Find the Right Point of Sale System for Your Business

Start with how a sale happens in your business today. Look at checkout speed, how you take payments, how you track inventory and how long it takes to close out the day. Note where staff spend the most time or where mistakes happen, such as manual stock counts, re-keying sales into your accounting software or reconciling card payments.

The right POS system depends on your industry, how many locations and registers you run, and where you sell. A restaurant needs table and kitchen features, while a retail store needs strong inventory and product management.

Think about the following questions:

• How many locations and checkout stations do you need?
• Are you a retailer, restaurant, salon or service business with industry-specific needs?
• Do you sell online as well as in person, and need inventory to stay in sync?
• Do you want to use the provider’s payment processing or keep your current processor?
• Which accounting, payroll or eCommerce tools does the system need to integrate with?
• Do you need hardware such as terminals, card readers, receipt printers or barcode scanners?
• What reporting do you need to track sales, best sellers and staff performance?

Make a shortlist of POS providers and compare them on features, hardware, integrations, support and pricing. Look at the full cost, not just the monthly software fee: payment processing rates, hardware, add-ons and contract terms vary between providers. Ask each vendor exactly what is included so you can compare total cost.

Read independent reviews and user ratings, and ask other business owners in your industry what they use. Track your findings in a spreadsheet so you can compare options side by side.

Once you’ve narrowed your list, request demos and written quotes. Include the staff who will use the system day to day, and walk through real workflows such as ringing up a sale, processing a return and checking stock. Ask about setup, training, moving your product and customer data, and how the vendor handles support during busy hours.