Businesses requiring secure storage for cash and other valuable assets are not a new concept, but with the amount of options available on the market, it’s now harder to determine which security solution best fits your needs. Business owners must consider common concerns like theft (both internal and external), cash handling errors, and limited space. There are plenty of safes designed to tackle these challenges, including high-security, drop, and smart safe models.
In this guide, we’ll explore each type of business safe, highlight its key benefits, and discuss which industries or businesses can benefit most from them. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of which safe is the best fit for your organization.
Business Safe FAQs
How do I know if my business requires a drop safe, a high security safe, or a smart safe?
Start by considering how much you’ll be storing and the primary purpose of the safe. For example, a fast-food restaurant that requires frequent employee access might benefit most from a drop safe or a smart safe. Drop safes make it easy for staff to securely deposit cash, while smart safes offer the added advantage of tracking cash flow, helping you identify peak times and coordinate deposit pickups or drop-offs efficiently.
How do I balance the features I want in a business safe with the budget I have for security?
The best approach is to consult with a professional who can assess your business’s specific needs alongside your budget. At American Security, we’ve worked closely with a variety of organizations, helping them identify safe options that fit within their budget while also exploring customizations that bring them closer to their security goals. Feel free to contact us, whether you already have an idea of what you need or are starting from scratch.
How can I determine the right safe size and capacity for my operations?
It’s a good idea to plan for future growth by leaving some extra capacity when choosing a safe. Too many times, we’ve heard from previous customers telling us they wish they had opted for a larger safe. Our team can also help you evaluate your operations and recommend a size that best fits your current needs while accommodating potential expansion.
How do I know when it’s time to upgrade my current safe?
Sometimes it is obvious because you are simply outgrowing your current safe as your business expands. Other issues might be that your safe needs frequent repairs, it doesn’t have the right technology integrated with it to help with cash visibility, etc. A new safe can improve security, streamline operations, and support your business as it grows; it shouldn’t be a hindrance to your day-to-day processes.
What certifications or ratings should I look for when choosing a business safe?
You should consider a safe’s burglary rating, as it indicates the level of security it provides. For commercial use, your insurance may require a specific rating from third-party organizations like Underwriters Laboratories or Intertek-ETL, and choosing a safe with these particular certifications could also help reduce your insurance premiums.
How does insurance factor into my decision when selecting a safe?
Insurance can play a big role in choosing the right safe. Many insurance policies require that a safe meet certain security standards or have a specific burglary rating to qualify for coverage. Selecting a safe that meets these requirements not only helps protect your assets but may also lower your insurance premiums. Additionally, having a properly rated safe ensures that in the event of theft or damage, your claims are more likely to be honored.
Drop Safes
Drop safes are a pretty common security option for fast-paced businesses that have a team of employees who frequently need access to money on site and the ability to safely secure deposits throughout the day before they get picked up or dropped off.
Drop safes typically provide an easily accessible drop slot for deposits/cash. Additionally, many drop safes have room to store tills at the end of the day.
Types of Drop Safes
There are a handful of different drop safe designs on the market, and it’s important to first understand your business requirements, and then you’ll have an easier time selecting the right one that suits those needs. Ask yourself, what’s the volume of your cash deposits, how many employees need access, and how frequently will they access the safe, etc.
Front-Loading Drop Safes
These safes allow deposits to be made through a slot or drawer on the front of the safe. They are ideal for businesses with limited space and moderate deposit volumes, providing easy access for employees while keeping cash secure until it is collected.
Through-the-Wall Drop Safes
As the name suggests, these safes are installed through a wall, often between a public area and a secure back office. They are perfect for businesses like restaurants or convenience stores where deposits need to be made quickly and securely without giving employees direct access to the safe itself.
Choosing the right drop safe depends on your workflow, transaction frequency, and security needs. A careful evaluation of these factors will help you select a safe that protects your cash and keeps operations running smoothly.
Best Drop Safes for Small Businesses
For small businesses, drop safes need to balance security with ease of use and affordability. Front-loading drop safes are often the best choice, as they are compact, easy to operate, and ideal for businesses with moderate deposit volumes. These safes allow employees to quickly deposit cash without giving them access to the main storage area, reducing the risk of internal theft.
Smart drop safes can also be a great fit for small businesses. They provide digital tracking of cash deposits, making it easier to monitor cash flow and schedule pickups efficiently. For restaurants, boutique shops, or small service businesses, these safes offer the right combination of security, convenience, and accountability without taking up too much space or requiring a large upfront investment.
Best Drop Safe for Larger Businesses
Larger businesses with higher cash transaction volumes or multiple employees handling cash require drop safes that can handle frequent use while maintaining strict security. Through-the-wall drop safes are excellent solutions for larger operations. These safes allow cash to be deposited from public-facing areas into a secure back-office location, keeping assets protected even in high-traffic environments.
For businesses such as fast-food chains, convenience stores, or retail locations with multiple cashiers, combining a high-capacity drop safe with smart technology can provide real-time cash tracking, help prevent errors, and streamline deposit management for your financial team.
