What pos system should i use

Here are some other things to consider:. What are your business struggles? What tasks can a POS system can help simplify? What Is the State of Your Business? The state of your business plays a huge role in determining the type of POS system you should choose: Are you opening a new venture? If so, you want something that is simple, easy to use, and will add a level of efficiency to your business. Are you upgrading from an old cash register? Then consider whether the new POS system can help track sales and eliminate discrepancies between cash register reports and matching bank account balances.

Are you switching from a different POS system? What Are Your Biggest Struggles? Supervising employees : There are POS systems that can help with everything from creating schedules to making payroll to handling time-off requests. Managing inventory : Staying on top of your inventory is a labor-intensive task. Though you can easily use POS technology to track sales, returns, and restocking. Competitive analysis : Get solid data to build your business with a point-of-sale system that provides charts, graphs, and heat maps.

You can use this information to compare your sales to nearby competitors and understand the health of your company in relation to industry standards. If you have a larger operation, you may need terminals , receipt printers, barcode scanners, or more. Automation Does the system automate processes and reduce manual inputs?

PCI Compliance Payment security is also essential. Some companies, like Clover, sell all-in-one payment processing systems. Others sell pre-configured packages or kits. You can add a la carte items such printers, cash drawers, stands, and readers.

Some add-ons may have to be combined with an iPad or Android device. Features POS systems boast many features. In addition to accepting payments, you might find solutions that can handle: Inventory tracking Customer management Invoicing and billing Refunds and returns Employee scheduling Data analytics Make sure the POS system you choose has all the features your business needs. Here are some question to ask each prospective POS provider: Is the company financially viable?

Is POS its primary business? A company that focuses primarily on POS tends to have more expertise and is more committed to its products.

What experience does it have serving your industry? Consider whether the company is used to helping businesses like yours. If not, this could be a red flag. Is the company a provider or reseller? The company also offers an online knowledge base. TouchBistro supplies restaurateurs with cloud-based analytics to boost their food and beverage sales.

In business since , TouchBistro offers software designed specifically for the restaurant industry. TouchBistro is our top pick for the best restaurant POS system with restaurant inventory management tools and restaurant-specific hardware.

You can add services to get more from your restaurant POS, which are available through TouchBistro, including:. If you run into problems, TouchBistro provides plenty of self-service options. Trusted retail software that your employees will learn how to use in minutes. Founded in , Vend is a reliable provider of POS systems that are easy to use and compatible with many equipment types. With advanced inventory management and analytics, Vend wins our best POS system for retail.

Vend offers three plans that cover one register and one location. All versions give you features that are easy to use and support your retail operations, such as:. Your plan options include:. You can choose from tons of hardware options or use your existing equipment. Vend offers bundles, and you can use Mac or Windows systems.

This POS software integrates with nearly all credit card processing companies, along with top retail programs like:. Oversee in-store and online sales easily from your mobile dashboard.

Since , Shopify has provided e-commerce entrepreneurs with capable online shopping services that are easy for store owners to use and offer a pleasant digital customer experience. Its robust virtual features make it the best POS for e-commerce. Your Shopify plan determines your credit card processing fees:. Choose from complete retail kits, tap and chip card readers, and iPad stands. With advanced inventory tracking and a simple interface, ShopKeep by Lightspeed is a favorite among small business owners.

Founded in and acquired by Lightspeed in , ShopKeep by Lightspeed is a cloud-based POS system used widely by small retail stores, like specialty shops and cafes. ShopKeep offers three plans, which all come with one free credit card reader for eligible merchants. All plans offer many great features, including:. For a limited time, all plans come with e-commerce, online ordering, and invoices. Typically these features are only offered in the Essential or Advanced programs.

Each plan covers one location with one register, except for Advanced, which offers unlimited register licenses. ShopKeep sells equipment individually or as part of a kit. Effortless integration with Intuit accounting software. One-time purchase with no monthly fees. Software compatible with Windows desktops and tablets. Expensive rates for full-featured plans. Simple payment processing and inventory management.

No iPad compatibility. Follow these steps to purchase the perfect POS system. Read our free ultimate checklist for finding the right POS for your business. Enter your email and the checklist will arrive promptly. Sign Up. By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use. POS systems: Honorable mentions. Acme Point of Sale. From candy and tobacco to groceries and guns, retail businesses can access features like detailed reporting and analytics and inventory optimization.

Ambur Point of Sale. Flint is a simple, beautifully designed POS system tailored for service-style businesses like beauticians, personal trainers, and designers. The system includes useful features like Apple Passbook customer reward coupons, customized receipts, and an intuitive reporting dashboard. Our favorite feature? The Basic plan is totally free and lets you manage up to 10 clients and invoices per year—a great way for fledgling service businesses to try out the POS system.

