Operate a self-service farm shop cashlessly: Payment solutions without staff.

Swiss self-service farm shops can be operated today without staff and without an honesty box – with TWINT QR stickers, QR codes with a payment page, or vending machines with card payment. According to a study by the University of Bern, the traditional honesty box (Kässeli) causes around 5% shrinkage – and even more for higher-value products such as honey or meat. Cashless solutions reduce this shrinkage, simplify bookkeeping, and offer customers the payment experience they are used to.

This guide compares the three common models for cashless payment in unstaffed farm shops, shows the concrete costs per transaction, and helps you find the right solution for your business.

1. Honesty boxes are a thing of the past: Why Swiss farm shops are switching

Over 11,000 Swiss farms sell directly from the farm – a number that has risen by around 60% in recent years. For most, sales are self-service: eggs, vegetables, honey, flowers, or milk are placed in a room or shelter, and customers help themselves and put the money in a cash box. This honesty box model works better in Switzerland than in many other countries – researchers at the University of Bern estimate payment morale at around 95%. That sounds high, but translated into numbers it still means noticeable losses: with an annual turnover of EUR 20,000, around EUR 1,000 is missing.

In addition, fewer and fewer customers carry the correct change. Anyone who only has a 50-franc note either does not buy – or leaves a note promising to pay later. Cashless payment solves several problems at once: no shrinkage through theft, no change issues, and seamless documentation of every transaction for bookkeeping.

2. Three models in comparison: TWINT QR stickers, QR code payment, and vending machines

For unstaffed farm shops, three main solutions come into consideration. Each has its place – depending on product range, sales volume, and willingness to invest.

The table shows: there is no universally best model. For many farm shops, a combination makes sense – for example, a TWINT QR sticker as a basic level and, additionally, a QR code with a payment page for customers who want to pay by card.

3. TWINT QR stickers in unstaffed farm shops: simple, but with risks

The TWINT QR sticker is the simplest solution for cashless payment without staff. Over 1,000 Swiss farm shops are already using it since the Swiss Farmers' Union (SBV) launched the solution in 2019 in cooperation with TWINT. The principle: customers scan the QR code with their TWINT app, enter the amount themselves, and confirm the payment. The amount is transferred directly to the farm shop's account.

The big advantage: zero investment, zero running fixed costs. You don't need a terminal, electricity, or internet. The transaction fee is around 1.3% depending on the provider – for a box of eggs for EUR 6, that's 8 cents. This is less than the shortfalls that typically occur with an honesty box.

What the TWINT QR sticker cannot do

The weakness lies in the lack of amount control. Customers enter the amount themselves – the system does not check whether the entered amount matches the price of the goods. There is therefore no technical protection against underpayment. In addition, the TWINT QR sticker exclusively accepts TWINT. Anyone who does not have a Swiss bank app – such as tourists or cross-border commuters – cannot pay.

4. QR code with payment page: more control, more payment methods

The second option goes a step further: a QR code that does not lead to the TWINT app, but to a payment page in the browser. There, the amount is either already predefined, or customers select the product from a list. Payment is made via TWINT, credit card, debit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or another supported payment method.

Advantages over the pure TWINT QR sticker

First: amount control. You determine which amounts are available for selection – such as "Box of eggs EUR 6", "Large honey EUR 12", "Bouquet of flowers EUR 8". Customers cannot enter a fantasy amount. Second: more payment methods. Even customers without TWINT can pay. Third: receipt by email and a clean transaction overview in the Dashboard.

How does it work technically?

You create a payment page or a payment link via a payment provider. This generates a QR code that you print out and hang up in the farm shop. There are two variants: a static QR code per product (e.g. a QR code on the egg shelf, one for the honey) or a dynamic QR code where customers select the product themselves on the payment page. Both variants work without a terminal, electricity, or internet – the customer's smartphone handles everything.

Cost example

For a payment of EUR 6 via TWINT using Payrexx QR Pay, there is a fee of 1.25% + EUR 0.00 – which is 8 cents. For a card payment using the Payrexx Free plan: 2.50% + EUR 0.30 = 45 cents. From EUR 19/month (Standard plan), card fees drop to 1.65% + EUR 0.18 = 28 cents. For farm shops with few card transactions, the free plan is sufficient; with regular card volume, the Standard plan is worth it.

5. Vending machines and fridges with card payment: when hardware is worth it

The third option is the farm shop vending machine: a device with a touchscreen, barcode scanner, and integrated payment function (cash, card, TWINT). Vending machines offer the highest level of control because products are only dispensed after payment. In Switzerland, providers such as BiLL GmbH, itWorks (speedy), or Ruedu are active.