AMSEC BWB3020FL Drop Safe
- 11-Gauge (11GA) thick steel body
- UL-Listed ESL10 electronic lock
- 3-way locking mechanism
Smart Safes
A smart safe allows you to take your regular safe to the next level with integrated technology solutions that give you a heightened level of visibility into your cash operations, even when you’re not on site at your business locations.
Smart safes (like American Security’s CashWizard) go beyond storage and offer security and counting capabilities that help streamline your daily operations and free up time for your employees to focus on giving your customers an exceptional experience.
Benefits of Smart Safes
There are numerous perks to integrating a smart safe into your business operations, but these are just a few key highlights.
Improved Cash Handling Accuracy
Smart safes give you a higher level of visibility so that you can see exactly when the safe is accessed, who is accessing it, and how long it remains open. Unique user codes make it simple to track employee activity, while capacity alerts notify you when deposits are reaching a threshold, and it may be time to schedule a courier pickup. These features not only improve accuracy but also provide peace of mind that your cash is being monitored at all times.
Reduced Manual Work
Counting and verifying cash can be time-consuming for employees, taking their attention away from customers. With a smart safe, much of this work is automated. AMSEC smart safes, for example, automatically count bills as they are deposited and can even detect suspicious notes. This reduces human error and gives employees more time to focus on delivering a better customer experience.
Better Accountability & Theft Deterrence
Every transaction made through a smart safe is logged, creating a reliable history of activity that helps with reconciliation and auditing. If discrepancies arise, you can quickly see who accessed the safe and when. This accountability acts as a strong deterrent to internal theft and provides transparency that traditional safes cannot match. Over time, this builds greater trust in your cash-handling processes and strengthens overall security.
Who Should Consider a Smart Safe
Smart safes are an excellent fit for service-based industries such as restaurants, franchises, and convenience stores, where cash transactions are frequent and multiple employees handle deposits. They are especially valuable for businesses with multiple locations, since smart safe technology can often be paired with software that allows owners or managers to monitor cash flow remotely. This eliminates the need to physically visit each store to oversee deposits and gives leadership real-time insight into operations across the entire business.
Although smart safes often require a higher upfront investment compared to traditional safes, they can deliver significant long-term value. Business owners looking to reduce manual work, improve operational efficiency, strengthen internal controls, and increase accountability will find that the benefits far outweigh the initial cost.
AMSEC BR2013 Smart Safe
- 1 Door with a single or bunch note reader
- Spill-resistant keypad that holds up to 500 users
- Dead latch locking mechanisms and anti-pry doors
High Security Business Safes
High-security business safes are models that put an emphasis on burglary protection. Oftentimes, the design of these safes involve advanced locking mechanisms, heavy-duty steel, and other security features.
Key Features of High Security Safes
Some standout features of high-security business safes include:
Thick Steel Construction
The thickness and quality of the steel used in a safe directly impact its security level. A high-security safe will feature heavy steel walls and doors that are difficult to cut or penetrate. The number and size of locking bolts also matter, since the more bolts a safe has, the harder it is for an intruder to cut through the robust bolt work to access the inside.
Burglary-Resistant Features
High-security safes include advanced locking mechanisms designed to withstand attacks. Many feature hardened steel plates that resist drilling or punching, as well as relockers that automatically engage if tampering is detected. AMSEC’s high-security safes, for example, are engineered to resist prying, drilling, and cutting attempts, making it extremely difficult for intruders to compromise the safe.
Who Should Consider a High Security Safe
High-security safes are designed for businesses that need more than just basic protection for cash. They’re ideal for organizations that handle highly valuable, sensitive, or regulated assets where theft or damage would have significant consequences.
For example, jewelry stores and pawn shops rely on high-security safes to protect expensive merchandise from burglary. Financial institutions use them to safeguard large amounts of currency, sensitive documents, and client information. Law firms often require secure storage for confidential case files or evidence, while medical offices and pharmacies may need them for storing controlled substances or sensitive patient records.
Any business that must protect assets beyond day-to-day cash flow, whether it is inventory, legal documents, data, or pharmaceuticals, can benefit from the advanced burglary protection that a high-security safe provides. By investing in one, businesses not only strengthen their security but also gain peace of mind knowing their most critical assets are well protected.
High-Security ACF2020XD AMSEC Safe
- TL-30 High Strength Concrete Fire-Resistant Fill
- UL-listed Group 2M combination lock
- UL TL-30 Burglary Rating
Browse AMSEC High Security Safes
AMSEC NARCO8336 Pharmacy Safe
- B-Rate Burglary Rating
- 4 outer doors made of solid 0.25″ steel
- Heavy-duty three-point locking mechanism
Final Thoughts on Selecting the Right Business Safe
As you can see, there are plenty of business safes to choose from, but the question is which model would suit your operations best. Hopefully, this article gave you some clarity, but don’t sweat it if you still have some specific questions. That’s why we encourage you to reach out to our team, and we can set up a consultation to go over your particular business requirements and goals so that you can get a better idea of what type of security solution you need for you and your team.