For Subscribers

The Ethics Coach on Cash Deals, Transparency and More

Our ethics coach takes your questions about under-the-table payments, planned obsolescence and price transparency.

learn more about Gael O'Brien

By Gael O'Brien

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Do you have an ethical dilemma? Write to The Ethics Coach at ethics@entrepreneur.com.

Q: A potential vendor says they'll give us a lower price if we pay cash--but they ask that we don't report the payment on a 1099. They are considerably cheaper than their competition, but this lack of accountability feels risky and unethical. What do you recommend?

A: Can we get away with it? is not a good starting point for a business deal. There's a range of potential consequences to consider when you don't operate with integrity, from legal issues to the impact on employees and customers.

Continue reading this article — and all of our other premium content with Entrepreneur+

For just $5, you can get unlimited access to all Entrepreneur’s premium content. You’ll find:

  • Digestible insight on how to be a better entrepreneur and leader
  • Lessons for starting and growing a business from our expert network of CEOs and founders
  • Meaningful content to help you make sharper decisions
  • Business and life hacks to help you stay ahead of the curve

Related Topics

Editor's Pick

Everyone Wants to Get Close to Their Favorite Artist. Here's the Technology Making It a Reality — But Better.
The Highest-Paid, Highest-Profile People in Every Field Know This Communication Strategy
After Early Rejection From Publishers, This Author Self-Published Her Book and Sold More Than 500,000 Copies. Here's How She Did It.
Having Trouble Speaking Up in Meetings? Try This Strategy.
He Names Brands for Amazon, Meta and Forever 21, and Says This Is the Big Blank Space in the Naming Game
Green Entrepreneur

A Massive Hole In the Sun May Cause Dazzling Light Show Here On Earth

NASA says the coronal hole could blast the Earth with solar winds as early as Friday. What does this mean?

Business News

Gen Z Loves the Toyota Camry. Here's What Car Brands Boomers Love Most

S&P Global Mobility provides data on what types of each age group likes the most, based on car registration.

Business News

'Wanted by Several Countries.' Crypto Fugitive Is Nabbed in Montenegro.

Do Kwon was wanted in South Korea and the U.S. on fraud charges related to TerraUSD and Luna crash.

Fundraising

Working Remote? These Are the Biggest Dos and Don'ts of Video Conferencing

As more and more businesses go remote, these are ways to be more effective and efficient on conference calls.

Growing a Business

The Best Way to Run a Business Meeting

All too often, meetings run longer than they should and fail to keep attendees engaged. Here's how to run a meeting the right way.