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Best POS Systems in 2026: 10 Tools Compared by Company Size and Requirements

Updated October 24, 2026 · 10 tools · Facts checked against vendor pages · How we review

Square POS is the easiest starting point for a single shop, since the software begins at $0. Restaurants usually compare Toast and TouchBistro, Shopify merchants opening a physical store can add Shopify POS, and retailers with deeper stock needs should price Lightspeed. Market sellers with tiny volumes may prefer SumUp.

This page is for owners and operations leads who are comparing POS systems and want to know which one matches their shop, restaurant or chain before they request quotes. Tools are grouped by company size and by industry, because restaurant and retail needs differ so much. Copy the requirement lists below into a request on SaaSBid, add your terminal count and monthly card volume, and compare the offers that come back.

Top picks by situation

  • A single-shop retailer starting at zero

    Square POS

    The Retail Free plan costs $0 per month, includes unlimited items and basic inventory tools, and comes with a free online store.

    From: $0/month (Square for Retail Free)

  • A full-service restaurant needing kitchen screens

    Toast

    Built only for restaurants, it covers table service, kitchen screens and online ordering, and the pay-as-you-go Starter Kit charges $0 for software.

    From: $0/month on pay-as-you-go Starter Kit

  • A sit-down venue running on iPads

    TouchBistro

    Tableside ordering and floor plans come in the $69 monthly base plan, and round-the-clock support is part of the subscription.

    From: From $69/month (Point of Sale, hardware and payment processing extra)

  • A Shopify web store opening a physical shop

    Shopify POS

    One catalog feeds both the web store and the shop, but employee roles and inventory depend on POS Pro, billed $89 per location.

    From: POS included in every Shopify plan

  • A multi-category retailer with large stock

    Lightspeed

    Stock control and reporting are what reviewers praise most, and per-location plans work for a lone shop as well as a growing group.

    From: Retail Basic $89/month billed annually or $109 monthly (third-party)

  • A market stall with low volume

    SumUp

    No monthly fee applies to POS Lite, in-person card payments cost 2.6% plus 10 cents, and the Register plus Solo reader bundle is $499.

    From: $0/month POS Lite

POS Systems comparison table

POS Systems compared
ToolBest forStarting priceFree planFree trialG2 rating
Epos Now Small retail and hospitality shops wanting bundled hardware $399 + $84/month (Epos Now US page) No Not stated 4.0 (10 reviews)
Toast Restaurants, bars and cafes needing table service, kitchen display and online ordering $0/month on pay-as-you-go Starter Kit No Not stated 4.2 (370 reviews)
Lightspeed Multi-category retailers needing deeper inventory and reporting Retail Basic $89/month billed annually or $109 monthly (third-party) No Not stated 4.0 (294 reviews)
SumUp Micro-merchants and market stalls wanting no monthly fee $0/month POS Lite Yes Not stated 3.3 (6 reviews)
Clover Small restaurants and retailers wanting bundled hardware plus software Varies by vertical No Not stated 3.8 (87 reviews)
Shopify POS Merchants already running a Shopify online store who add physical locations POS included in every Shopify plan No Yes 4.4 (335 reviews)
Square POS Single-shop retailers and service businesses that want to start at $0 software $0/month (Square for Retail Free) Yes Not stated 4.6 (1,208 reviews)
Heartland Merchants who want POS and processing from one provider Contact sales No No 3.1 (5 reviews)
Revel Systems Existing Revel restaurant operators already on the platform Contact sales No No 4.1 (146 reviews)
TouchBistro Full-service restaurants that want floor plan and tableside ordering on iPads From $69/month (Point of Sale, hardware and payment processing extra) No No 4.1 (108 reviews)

What are POS systems?

A POS system is where a customer pays and where the business records what happened. At the counter or table, a cashier or server enters items on a terminal or tablet, a reader takes the card, and a printer or screen confirms the order. In the background the same system reduces stock counts, notes which employee handled the sale and compiles daily figures. Cloud versions also link to a web store and to accounting tools. Cafes, boutiques, salons, bars and multi-location chains all depend on a POS system, but each trade needs its own features, such as table service or barcode scanning.

Core capabilities

  • Checkout and payments

    Rings up items, applies discounts and takes cards, cash or mobile wallets at the counter or table.

