45% of Small Businesses Want to Accept Less Cash. Is Your Terminal Ready for What Comes Next?
Cash is still part of Main Street. But the direction is clear: more small businesses want faster, more flexible, and more trackable ways to get paid.
According to PYMNTS Intelligence, 45% of small and midsize businesses are highly interested in reducing their reliance on cash. Among businesses that currently depend heavily on cash, that number rises to 55%.
The shift is not about eliminating cash overnight. It is about giving customers more ways to pay without adding complexity, excessive fees, or unnecessary risk to your business.
So, is your payment terminal ready for what comes next?
The move away from cash is already underway
The latest PYMNTS data shows that payment habits are changing across small businesses:
In-store cash acceptance fell to 82% in February 2026, down from 87% in early 2022.
In-store debit acceptance rose to 79%, up from 73% in January 2022.
Apple Pay acceptance increased to 30%, up from 27%.
61% of SMBs sold through physical stores.
57% sold through their own websites, putting website sales within four percentage points of physical-store sales.
That last point matters. Your customers may discover you online, purchase in person, order from their phones, or do all three in the same week.
Your payment system needs to support that behavior.
This is why modern payment terminals and connected POS systems for small business are becoming essential, not optional upgrades.
Customers want flexibility. You need control.
Customers expect to pay with cards, tap-to-pay wallets, debit cards, and other digital methods. They also want quick checkout and a smooth experience.
As a business owner, you need more than a way to approve transactions. You need payment processing for small business that helps you:
Accept payments securely in person.
Support contactless cards and digital wallets.
Connect in-store sales with online orders.
Track transactions more clearly.
Reduce manual reconciliation.
Protect your profit margins.
Get help when something goes wrong.
PYMNTS Intelligence found that 63.1% of SMBs consider credit cards the most suitable payment method for disputing a transaction and getting money back. Another 51.3% favor cards for paying suppliers quickly.
These findings point to a broader need: small businesses want payment tools that make money movement easier to manage.
A modern terminal should help you get paid. A complete payment system should help you run the business around those payments.
The biggest concern is not customer demand. It is cost.
The top barrier to reducing cash use is cost and fees, cited by 25.3% of SMBs. Another 18.8% are concerned about supplier surcharges for card payments.
That concern is reasonable. Every business needs to understand what it pays to accept digital payments and what it receives in return.
The right approach is not to avoid card acceptance. It is to evaluate your entire payment setup.
Look closely at:
Your effective processing rate.
Monthly and annual account fees.
Equipment costs.
Statement and compliance fees.
Chargeback procedures.
Online and keyed transaction pricing.
Whether dual pricing or surcharging may fit your business.
The service you receive after installation.
Depending on your industry and local requirements, tools such as dual pricing or compliant surcharging may help offset processing expenses. These programs must be implemented transparently and according to applicable laws, card-network rules, and disclosure requirements.
A payment partner should explain the options clearly. You should never have to guess what customers will pay or what your business will be charged.
At CardPlus, our goal is to help you save money on processing fees while improving the payment experience. We pair reliable Dejavoo hardware with practical guidance, transparent options, and local support.
Choose a terminal that fits the way you work
Not every business needs the same device.
A countertop retailer may need a dependable terminal with Ethernet connectivity. A restaurant may need integrated POS hardware and customer-facing checkout. A mobile vendor may need Wi-Fi or mobile payment capabilities. A service business may need a combination of in-person and online acceptance.
CardPlus offers Dejavoo terminals including the Z11, QD, and P Series.
These modern payment terminals support:
EMV chip cards.
Magnetic-stripe cards.
Contactless payments.
Digital wallets.
Ethernet and Wi-Fi connectivity.
Multiple software solutions.
Dual pricing and surcharging options where appropriate.
The Dejavoo Z11 is a practical choice for businesses that want a compact touchscreen terminal with reliable connectivity and support for multiple software environments.
The QD and P Series provide additional options for businesses with different counter layouts, transaction volumes, and workflow needs.
The best device is not necessarily the one with the most features. It is the one your staff can use confidently and your customers can use quickly.
Connect your physical store and website
The line between in-store and online commerce is disappearing.
