A descriptive survey was sent to 434 food service and lodging companies May, June, and August of 1983. The objective of this survey was to investigate and assess current cash management practices. A response rate of 21.89% was received. After the surveys were returned, results were analyzed in two ways: by frequency distribution tables and hypotheses testing. The frequency distribution tables described the results of the data. Hypotheses testing described the relationship between the independent variables, which are; the percent of assets held as cash, dollar value of net corporate assets, and level of revenue, and the dependent variables, which are prescriptive cash management techniques. Survey results concluded that the larger the firm, as measured by asset base and level of revenue, the more sophisticated its cash management practices. Larger firms, as measured by asset base and level of revenue, more often follow prescriptive cash management practices than smaller firms. Based on the conclusions of the Survey of Cash Management, it is recommended that small firms follow theoretical cash management practices. / M.S.