Home Global Trade Cash has benefits, say Wiltshire small businesses

Cash has benefits, say Wiltshire small businesses

by Natalie

Some small business owners in Wiltshire have said trading in cash has benefits – after the government said that, for now, firms will not be forced to accept it.

Bradley Buechel runs a coffee shop in Chippenham and said they had plenty of people wanting to pay in cash: "It's perfectly fine for us. We encourage it."

There are concerns that not being able to pay in cash will affect vulnerable people.

A Treasury Committee report this week stopped short of recommending a change in the law to force businesses to accept cash, but said the government had to improve its monitoring of the issue.

Mr Buechel runs the Nest coffee shop in Chippenham, as well as a tyre business in nearby Melksham: "Cash is actually better because there is no transactional fee. On card you have to pay a processing fee and you have to wait."

"I think it's good for society with cash. There is a huge demand for it."

One issue for small businesses, however, is having to deposit the cash at a bank, when many branches are disappearing from towns.

Many small businesses in Chippenham still accept cash

Becky Lyons owns the Pawesome Pet Shop and said card use could vary depending on the time of the month, but generally paying by card was most popular.

However, she said people were noticing that you need cash for when electronics go down.

"I'll accept any legal tender – I'm not going to tell people how to pay for their goods," she added.

Richard Tidmarsh runs a recruitment agency and dog-walking business – he said the use of cash was "very minimal" and mostly for the dog walking.

"We've got systems in place that can cover both. It will always be useful."

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