay which I might not read/find annoying. Your costs are your problem not mine.

I think it's a good idea, it also reminds us to use cash if we can, to help other small businesses too.

I think a cashless society gives too much power to card companies, and we want less of that, and more money in the hands of small businesses.

If they're pay a lot in credit card processing fees, they need to shop around and get a cheaper method. There are lots of different options these days and you can usually find a relatively cheap option for small cash payments.

Anyone that has any experience of running a small business will sympathise and will not automatically think of tax dodging. Unfortunately people with no business background will always think the worse, but the overheads of running any small business is high so there is nothing wrong with this and most people will understand.