Shop software for shops in the Cayman Islands
Shopkeepa is simple software for Cayman mini-marts, groceries, hardware and gift shops. Sell, track stock and see how the shop is doing in Cayman Islands dollars, with no sales tax to collect and import duty in your cost, on the phone or tablet you already have.
Running a shop in Cayman Islands, at a glance
- Currency
- Cayman Islands dollar (KYD), fixed at CI$1 to US$1.20 since 1 April 1974. US dollars are widely accepted.
- Sales tax
- None. There is no VAT, GST or retail sales tax, and no excise or property tax.
- Import duty
- Paid on most goods when they arrive, generally at 22% to 27%. The rate depends on the tariff heading.
- Package tax
- A separate package tax is payable on goods imported by air or post, per the Customs Tariff Act schedules.
- Duty authority
- Customs and Border Control (CBC), Owen Roberts Drive, Grand Cayman. Duty is paid before goods are delivered or removed.
- Duty-free allowance
- Residents have a duty-free allowance on returning, now $800 a person since 1 September 2026, but it covers personal and household goods only, not items for resale.
No sales tax, but duty is in every cost
The Cayman Islands has no VAT, no GST and no retail sales tax. A shop in George Town or on Cayman Brac does not add tax at the till, file a sales tax return or hold back a share of every sale for the government. That is unusual in the Caribbean, and it changes what software needs to do. Shopkeepa lets you switch sales tax off for the shop, so prices at the till are the prices customers pay.
The government raises much of its revenue at the border instead. Import duty is generally 22% to 27% on most goods, and it falls on the importer, which means it is part of your cost before a product reaches the shelf. The right rate depends on the tariff heading, so check your product with Customs and Border Control. A separate package tax applies to goods that come in by air or post.
In Shopkeepa, enter the landed cost for each product as its cost. Gross profit is then calculated on what the product really cost you. See the guide to pricing products, the markup and margin calculator and the glossary entry on landed cost.
CI$1 equals US$1.20
The Cayman Islands dollar has been fixed at CI$1 to US$1.20 since 1974. Unlike the Eastern Caribbean or Belize pegs, the local dollar is worth more than the US dollar: US$12.00 is CI$10.00, and CI$10.00 is US$12.00. US dollars circulate widely, and a customer paying in US cash expects change at a rate you can state clearly. Rounding the rate in either direction shifts a little money on every transaction, so decide on your own rule and apply it the same way every time.
Shopkeepa prices and reports in Cayman Islands dollars. Count US cash as its own pile at cash-up, convert at your chosen rate and reconcile the drawer to the day's sales. The cash-up guide covers the routine.
Cards, bank terminals and transfers
Card payments are common in Cayman shops. Local banks including Cayman National and Butterfield offer merchant services, with Cayman National describing wireless terminals that work anywhere there is mobile data.
Shopkeepa records how each sale was paid (cash, card, bank transfer or other) so you can see your card takings next to the settlement from your bank. It does not process payments. The money goes through whichever terminal or bank you already use.
Three islands, one supply line
Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman are separate islands, and most goods arrive by sea or air from outside. Duty is paid before goods are delivered or removed from Customs, so an order is not stock until it has cleared. A late container or a storm can empty a shelf for days, and Little Cayman and Cayman Brac shops face an extra leg.
Shopkeepa keeps a running count as you sell and receive stock, reminds you once when a product drops below its minimum and builds a restock list with a suggested order quantity. Set minimums with the clearance time in mind. See how to set reorder points and the hurricane season shop checklist.
Common questions
Does Shopkeepa work in Cayman Islands dollars?
Yes. Prices, sales and reports are in KYD. Currency is a shop setting rather than something fixed in the app.
Do I need to charge tax in the Cayman Islands?
There is no VAT or retail sales tax. Import duty is paid by the importer and is part of your cost. Shopkeepa lets you switch sales tax off for the shop.
How do I include import duty in my prices?
Enter landed cost, including duty, as the cost of each product, then check your margin. Shopkeepa shows gross profit where cost is known. Check duty rates with Customs and Border Control.
Can I take US dollars and give change in Cayman dollars?
Yes, at your own stated rate. The official peg is CI$1 to US$1.20. Shopkeepa records the sale in KYD. Count US cash separately when you cash up.
Is Shopkeepa available in the Cayman Islands now?
Not yet. Shopkeepa is in development, and Cayman shops can join the early access waitlist to try it first and help shape it.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked on 6 October 2026. Rules, rates and products change, so confirm anything important with the source.
- PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Cayman Islands, other taxes (no VAT, import duty 22% to 27%)
- Cayman Islands Government, Customs and Border Control: Imports (tariff schedules, package tax, address)
- Cayman Compass: Permanent $800 duty-free allowance now in effect (10 September 2026)
- Wikipedia: Cayman Islands dollar (peg of CI$1 = US$1.20 since 1974)
- Cayman National: merchant services (wireless terminals)
- Butterfield: merchant services in the Cayman Islands
Related
How to price products in a small shop
A simple method for pricing products in a small retail shop: start from cost, choose a margin, check the street price, then round. Worked examples with plain numbers.
GlossaryLanded cost
Landed cost is the total cost of getting a product onto your shelf: the price you paid the supplier plus freight, duties, taxes that cannot be reclaimed, and handling.
Free toolMarkup and margin calculator
Free markup and margin calculator. Enter your cost and a price, a markup % or a margin % and see the others instantly, with markup vs margin explained.
GuideHow to cash up at the end of the day
A step-by-step end-of-day cash up for small shops: count the drawer, match it to the day's sales, explain any difference and set the float for tomorrow.
FeatureA simple point of sale for busy counters
A fast, simple till for small shops. Find a product, record how the customer paid, share a receipt and keep your stock up to date, on a phone, tablet or computer.