PYMNTS Intelligence found that 57% of SMBs sell through their own websites, nearly matching the 61% that sell through physical stores. That means your website is not just a marketing tool. It may be one of your most important sales channels.
Your payment system should help you maintain a consistent experience across both channels.
For restaurants and retailers, CardPlus supports online ordering through solutions such as Restolabs, while POS solutions from GOKUL offer comprehensive functionality with super competitive pricing.
Together with the right payment setup, these tools can help you:
Accept website orders.
Support pickup and delivery workflows.
Keep menus, products, and pricing organized.
Connect online activity with daily operations.
Give customers more convenient ways to buy.
You do not need to build a complicated technology stack. You need connected tools that work together and match your business model.
Look for payment tools that support cash flow
The shift away from cash is also connected to timing.
Small businesses do not always receive money and pay expenses on the same schedule. A payment solution should give you better visibility into what has been paid, when funds are expected, and how transactions fit into your daily cash flow.
The PYMNTS research found that:
Nearly 46% of SMBs would pay for the ability to adjust payment windows based on when they have money available.
Approximately 40% would pay for the ability to split purchases into installments.
46% of SMBs would pay for access to digital tools.
These findings reveal what business owners really want: flexibility.
Your terminal cannot solve every cash-flow challenge. But better transaction reporting, online payment visibility, digital receipts, and connected POS data can reduce uncertainty.
Instead of waiting for deposits to be counted manually, you can build a clearer picture of your sales activity. Instead of managing disconnected systems, you can use one workflow for more of your transactions.
That means fewer surprises and more time to focus on customers.
Local support still matters
Technology is important. Support is just as important.
Among high-cash-reliance businesses, 41% prefer a human to help during the application process. That preference often continues after setup. Business owners want a real person who understands their operation, not an endless corporate support line that sends them from department to department.
Your payment partner should help you:
Choose the right terminal.
Understand processing costs.
Set up your equipment.
Train your staff.
Add online or mobile acceptance.
Troubleshoot transaction issues.
Review options as your business grows.
CardPlus combines trusted payment technology with local, personal service. You get access to Dejavoo hardware and industry-specific POS solutions, backed by a team that takes time to understand your business.
A practical readiness checklist for your business
Use this checklist before replacing or upgrading your current terminal.
Payment acceptance
Can you accept EMV chip cards?
Can customers tap contactless cards and digital wallets?
Can you accept debit and credit cards reliably?
Can you take payments when you are away from the counter?
Can your system support online sales?
Cost control
Do you understand your effective processing rate?
Have you reviewed all monthly and transaction fees?
Have you asked about dual pricing or compliant surcharging?
Do you know whether your current setup is helping or hurting margins?
Can your provider explain costs in plain language?
Business operations
Does your terminal connect with your POS system?
Can you access useful transaction reports?
Can you reconcile in-store and online payments?
Can your system grow with additional locations or sales channels?
Is staff training simple and practical?
Support and trust
Do you have a real person to call?
Can you get help during setup?
Does your provider understand your industry?
Are security and compliance responsibilities explained clearly?
Do you know who to contact when a payment issue affects sales?
Prepare now for the next payment shift
The data from PYMNTS Intelligence shows that small businesses are ready for change. Forty-five percent are highly interested in reducing their reliance on cash, and high-cash-reliance businesses are often even more motivated.
But moving away from cash should not mean accepting higher costs, confusing technology, or impersonal support.
The right setup gives your customers more ways to pay while giving you stronger control over costs, cash flow, and daily operations.
If your current terminal is slow, limited, or disconnected from the way you sell today, it may be time to explore a better option.
Source note
This article draws on PYMNTS Intelligence, “45% of SMBs Want to Reduce Cash Use,” published September 10, 2026, and PYMNTS Intelligence SMB Growth Monitor, “Smallest Businesses Fall Behind as Main Street Goes Digital,” published September 7, 2026. The underlying report, “Ready for Change: Why Nearly Half of SMBs Want to Ditch Cash and Checks,” was published in February 2026 by PYMNTS Intelligence in collaboration with Mastercard and was based on a December 2025 survey of 412 U.S. SMB leaders. Additional source information is available through PYMNTS.
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