How to take payments and keep trust (cash, QR, honesty boxes, gentle security)

Think simple and kind. For a small roadside stall, two ways to pay is plenty: cash (into a tidy honesty box) and one digital option (a QR that opens a card-payment page). Any more than that and a lovely little stop can start to feel like admin. Clear prices and clear instructions keep everyone calm.

Choose easy, friendly prices

Pick round numbers so people can pay with one coin or one note: $2, $5, $8, $10. Where you can, bundle things to reduce the need for change, for example:

• Any 3 jars for $12

• 2 dozen eggs for $10

Start with a modest float: a handful of $1 and $2 coins and a couple of $5 notes. Keep that float in a separate pouch or tin, not in the honesty box, so you’re not showing all your takings every time you give change.

Set up a solid honesty box

Your honesty box should feel safe but not tense. Choose something that doesn’t invite fingers in – a lockable metal box or mailbox with a narrow slot works well. Fix it properly:

• Bolt or chain it to a post or table leg

• Angle the slot so you can’t “fish” notes or coins back out

• Keep it in the shade so notes don’t curl and the box doesn’t get too hot

Empty it regularly – little and often is the aim. A small note such as “Exact change appreciated” keeps expectations gentle and realistic.

Make your QR code easy to use

Your QR is just a simple way for people to pay by card on their phone (for example, a Pay By QR code linked to your stall). Treat it like another sign:

• Print it big and clear on stiff card or a weatherproof board

• Mount it to something sturdy – a small easel, frame, or post

• Place it where people naturally finish choosing, often the right-hand end of the table

Add one plain line of instructions underneath, such as:

“1) Open camera 2) Scan code 3) Pay • thank you”

If reception is patchy, include a short, readable link just under the code so people can pay later at home if they’d like. Before stall day, test the QR on a couple of different phones so you know it behaves itself.

Write one friendly “How to pay” sign

Rather than lots of little notes, make one clear, friendly sign that covers it all. Big, high-contrast letters – nothing fussy. Something like:

Pay here: Cash in box or scan QR
Prices: $5 each • 3 for $12
Thank you – your honesty keeps this little stall going.

Keep it at eye level near the money box and QR so people see it right when they need it.

Let trust show up in the small things

People feel more comfortable paying when everything looks cared for. Little cues make a big difference:

• A tidy table and fresh-looking stock

• Prices that match what’s written on the jar or punnet

• Simple notes like “chook feed & seedlings fund” so they know where their money goes

You can also invite small kindnesses:

• “Jar returns welcome”

• “Leave us a note – what should we grow next?”

These tiny touches help people feel part of your stall, not just passing through.

Keep security gentle and mostly invisible

You’re not running a bank, just a stall by the road. A few quiet habits are usually enough:

• Place the stall where you can see it from the house or shed

• Use sandbags or water weights on the trestle so it can’t blow or walk away

• Fix your QR sign so it’s not easy to pinch

• Empty the honesty box a few times a day so cash never builds up too much

If you choose to use a camera, keep it low-key (a wildlife cam on your own fence line is common) and add a small “Area monitored” note. No need for shouty warnings. And whenever you can, stick to daylight hours – they’re safer and more inviting than night trading.

Have a plan for the odd tricky moment

Every now and then, someone will be short on cash or have no reception. Rather than turning them away, invite an IOU:

“Out of change or reception? Pop your name and amount – we’ll square up next time.”

It’s surprising how reliably people come back when you give them the chance. If you ever notice losses creeping up or you just get that knot-in-the-tummy feeling, tweak the setup:

• Keep less cash on display and lean more on QR

• Move the stall a little closer to the house

• Shorten trading hours to your busiest times

Most problems ease once you adjust those few knobs.

Do a quick check at pack-down

At the end of the day, take five minutes to see how things went:

• Roughly count what left the table

• Check the honesty box and your QR totals

• Jot a few notes: weather, what sold fast, what lingered

Use that to gently tweak prices, bundles, or stock for next weekend. It keeps the stall humming without turning it into a big “job.”

A tiny payments kit for the glovebox

It’s handy to have a small kit ready to go so you can set up or pack down quickly. Something like:

• Lockable box with bolts/chain

• Small float in a separate pouch

• Printed QR on stiff board, plus a spare copy in a plastic sleeve

• One “How to pay” sign and a chalk pen for bundles or specials

• Notepad and pencil for IOUs

• Wipes or a small towel for sticky fingers and spills

Keep the tone warm, the setup sturdy, and the instructions short. Most people are good – and a clear, welcoming system makes it easy for them to show it. Set this up once this week and you’ll be ready for your next sunny stall day.