For whom vending machines are worth it

Vending machines pay off with higher sales volumes (from approx. EUR 30,000–50,000 annual turnover), with higher-value products (meat, cheese, milk), and if the farm shop is located in a high-traffic area, such as on a main road. Typical investment costs are between EUR 3,000 and EUR 10,000 depending on features. In addition, there are running costs for electricity, internet, maintenance, and transaction fees. A tablet-based self-service POS system (e.g. itWorks speedy) is cheaper: from approx. EUR 1,300 for the hardware and around EUR 37/month for software and card payment.

Practical tip: electricity and internet

Vending machines and POS systems need electricity and usually an internet connection. In remote farm shops without electricity, this is a real obstacle. In these cases, TWINT QR stickers or QR codes with payment pages remain the only realistic option, as they do not require any infrastructure at the location.

6. Theft, shortfalls, and control: how to keep track

The basic problem in unstaffed farm shops remains: nobody controls whether payment has been made. Even cashless solutions do not eliminate theft completely – someone can take goods without scanning the QR code. But they reduce shrinkage significantly because the honest majority pays correctly and the transactions are documented.

Measures for reducing shrinkage

According to the study by the University of Bern, video surveillance increases payment morale by around 5%. A notice about the camera is mandatory in Switzerland, and the camera must not capture public land. In addition, highly visible price tags, clear payment instructions, and a friendly atmosphere help. Farm shops located in or near a town are statistically less affected by theft than those in remote locations.

For bookkeeping, cashless solutions offer a decisive advantage: every transaction is documented. With TWINT, you see the receipts on your bank or TWINT statement. With QR payment pages, you have a Dashboard with all transactions, export function, and automatic reconciliation. This saves time during cashing up and simplifies VAT accounting.

7. Seasonal products, changing prices: flexible checkout for strawberries, eggs, and honey

Farm shops often sell seasonal products with fluctuating prices. Strawberries cost EUR 8 per punnet this week, maybe EUR 6 next week. The bunch of asparagus is sold out, but there are fresh courgettes instead. This poses challenges for any payment system.

Practical example: farm shop with three product lines

A farm sells eggs (EUR 6/box), honey (EUR 12/jar), and seasonal vegetables (EUR 4–8, changing). For the eggs and honey, a static QR code per product is suitable: the price rarely changes, and the QR code hangs on the corresponding shelf. For the vegetables, a dynamic QR code with a product list is more practical: you update the range and prices conveniently online, and the same QR code on the vegetable shelf always shows the current range.

Weatherproof QR codes

An outdoor QR code must be UV-resistant, waterproof, and robust. Laminated prints last for a few months but yellow over time. Acrylic glass holders or aluminium signs with an embedded QR code are better. Some payment providers supply weatherproof stickers or signs. Before hanging it up, check whether the QR code is readable even in sunlight and from different angles.

8. Checklist: setting up your self-service farm shop cashless

• Take stock: how many products, which price ranges, how often do prices and product range change?

• Check infrastructure: is there electricity and internet at the location? If not, only TWINT QR stickers or QR codes with payment pages are suitable.

• Set up TWINT QR stickers as a basis – free of charge, done in 10 minutes, covers the majority of Swiss customers.

• Set up complementary QR codes with payment pages for customers who want to pay by card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay.

• Label prices clearly – even if the QR code predefines the amount. Customers must know what they are paying before scanning.

• Mount QR codes in a weatherproof way: laminated, in acrylic glass, or as an aluminium sign. Test readability in sunlight.

• Consider video surveillance: increases payment morale. A warning sign is mandatory, and public land must not be captured.

• Set up bookkeeping: use the payment provider's transaction export. Record TWINT turnover and cash turnover separately.

• Keep the honesty box as a supplement? If yes, only as a backup for the few customers without smartphones. Do not leave a large cash deposit in the shop.

• Test and optimise: evaluate transactions after 4 weeks, compare shrinkage, and adjust QR code placement or product list if necessary.

If you are looking for a QR payment solution without hardware, Payrexx QR Pay offers a variant that is specially suited for small amounts and self-service: 1.25% + EUR 0.00 per transaction (Visa cooperation), plus TWINT, credit cards, and mobile wallets via a hosted payment page.

The Free plan costs nothing per month; prices and products can be adjusted online at any time. Via payment links and payment pages, even farm shops without a website and without technical knowledge can accept cashless payments in just a few minutes. Find out more at payrexx.com/products/qr-pay.