  • Inventory tracking

    Updates stock counts after each sale and flags items that are running low.

  • Hardware

    Pairs the software with terminals, card readers, receipt printers, cash drawers or kitchen screens.

  • Staff and customer management

    Assigns roles to employees, tracks shifts and stores customer profiles for loyalty programs.

  • Online and omnichannel sales

    Shares one catalog between the shop and a web store or online ordering page.

  • Sales reporting

    Shows sales by product, hour, location and employee so owners can plan staffing and purchasing.

The 10 best POS systems, reviewed

1

Epos Now

$399 + $84/month (Epos Now US page)

Epos Now comes from the UK and sells hardware bundles together with a monthly software plan for retail and hospitality. One US page lists $399 upfront and $84 monthly. G2 reviewers like the support and ease of use, yet some find pricing high and customization narrow.

  • 1-10: workable
  • 11-50: strong fit
  • 51-500: no data
  • 500+: no data

Best for

  • Small retail and hospitality shops wanting bundled hardware
  • UK and US SMBs

Look elsewhere if

  • Buyers who want transparent published pricing
  • Merchants wanting multiple conflicting promos clarified

Key features

Hardware and terminals
Countertop, Countertop 2, Duo, Air, Link, Pro+, Kitchen Display; printers, scanners, cash drawers
Payment processing terms
Not stated by the vendor
Industry features
Retail and hospitality
Pricing model
Upfront hardware plus monthly software plus processing
Target company size
Small business

What users like

  • Ease of use
  • Support (G2 reviewers)

Common complaints

  • Pricing high
  • Customization limited

Full Epos Now profileRequest an offer

2

Toast

$0/month on pay-as-you-go Starter Kit

Toast serves restaurants, bars and cafes only, with its own terminals, handhelds, kiosks and kitchen screens. Card processing has to run through Toast Payments, and rates differ by plan. Pricing follows a demo, and about two years of contract has been reported, so confirm in the order form.

  • 1-10: workable
  • 11-50: strong fit
  • 51-500: strong fit
  • 500+: workable

Best for

  • Restaurants, bars and cafes needing table service, kitchen display and online ordering
  • Single-location operators who can use the Starter Kit

Look elsewhere if

  • Retailers or service businesses (Toast is restaurant-focused)
  • Operators wanting to bring their own processor or avoid multi-year terms

Key features

Hardware and terminals
Proprietary Toast terminals, handhelds, kitchen display and kiosks; tiered hardware bundle around $1,024 (third-party)
Payment processing terms
Toast Payments only; rates vary by plan and pay-as-you-go vs traditional
Online and omnichannel sales
Core and Growth add online ordering and loyalty (third-party)
Industry features
Restaurant-specific: table service, kitchen display, online ordering
Reporting and analytics
G2 reviewers flag missing reporting features
Pricing model
Software tier plus processing percentage plus hardware
Target company size
Single restaurants to multi-location groups

What users like

  • User-friendly interface

Common complaints

  • Customer support wait times
  • Transaction and hardware costs

Full Toast profileRequest an offer

3

Lightspeed

Retail Basic $89/month billed annually or $109 monthly (third-party)

Lightspeed, based in Montreal, sells separate retail and restaurant POS products, with plans priced per location. Reviewers like its inventory and reporting but complain about price and slow support. A listed Retail Basic rate is $89 per month on annual billing.

  • 1-10: poor fit
  • 11-50: strong fit
  • 51-500: strong fit
  • 500+: workable

Best for

  • Multi-category retailers needing deeper inventory and reporting
  • Mid-size and multi-location merchants

Look elsewhere if

  • Micro-merchants wanting $0 software
  • Buyers needing fast support (G2 complaints)

Key features

Payment processing terms
Lightspeed Payments about 2.6% + 10c (one review); same across plans
Inventory management
Reviewers highlight inventory management
Industry features
Retail and Restaurant (plus Golf, hospitality)
Reporting and analytics
Reviewers highlight reporting
Pricing model
Plan per location plus processing
Target company size
SMB to enterprise

What users like

  • Inventory management
  • Reporting

Common complaints

  • Pricing high for value
  • Slow support, hard to reach account managers

Full Lightspeed profileRequest an offer

4

SumUp

$0/month POS Lite

SumUp began as a card reader company and now sells a POS Lite plan at $0 per month with flat processing rates. It targets market stalls and micro businesses. Larger retailers and full-service restaurants will find it too light, especially for deep inventory work.

