According to PwC’s 2025 Holiday Outlook, 48% of US consumers expect to use cash among their top three payment methods this season – marking a seven-point increase from the previous year. While digital wallets and contactless payments dominate headlines, cash remains king in certain corners of commerce. From bustling farmers markets to neighborhood nail salons, these establishments buck the trend toward a cashless society for practical, financial, and sometimes surprising reasons. For example, cash is used more often at grocery stores and fast-food locations. Here are ten places where pulling out your wallet with actual bills is not just accepted – it’s often preferred.
Farmers Markets
As much as it seems like the country is going cashless, cold hard bills and coins are the favored form of payment in these markets. When you pay with any method other than cash at these establishments, the purveyors pay a portion of their funds to the credit card companies as payment for convenience. In 2021 research with 10 meat farms at farmers markets, customers who paid with credit cards spent $2.28 more than customers paying with cash, with average transaction fees calculated at $0.73. While many vendors have adapted to accept cards through systems like Square or token programs, cash remains the easiest option for small-scale farmers who want to avoid processing fees eating into already slim profit margins. Technology sometimes goes wonky. Signals are lost or disturbed with no notice whatsoever and, suddenly, you could be trying to pay for your 10 pounds of heirloom tomatoes only to have a credit card reader fail.
Street Food Vendors
Street food carts and mobile vendors operate in a unique space where cash transactions still dominate daily business. For mobile food vendors during the summer, 62 percent of those with a permit show a profit of over $500 per week, compared to 43 percent of those without a permit. During that same season, for general merchandise vendors, 73 percent of those with a license show a profit of over $500, compared to just 36 percent of those who do not have a license. The overhead costs of payment processing equipment and transaction fees can significantly impact these small operations. Starting in March 2024, some 300 street vendors in Myeong-dong will be accepting payments via bank card through newly installed card reading machines. This comes in the effort to combat price gouging and unpleasant interactions with stall owners. However, in many cities worldwide, cash remains the preferred method for quick transactions at food carts.
Small Independent Restaurants
As owner Jake Hafner explained in 2019, the past approach helped keep beer prices lower at the brewery’s South City tasting room. Yet it became the No. 1 complaint on Yelp and other public forums. Many mom-and-pop eateries continue operating as cash-only establishments to avoid credit card processing fees that can range from one to three percent per transaction. The 1 to 3 percent fees that banks charge on non-cash transactions can add up to a significant number at the end of each month. These restaurants often keep prices lower by eliminating this overhead cost, passing savings directly to customers. Still, the trend is slowly reversing as customer expectations shift. After previously accepting cash only, Civil Life joined the ranks of the almost cashless society – and, after the first week, he reported that two-thirds of sales involved plastic.
Nail Salons and Barber Shops
Some salons are cash-only because they are small businesses; nail salon chains are rare. But even if there’s a salon near you that does accept electronic payments, those employees are still encouraging their regulars to pay with cash because of the benefits. It’s an immediate payment, there are no payment processing fees, and it isn’t automatically taxed. Cash payments are more personal, and when a nail technician gets comfortable with a customer, it becomes easier to request cash payments. Many stylists and technicians rent chairs from shop owners and operate as independent contractors, making cash transactions simpler for their business model. Although your local barber shop or beauty parlor is probably not a chain, your payment isn’t always going directly to that shop itself. Many barbers and beauticians pay shops to rent a chair, space, equipment, etc.
Fairs and Carnivals
You can operate your ATM business seasonally or when these events are in town. Fairs and carnivals draw large crowds, and statistically, the more people who pass by your machine, the more transactions you’re likely to see. People also expect to spend money at fairs and carnivals. There’s food, drink, rides, games, vendors…. And one major convenience of cash for families is that it can easily be shared among members. When your kids want to do different things, just send them each off with a few bills to spend how they please. The transient nature of these events makes setting up electronic payment systems impractical for many small vendors. Cash offers immediate settlement without the need for internet connectivity or processing equipment at temporary locations.
Flea Markets and Yard Sales
Flea markets are good places to find a demand for cash because cash makes a good bargaining token. The price of most items at flea markets is negotiable, and the thought of an immediate cash payment is tempting to sellers. If a buyer can offer a cash payment, he or she can typically get a better deal. The informal nature of secondhand sales makes cash the natural choice. Sellers at these venues typically lack merchant accounts or payment processing infrastructure, and the ability to negotiate prices is enhanced when physical currency changes hands. The immediacy and finality of cash transactions suit the casual, person-to-person nature of these marketplaces perfectly.
Food Truck Parks
Food truck parks make the list for a few reasons. They are trendy and popping up everywhere. If you can get an ATM placement in the vicinity of food trucks (where people gather to hang out, have fun, and spend money…), you are sure to see a reward. Food truck parks draw large crowds, especially on the weekends. This kind of regular, predictable business can make it easier for you to manage your own ATM business. Because each food truck vendor is its own small business, it’s common for some to accept cash only to simplify their business model and keep operational costs to a minimum. While some trucks have adopted mobile payment systems, many still prefer cash to avoid transaction fees and the complications of unreliable internet connectivity at outdoor venues.
Laundromats
According to the Coin Laundry Association, there are currently about 29,500 coin laundromats in the U.S., generating $5 billion in annual revenue. Because customers tend to choose a laundromat based on convenience and proximity, “cash-only” laundromats will likely have no trouble surviving – at least, in the near future. The business model relies heavily on coin-operated machines, and the infrastructure required to convert entirely to card-based systems represents a significant capital investment. Many laundromat owners have found their customer base accustomed to bringing quarters and bills, making the transition to cashless operations unnecessary for maintaining steady business.
Local Bars and Pubs
Cash-only bars remain common in neighborhoods across America, particularly in smaller cities and towns. Restaurants and bars look to cut costs in any way they can. The 1 to 3 percent fees that banks charge on non-cash transactions can add up to a significant number at the end of each month. On the flip side, many establishments provide onsite cash machines and net a small percentage of the fees charged – a double win. The fast-paced environment of busy bars makes cash transactions quicker during rush periods, and servers often prefer cash tips that they can pocket immediately at the end of their shifts. It’s quick when paying a tab at a busy bar or during a rushed lunchtime (at the same time that seemingly all other diners are in a hurry and trying to pay).
Craft Shows and Artisan Markets
Thousands of arts and craft shows are held throughout the country each year. In the past, patrons knew they wouldn’t be able to make a purchase unless they came with cash, but the onset of mobile payments could change that. Vendors selling higher-priced items at large craft shows might need to start accepting credit cards or risk losing sales. On the other hand, crafters with lower-priced items sold at smaller events will probably be OK continuing to operate on a cash-only basis. Individual artisans and crafters often work these events on weekends as side businesses, and the low transaction volumes don’t justify the expense of payment processing systems. Cash allows these creators to keep their operations simple while focusing on their handmade products rather than payment technology.
