Behind the operational preference for cards lies an acute security reality: cash drawers make retail storefronts burglary targets. Commercial bakeries typically employ young, entry-level staff focused on food production rather than asset protection. When a store maintains several hundred dollars in physical notes, it faces both overnight break-ins and armed robberies.
The threat is far from theoretical. In July 2026, police responded to a commercial burglary at a Crumbl store in Clovis, California, where thieves forced entry and made off with stolen cash. Incidents like the Clovis burglary accelerate franchise decisions to run lean drawers or eliminate paper balances entirely. When a storefront carries no overnight cash reserve, the financial incentive for smash-and-grab burglaries drops to near zero, lowering insurance premiums and protecting staff during late-evening shifts.
