They say “any good for cash?” They mean: no invoice, cheaper, maybe no VAT. You mean: I still have CIS, merchant bills, and a van that does not take envelopes. Meeting in the middle on WhatsApp is how jobs disappear from the year.
What not to do
| Ask | Do not |
|---|---|
| Cash if we skip VAT | Drop VAT you should be charging |
| No invoice, mate’s rate | Work with no paper |
| Half now cash, rest later | Split a job so it never hits the books |
| Take 10% off for notes | Invent a second price in the chat |
If you are VAT-registered, cash does not delete VAT. If you are not, you still have income to declare. This is general information for UK trades, not tax or legal advice.
Clean replies
Hold the quote. Bank transfer is fine. Cash on completion against an invoice is fine if you actually invoice.
The figure on the quote is the figure — card, transfer, or cash against the invoice, same number. I invoice everything. I can’t do a cash-only price.
If you already offer a prompt-payment slice, it lives on the paper, not as a wink.
I don’t do a cash discount. If you pay the invoice within 7 days of completion I take 2% off that invoice — same as written on the quote. Transfer is fine.
If they push after that, you already have your answer. Jobs that only exist as notes in a glovebox are the ones that turn into arguments about what was paid.
What people miss
Two prices in the same thread. Screenshot A is £4,800. Screenshot B is £4,200 cash. They will pick B in front of a judge, a partner, or HMRC’s imagination.
“VAT off if you pay cash.” That is not a promotion. If you should charge VAT, you charge it.
Taking a wedge and never writing it down. You will forget the amount. They will not. Invoice, even if they handed you notes.
Matching a neighbour who “does cash.” You do not know what they declare. You know what you need to run the van.
Related guides
FAQ
- Is cash on completion OK?
- Yes if you still invoice the full figure and record it. Cash is a payment method, not a different job.
- What about CIS cash in hand?
- CIS does not turn a domestic customer into a tax-free envelope. Subby paperwork is a different relationship. Not tax advice.
- They already paid a deposit in cash.
- Write it on the quote as received, with the date and amount, and invoice the rest properly.
- Can I refuse cash altogether?
- Yes. Transfer and card leave a trail you can both read. Say so once, on the quote.
