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

Swiss self-service farm shops can now be operated 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 classic honesty box 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 unattended 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 of them, sales are self-service: eggs, vegetables, honey, flowers, or milk are placed in a room or shelter, customers help themselves and put the money in a 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 real terms, 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 exact change. Anyone who only has a 50-franc note with them 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 problem, and complete documentation of every transaction for bookkeeping.

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

For unattended farm shops, there are essentially three solutions. Each has its place – depending on the 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 wish to pay by card.

3. TWINT QR stickers in unattended farm shops: Simple, but with risks

The TWINT QR sticker is the easiest 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 do not need a terminal, electricity, or internet. The transaction fee is around 1.3% depending on the provider – for a carton of eggs for EUR 6, that is 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 corresponds to the price of the goods. There is therefore no technical protection against underpayment. Furthermore, the TWINT QR sticker only accepts TWINT. Anyone without a Swiss banking 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 specified or the 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

Firstly: amount control. You determine which amounts are available for selection – such as "carton of eggs EUR 6", "large honey EUR 12", "bouquet of flowers EUR 8". Customers cannot enter a fantasy amount. Secondly: more payment methods. Even customers without TWINT can pay. Thirdly: receipt via 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, which you print out and display in the farm shop. There are two variants: a static QR code per product (e.g. one QR code on the egg shelf, one near the honey) or a dynamic QR code where customers select the product on the payment page themselves. Both variants work without a terminal, without electricity, and without internet – the customer's smartphone does everything.

Cost example

For a payment of EUR 6 via TWINT using Payrexx QR Pay, 1.25% + EUR 0.00 is charged – which is 8 cents. For a card payment via 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; for regular card volume, the Standard plan is worthwhile.

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 worthwhile

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 the equipment. Added to this 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 a payment page 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 unattended 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 to reduce shrinkage

According to the study by the University of Bern, video surveillance increases payment morale by around 5%. A notice indicating 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 incoming payments in the bank or TWINT statement. With QR payment pages, you have a Dashboard with all transactions, an export function, and automatic reconciliation. This saves time during cash counting and simplifies VAT accounting.

7. Seasonal products, changing prices: Flexible billing for strawberries, eggs, and honey

Farm shops often sell seasonal products with fluctuating prices. Strawberries cost EUR 8 per bowl this week, perhaps 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 business sells eggs (EUR 6/carton), honey (EUR 12/jar), and seasonal vegetables (EUR 4–8, variable). For the eggs and honey, a static QR code per product is suitable: the price rarely changes, 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 easily online, the same QR code on the vegetable shelf always shows the current offer.

Weatherproof QR codes

A QR code outdoors must be UV-resistant, waterproof, and robust. Laminated printouts last a few months but yellow over time. Better choices are acrylic glass holders or aluminium signs with embedded QR codes. Some payment providers supply weatherproof stickers or signs. Before displaying, check whether the QR code is readable even in sunlight and from different angles.

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

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

• Check infrastructure: Is there electricity and internet at the location? If no, only TWINT QR stickers or QR codes with a payment page are options.

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

• Additionally set up QR codes with a payment page for customers who want to pay with card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay.

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

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

• Check video surveillance: Increases payment morale. Warning sign is mandatory, public ground must not be captured.

• Set up bookkeeping: Use transaction export from the payment provider. Record TWINT sales and cash sales separately.

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

• Test and optimize: After 4 weeks, evaluate transactions, compare shrinkage, 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. Using payment links and payment pages, even farm shops without a website and without technical knowledge can accept cashless payments in a few minutes. Learn more at payrexx.com/products/qr-pay.