  • 1-10: strong fit
  • 11-50: workable
  • 51-500: poor fit
  • 500+: poor fit

Best for

  • Micro-merchants and market stalls wanting no monthly fee
  • Businesses wanting simple flat-rate processing

Look elsewhere if

  • Larger multi-location retailers or full-service restaurants
  • Merchants needing deep inventory

Key features

Hardware and terminals
POS Lite Register plus Solo reader $499 bundle
Payment processing terms
2.6% + 10c in person; 3.5% + 15c eCommerce
Pricing model
No monthly fee plus flat processing plus hardware
Target company size
Micro and small

What users like

  • Fast, simple payments
  • Friendly interface

Common complaints

  • Customer service

Full SumUp profileRequest an offer

5

Clover

Varies by vertical

Clover is owned by Fiserv and sold through banks and resellers, so rates and terms vary by seller. Hardware options include the Station Duo, Mini and Flex. Reviewers like the quick setup but report weak phone support and fees that run above expectations.

  • 1-10: workable
  • 11-50: strong fit
  • 51-500: no data
  • 500+: no data

Best for

  • Small restaurants and retailers wanting bundled hardware plus software
  • Merchants buying through their bank or ISO

Look elsewhere if

  • Merchants who want predictable published pricing
  • Buyers who need strong phone support (G2 reviewers complain)

Key features

Hardware and terminals
Clover Station Duo, Mini, Flex; Station Duo about $1,799 to $1,899 (third-party)
Payment processing terms
About 2.3% + 10c card-present, 3.5% + 10c keyed (third-party); rate depends on reseller
Industry features
Retail, restaurant and services plans
Pricing model
Software plan plus processing plus hardware or financing
Target company size
Small businesses

What users like

  • Easy to use and quick setup
  • Modern hardware

Common complaints

  • Weak phone support
  • Fees unclear or higher than expected
  • Connectivity problems

Full Clover profileRequest an offer

6

Shopify POS

POS included in every Shopify plan

Merchants on Shopify can sell in person through Shopify POS, which uses the same catalog as the web store. Every plan carries a baseline version, and POS Pro adds $89 per location monthly. Roles for staff, inventory management and customer profiles all require Pro.

  • 1-10: strong fit
  • 11-50: strong fit
  • 51-500: workable
  • 500+: workable

Best for

  • Merchants already running a Shopify online store who add physical locations
  • Retailers wanting unified web and store inventory

Look elsewhere if

  • Restaurants needing table service
  • Stores not on Shopify (POS requires a Shopify plan)

Key features

Hardware and terminals
Shopify card readers plus tablet or phone; hardware prices not confirmed by the vendor
Payment processing terms
Shopify Payments; in-person 2.6%/2.5%/2.4% + 10c by plan (third-party); EU page 1.5%/1.3%/1.2%
Inventory management
Inventory management is in POS Pro, not the free baseline (EU page)
Online and omnichannel sales
Native: same Shopify store and catalog online and in store
Industry features
Retail focused
Reporting and analytics
G2 reviewers praise reporting
Pricing model
Shopify plan + POS Pro per location + processing
Target company size
Small to enterprise (Plus)

What users like

  • Intuitive design and strong reporting
  • Easy setup

Common complaints

  • Support can be slow in busy periods
  • Inventory depth
  • Per-location billing surprises reported

Full Shopify POS profileRequest an offer

7

Square POS

$0/month (Square for Retail Free)

Square POS is free to start and comes with Square's own card processing, so readers, software and an online store share one vendor. Retail, Restaurants and Appointments are separate products. Because Square is also the processor, a later switch means buying new hardware.

