An increase in people using cafes as offices is causing stress for cafe owners.

Vermont cafe August First has turned off its free wifi and banned laptops to try and alleviate this problem.

Owner Jodi Whalen told Kate Hawkesby the tipping point was people bringing takeout into her cafe.

"It got to the point where college students were coming in and bringing Chinese takeout and setting up computers and books and staying for four or five hours."

"There were a couple of regular customers who came in every day and set up their offices basically, and put on headphones and just plugged into their computers all day long."

"It just got to the point where we realised we needed to make a big change to stay in business."

Whalen said she has had a positive reaction.

"The improvements were just overwhelming, it is so much better than we ever imagined. It's a lively place now, when you walk in you hear people talking and laughing."

She said sales improved 15 percent in the first year since she banned laptops.

LISTEN ABOVE AS JODI WHALEN SPEAKS WITH KATE HAWKESBY