The BBC has learned that key retailers are planning a joint warning of higher business costs should Scotland vote "Yes" as the war of words heats up.
A letter written by the head of the Kingfisher group is expected to be published in the next 48 hours.
It is thought further signatories will include the heads of John Lewis, Asda and Marks and Spencer.
Others, including Gordon Macintyre Kemp of Business for Scotland, say concerns about price rises are unfounded.
A former boss of Sainsbury's and the bosses of Asda and John Lewis have already suggested that prices could rise in an independent Scotland.
John Timpson, Chairman of Timpson, has confirmed that he has signed the letter. He has 100 shops in Scotland. Mr Timpson said: "The biggest problem is uncertainty. We don't know what will happen for instance on tax and business rates. My concern is the likelihood that these would go up.
"If our costs do increase, we certainly wouldn't put prices up. But we would make less money and we'd have to think very hard over whether we would open any more stores north of the border."
On the other side of the argument, the boss of JD Wetherspoon, the UK pub chain, has accused business leaders and politicians of talking "nonsense" over independence worries.
Speaking on Friday, Tim Martin said: "Scotland could do very well on its own".
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