Cash boxes vs cash drawers
In a busy retail environment there is a need to keep cash safe, because this is the lifeblood of the business. For any commercial business there is a need to have security controls in place to keep cash safe and secure, but this is particularly true in a retail setting where cash transactions are happening all the time, and this often results in frantic and repeated transactions which are hard to manage. In such situations you need a practical and convenient mechanism for storing cash securely and the typical methods of achieving this are the cash box and the cash drawer.
What is a cash box and where is it used?
A cash box is a small, portable and lockable box that is used to store cash and coins. It will usually have a handle on the top and has a lid which opens from the top. This reveals a removable tray with various compartments for handling coins, and a space underneath where cash can be stored. The cash box can be accessed by a lockable key, and is made from sheet steel, so is strong and robust for repeated use over many years.
Cash boxes are often used by retail businesses in a mobile environment. So this could be a small independent business operating at an event, such as a concert, festival, market or fair. In such instances the business is taking cash and coin transactions repeatedly and the cash box acts as a temporary till. It can then be safely transported at the end of the day’s service. Some businesses also use cash boxes as a petty cash safe, and in such circumstances it can be kept in a lockable drawer or cupboard and accessed only by one person with suitable authority.
What is a cash drawer and where is it used?
A cash drawer is a flat and slim metal housing which can store cash takings in a retail environment. It contains a pull-out drawer with several different compartments – depending on the size of drawer you select – for storing cash and coins. Some of the compartments will have snap fasteners which act to secure cash and stop it blowing away or being easily grabbed by an opportunist thief.
The cash drawer can be located under a counter or attached to a counter in a retail setting, so this would suit a permanent or temporary retail store. Because the cash drawer is shallow and flat, and the drawer pulls out, it can be stored out of view to enhance the security control.
What are the pros and cons of the cash box versus the cash drawer?
The main benefit of the cash box is that it is small and mobile. This means it is easy to transport to events and because the cash tray is removable it is flexible in terms of what it can contain. Many people use the cash box in tandem with a counter unit safe, so in retail environments where large amounts of cash are being taken, the cash box takes cash at the point of sale and this can be transported to the counter unit safe periodically so that cash is removed from the most vulnerable point. Nevertheless, the cash box can be stored out of view, although due to its size it can only store a certain amount of cash, therefore, a supplementary system of storing bulk amounts of cash may be required in some situations.
A cash drawer operates slightly differently to the cash box, and the main difference is that it is constructed with a housing of thick sheet steel, so is particularly robust and is therefore resistant to crushing and impact. The drawer layout is slightly bigger than a cash box, and therefore enables more organisation of coins and cash denominations, to ensure a more efficient way of working in a busy retail environment.
Order your cash box online with MB Direct today
So in conclusion, a cash box is a small, portable and convenient vehicle for storing cash, and is ideal for using as a cash till for events. Meanwhile, a cash drawer is a slightly larger version of a cash box, and can be located under a counter or secured to a counter, and has a drawer which pulls out to reveal slightly more options for storing cash securely. A cash drawer is more likely to be used in a temporary retail setting, such as a pop-up store, where there is more space and organisation, but the cash drawer can still be removed.
If you wish to order a cash box for your business then the product we can supply at MB Direct is strong and robust, is UK made and can effectively secure your cash and meet your security needs, so order online today.