Point-of-sale FAQs. What is a point-of-sale system? What are common features of a POS system? Features vary by product, but here are some of the most common POS system features: Payment processing: This is the hardware and software required to accept customer payments.

Your POS system may include terminals, credit card readers, barcode scanners, cash drawers, and online ecommerce platforms. Accounting and payroll: Your POS system may include accounting services or integrate with third-party software like QuickBooks. Manage your costs, revenues, invoices, and payroll to keep track of your business and find opportunities to improve profits.

Inventory management: Many POS systems help you keep track of your product inventory, allowing you to enter specific details about each item you sell and track your product receiving, sales, and shipping. Employee management: Employees can clock in, process payments, and enter product and customer information with these features.

And you can track staff schedules, productivity, sales activity, and more. Reporting and analytics: Gain valuable insights into your business with reporting and analytic features. Or dive into the details with sales summaries and historical comparisons with more advanced, real-time reporting features. Customer relationship management CRM : CRM features let you store information about customers to understand them better. Manage customer loyalty programs, offer discounts and gift cards, or create promotional campaigns to turn one-time customers into advocates for your business.

How to choose the right POS system for your business. Is the POS system built for my type of business? Weigh the costs of setting up a new POS system against the included features. Some options offer free or low-price subscription plans with scaled-down functionality. These can be great for newer, smaller businesses just getting started. How will I need to accept payments?

Do I need to manage a large inventory? How much reporting and analytic information do I need? What is the preferred method of payment for my customers?

The takeaway. Revel Systems is a great choice for a more focused and feature-rich restaurant POS experience. Lightspeed will make managing a complicated inventory system a breeze in addition to allowing you to do business across the globe.

Quickbooks makes it incredibly easy to both manage your POS and your books. Related content. Disclaimer At Business. Written by. Sarah Ryther Francom. Sarah is Business. She has more than 15 years of experience writing, editing, and managing business-focused content.

Sarah is passionate about helping small-business owners reach sustained success. Read More. Recent Articles. We compared and analyzed over 20 different products to bring you these best-in-class POS systems From EMV chip readers to traditional terminals, we picked the best credit card readers for Is Square not quite the right option for your small business? Check out our picks Contact Us. About Us. Partner with Us. Find Solutions. Don't miss an update.

Stay updated on the latest products and services anytime anywhere. Back To Top. The proprietary hardware is Android-based and includes both a standing terminal and hand-held Toast Go POS terminals for an additional fee , which allow servers to input orders directly from the table. That feature is a key for busy restaurants: Toast Go also means servers can run customer credit cards right at the table and have the receipt emailed to them.

On a micro level, restaurateurs can track customers' individual orders over time and direct-market sales and specials to them. See our Toast Review. Shopkeep uses a pricing-by-quote system, so you'll have to spend time with a representative on the phone to get the data you want. Shopkeep also sells hardware products; it's not necessary to buy their hardware as Shopkeep's software will run from your newer generation iPad.

However, if you are a start-up, or you have older machines that aren't compliant with the electronic chip EMV debit or credit cards, the package might be worth the investment. As with any hybrid POS part software, part Cloud that relies on a consistent and robust data stream, if your business has problems with connectivity, you may have issues.

However, Shopkeep's software will continue to work if your connection is lost and will back up when connectivity is re-established. See our Shopkeep Review. SalesVu does a lot for the money -- and in some cases, very little money. Start by creating your free account. If you only need a POS product with a few features software, a check-in function, purchase invoicing, a waitlist feature and gift cards, for example , the product is completely free.

Need to add inventory management and a web and Facebook store? Want to track customer purchasing and direct mail campaigns targeted to particular groups of customers? If you're unsure about committing, try the Cloud Basic or Cloud Advanced free for 15 days. SalesVu doesn't force your company into an extended contract. The company's transparency in pricing is pretty refreshing especially when you consider that other providers aren't always as upfront about costs.

See our SalesVu Review. On the company's website, Shopify touts that this is the product that works for you whether you "sell online, on social media, in a store, or out of the trunk of your car," and that seems pretty accurate.

Need a mobile POS for your brick-and-mortar store or hardware to accept cash and credit cards and print receipts? And you can try the product free for two weeks without providing your credit card number. See our Shopify Review. If you would like information to help you choose the one that's right for you, use the questionnaire below to have our partner, BuyerZone, provide you with information for free: Editor's Note: Looking for POS Systems for your company?

If you would like information to help you choose the one that's right for you, use the questionnaire below to have our partner, BuyerZone, provide you with information for free: Editorial Disclosure: Inc. These articles are editorially independent - that means editors and reporters research and write on these products free of any influence of any marketing or sales departments.

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