The way businesses operate has changed a lot over the past few years, due to both the pandemic and the evolution of technology. One change that has been particularly evident in the business sphere is the decline of cash, and barbershops are no exception to this. With this in mind, we asked three barbers if they would ever consider switching to a cashless business model, and here’s what they had to say…
Dan Burnett, owner of Black L'Amour Barbers
Dan says: “We use Squire, which means the majority of payments come through to us either as a pre-paid charge prior to the appointment, or a direct card payment at the end of the appointment. We still have the option to pay with cash, but I would say about 99% of our customers opt for card payments – nowadays, people are just happy to tap their cards, aren't they?
“I think one of the major benefits for me is that we don't have a till or a float, with cash going in and out. This saves us time, as we’re not worrying about discrepancies or shortfalls. As I said, we do still have a few clients that prefer to pay with cash, and there’s an option to do that with Squire, so we just manage it as we go.”
“If someone was thinking of going completely cashless, I would suggest they make sure they have the right systems in place and communicate it clearly, so clients are aware it’s happening. I personally wouldn't go completely cashless; I'm really happy with this mix that we have. However, I think we’ve always got to put our clients first, so if someone comes in and wants to pay with cash, I think it's important for them to be able to do so.”
Ben Vowles, men’s hairstylist at HUNTER COLLECTIVE
Ben says: “One of the benefits of being completely cashless is that you have all your money in one place, so there is no need to total up any takings per day. Plus, with accounts like Monzo and Starling, your tax contributions can be automatically deducted and put in a separate pot, ready to pay that bill at your end of year. You’re also less likely to just spend the cash on anything and everything.
“I think the drawbacks are more for the client, if they’d like to pay with cash. I myself am cashless and, so far, it's working well – it's just one less thing to think about. What I would say is to figure out what works for you. There is no right or wrong way to get paid, but if you want an easier route, then I'd suggest cashless.”
Ian Harrold, Director at Attitude Men's Hair
Ian says: “The biggest benefits that I can see to being completely cashless are how much easier it makes your accounting and also the safety element, as there is no need for banking and no cash left on the premises, so there is less chance of theft. That could potentially have a slight impact on the cost of your insurance.
“That being said, we have clients of all ages, some of whom like to pay with cash. Sometimes we have older children who come on their own and their parents just give them money to pay for their haircut, we also have more senior clients who would never think to pay by card.
“I have taken card payments for over 25 years in my barbershops. Things to consider are the fees the company charge (not just for the terminal rental but also the transaction charges). Most terminals run on WiFi, so ask what the connectivity guarantee and backup options are in case of any issues. Just last week our provider had a problem, and the terminals were not working all morning. If we did not have the systems in place to take cash as well, we would not have taken any revenue. This is why personally I will always take both cash and card payments.”
