What is an amount of cash kept on hand for making small payments called?

• A. Operating Cash
• B. Petty Cash
• C. Change Fund
• D. Floating Fund

Answer: (B)

The correct response is "Petty Cash." This term refers to a small amount of cash that is set aside for the purpose of making minor transactions or covering incidental expenses without having to write a check or make a formal payment.

Petty cash is particularly useful in business settings where small, everyday expenses arise. It allows for quick and efficient handling of these costs, like buying office supplies, refreshments, or other minor necessities that may not warrant a full requisition process.

In contrast, operating cash generally refers to the funds a business uses to manage its day-to-day operations but is not specifically designated for minor transactions. A change fund is typically used to provide cash for making change in a cash register during sales transactions rather than for small incidental purchases. A floating fund can refer to various types of funds but is less commonly associated with immediate cash needs for small expenses like petty cash is. Thus, "Petty Cash" best identifies the cash set aside for small payments.