A point-of-sale (POS) system runs checkout, inventory, staff and reporting. Choosing well saves time every day; choosing badly can lock you into expensive processing for years.
1. Start with your industry
Restaurants need table management, kitchen displays and tips; retailers need inventory and barcode scanning; service businesses need appointments. Shortlist systems built for your type of business.
2. Check whether processing is locked in
Many POS systems (including Square and Toast) require you to use their payment processing. That's convenient, but it means you can't shop around for lower rates later.
3. Add up the real cost
- Monthly software fees per location and per device
- Hardware: buy outright vs. lease (leases are often far more expensive overall)
- Processing rates for in-person, online and keyed payments
- Add-ons: online ordering, loyalty, payroll
4. Read the contract
Look for contract length, auto-renewal and early termination fees, especially with resellers.
5. Test it
Ask for a demo and try the busiest part of your workflow before you commit.
Compare options on our POS systems page.