46% of SMBs ready to pay for flexible payment controls beyond cash and checks

A PYMNTS Intelligence report reveals that nearly half of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) want to reduce reliance on cash and checks, favoring more control and flexibility in payments. Many SMBs still use cash because it feels immediate and easy to manage, but 46% would pay for business credit card features that allow adjusting payment windows based on cash flow. Gen Z SMB owners show strong interest in digital payments despite heavy cash use. SMBs also value protection and dispute capabilities offered by cards, and prefer a mix of digital and human support when managing payments. This indicates a clear demand for payment tools that upgrade existing methods rather than replace them entirely.