Yes, outside of Detroit, most Michigan-based businesses can refuse to accept cash. However, Detroit has a local ordinance in place that mandates businesses to accept on-site cash payments from their customers with few exceptions.
There is no federal law that requires businesses in Michigan (or elsewhere) to accept cash, either. Instead, businesses are free to set their own payment policies, subject to any state or local ordinances. For instance, Detroit passed its cash-acceptance law in 2023, requiring most retail and food-service establishments to accept cash from their customers.
State and local laws are always subject to change, introducing new stipulations that address payment accessibility and other consumer-protection concerns. Therefore, businesses must remain up-to-date on all ongoing or future cash-acceptance legislation.
Cash-acceptance laws can vary widely by city and state, so ensuring your business is up-to-date and compliant is key. Ready Credit’s inclusive digital payment solutions are not only compliant, but they also support businesses that want to modernize payments while still serving their cash-preferred customers.