https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/co-antrim-cafe-goes-cash-only-due-to-cost-of-living-crisis/a1437578900.html
Emma Montgomery
Today at 15:37
The co-owner of a Carrickfergus coffee shop which has decided to go cash only has said it was the only way for the café to survive the cost-of-living crisis.
Not Another Coffee Shop recently announced via Facebook that it would only be taking cash payments from October 21.
The coffee shop, which recently celebrated its second birthday, is owned by sisters-in-law Leanne Monaghan and Tracy Monaghan.
Leanne said the pair made the decision to go cash only “to save some money because of the rising cost of everything from food to electric.”
Card providers take a percentage of each transaction that is made by card. It’s different for each card provider. For example, Leanne said Visa Debit charged the café 1.4% per transaction and American Express is 1.9%.
“We had to save money somewhere or we wouldn’t survive,” Leanne added.
“When the electric bill comes out, it makes a massive impact on our accounts – it’s crazy.”
She said that she and Tracy would be able to assess the impact of the cash-only payments better as the weeks go on.
The pair said they put the Facebook post up a few weeks ago with the intention of giving customers as much notice as possible about the new system.
“We put a Facebook post up a couple of weeks ago with the final card payment date and a sign in the shop, as well as telling our customers as they came in that we would be cash only. We tried to give people as much notice as possible.”
So far, Leanne said that the public have reacted very positively to the news.
“So far it’s been really positive so hopefully that continues. One or two negative comments on the Facebook post but that’s unavoidable.“
Not Another Coffee shop is situated on West Street in Carrickfergus, and is open from 9am until 4pm Wednesday until Saturday.
by columboscoat
31 comments
Would have thought this would equal less sales as a lot of people don’t carry cash anymore. It’s about tax isn’t it?
Someone correct me if I’m wrong… but by advertising cash only that would result in less customers as a lot of people don’t carry cash, especially the younger generation no?
Am I missing something?
Going cash only and dropping WiFi are not good business decisions. These costs are £150 a month and if you’re that close to the breadline then I’m afraid that business won’t last much longer. It’s a tough market out there for businesses but these moves are desperate.
They are trying to pay less fees on card transactions, and maybe a sneaky bit of tax evasion as well.
Whatever they were paying in card fees is less than they’re paying in bank fees.
Tax dodge. Nice of them to advertise it.
It’s almost like you build the cost of business into the product/service…
What business school did these clowns attend?
I always wonder why coffee shops don’t open earlier than 9-10am, seems like they are missing out on the morning coffees. I thought you’d sell more coffees 7am to 2pm than 9am to 4pm.
Cash only businesses can get fucked for the most part. Why should I have to run about looking for an atm (remember those? They’re getting rare nowadays) so you can pay less tax
Increase your prices by 1.4%
Thats a bold strategy, Cotton, let’s see if it pays off for her.🤔
Nice refreshing change to card only establishments.
Wait to see the charges will get per transaction once cash is gone.
Cash is King
If your business is gonna survive or not based on 2% charges of card turnover then not worth being in business. This is a straight tax dodge.
Nice of them to advertise to HMRC about their tax avoidance by going public about it in the newspaper.
The sheer amount of card only sheeple on here is pathetic. Businesses get charged for card transactions. Why give hard earned profit away to the money grabbers.
Tax avoidance will still happen by the rich
Why is this news for this specific cafe? Half the cafes and takeaways around me have gone cashless in the last month. Nightmare considering I never have my card or cash on me, and some of them don’t tell you before you purchase
Shouldn’t this be in r/slownewsday ?
They’ve been “cardless” for a while now. Remember going in there a few months back and having to go to the cash machine for a takeaway coffee.
Ya know who never suffers in a cost of living crisis? Bankers.
This seems incredibly short sighted. Less transactions overall, means less turnover. Plus, HMRC will be having a good look at them.
Do they really think people are going to buy that they couldnt just increase a cup of coffee by 5 whole pence to cover the charge…
Ahhh, business model from Boojum. Clever.
100% a tax dodge.
Not the first business I’ve heard of doing similar.
Hairdresser in my local town has decided to do the same thing. Said the accountant told her the amount she was paying in card transactions would cover half her gas bill.
Bullshit. As if anyone would raise an eyebrow at a 1.5-3% increase in prices to cover card transactions, especially when you’re already paying £50+ on highlights. I’m not messing about with having to find a cash machine (there’s none in my large village anymore) just so a business owner can benefit from a tax-dodge.
Would they rather have a sale with card fees deducted on the payment or no sale at all? I don’t like using cash unless I really have to.
In fairness, my local Chinese takeaway and barbers are cash only and I still go because they’re both necessities for me. I need my fade and honey chilli chicken.
Cash ! Yes ! Legal tender ! Yes ! We are actually charged more for that wee tap. Over and above ,what big corp doesn’t have to think about is people budget far better with cash , feel safer in a lot of ways and know exactly where they are. If you have a card it’s easy to miss a DD or a late bill, cash gives a very visible value of what’s in your hand till next pay day .
If you can’t afford to pay your tax, you can’t afford to have a small business.
I used to work in a bank and the fees to pay in cash over the counter were insane on a business account. Way higher than card fees. Increased cash also changes your AML rating so you’re more likely to get account freezes and audits. Going cardless is a pain in the arse for everyone, owners and customers.
Cash is king! Fuck the surveillance state!
Good coffee and atmosphere, shit location. Down an abandoned street essentially with only 1 measly small sign just off the roundabout.
They need work on publicity, marketing, and even shop location.
Not silly ‘cash only’ attempts. I don’t carry cash and I’m not gonna lift a fiver just for a coffee
Here are a couple of ideas Tracy and Leanne to help save your “ailing” business –
1. Maybe you could try running your cafe as a business rather than the hobby as you currently do – closing Sunday, Monday and Tuesday and opening 9-4 won’t keep the till ringing.
2. Attention seeking by going to the Telegraph maybe isn’t the best idea for long-term sustainability especially when HMRC get wind of it
3. Stop living with known loyalist paramilitaries.
Hello I’m an armed robber and guess where I’ll going for coffee?!