  • 1-10: strong fit
  • 11-50: strong fit
  • 51-500: workable
  • 500+: no data

Best for

  • Single-shop retailers and service businesses that want to start at $0 software
  • Merchants who want one vendor for hardware, payments and online store

Look elsewhere if

  • Businesses that want to choose their own payment processor
  • High-volume merchants sensitive to flat-rate processing

Key features

Hardware and terminals
Square sells its own handheld, terminal, register, stand and kiosk hardware (hardware prices not confirmed by the vendor)
Payment processing terms
Square-only processing; 2.6% + 10c in person on Free, 2.5% + 10c on Retail Plus
Inventory management
Free plan includes basic inventory tools and unlimited items; G2 inventory sub-score 8.7/10
Online and omnichannel sales
Free online store included on Retail Free plan
Industry features
Separate Retail, Restaurants and Appointments products
Reporting and analytics
Reviewers on G2 praise reporting (G2 summary)
Pricing model
Monthly plan per location plus flat-rate processing plus hardware
Target company size
Micro and small businesses; custom Premium for larger

What users like

  • Easy to use and quick to set up
  • Strong card payment experience and reporting

Common complaints

  • Processing fees and upfront hardware costs add up
  • Support access complaints are common across POS vendors, check before buying

Full Square POS profileRequest an offer

8

Heartland

Contact sales

Global Payments owns Heartland, a processor first, which also offers restaurant and retail POS products. The POS depends on Heartland's processing and has no public price, only quotes. Reviews of its POS are scarce and the scores reported are low.

  • 1-10: no data
  • 11-50: no data
  • 51-500: no data
  • 500+: no data

Best for

  • Merchants who want POS and processing from one provider
  • Restaurants and retailers already using Heartland processing

Look elsewhere if

  • Buyers who want to pick a processor independently
  • Buyers who need public, transparent pricing

Key features

Payment processing terms
Integrated Heartland processing with end-to-end encryption and tokenization (Wikipedia)
Online and omnichannel sales
eCommerce offered (Wikipedia)
Industry features
Restaurant and retail POS products
Pricing model
Quote based

What users like

  • A G2 reviewer liked seeing processed transactions easily

Common complaints

  • Customer service issues in Payments+ reviews
  • Low G2 score for the POS product on very few reviews

Full Heartland profileRequest an offer

9

Revel Systems

Contact sales

Note: Acquired by Shift4

Revel runs on iPads and focuses on restaurants. Shift4 acquired it in 2024, and the original site now forwards to Shift4. More than 18,000 locations used it when the deal closed. Buyers should request a written roadmap commitment before signing.

  • 1-10: no data
  • 11-50: no data
  • 51-500: workable
  • 500+: workable

Best for

  • Existing Revel restaurant operators already on the platform
  • Restaurant groups that accept Shift4 as their payment processor

Look elsewhere if

  • Buyers who want a POS independent of one processor
  • Buyers who need a documented long-term Revel roadmap

Key features

Payment processing terms
Shift4 plans to sell its payments product to Revel customers (Restaurant Business)
Industry features
Restaurant focus, 18,000+ locations at time of deal (Restaurant Business)
Pricing model
Quote based; reported per terminal plus processing
Target company size
Multi-location restaurants and chains

What users like

  • Setup is described as easy in aggregated reviews

Common complaints

  • High fees for basic features
  • Weak customer support
  • Connectivity problems

Full Revel Systems profileRequest an offer

10

TouchBistro

From $69/month (Point of Sale, hardware and payment processing extra)

TouchBistro runs on iPads for restaurants and includes floor plans, tableside ordering and reporting in the plan that starts at $69 monthly. Hardware and card processing cost extra. Online ordering, inventory and kitchen display are add-ons whose prices come only on request.

  • 1-10: strong fit
  • 11-50: strong fit
  • 51-500: no data
  • 500+: no data

Best for

  • Full-service restaurants that want floor plan and tableside ordering on iPads
  • Venues that want 24/7 support included in the subscription

Look elsewhere if

  • Retail stores needing SKU-level inventory (inventory is a paid add-on and the product is restaurant-focused)
  • Buyers who want fully published all-in pricing: add-on prices and hardware are quote-based

Key features

Hardware and terminals
POS plan requires own hardware; Essentials Bundle and Custom Setup include restaurant-grade hardware; financing for 2+ terminals
Payment processing terms
Integrated payments bundled in Essentials and Custom plans; rates not published on pricing page
Inventory management
Paid add-on, price not published
Online and omnichannel sales
Online ordering is a paid add-on, no commission on online orders per vendor FAQ
Industry features
Floor plan and table management and tableside ordering included in base plan; Kitchen Display System as add-on
Reporting and analytics
Reporting and analytics included in POS and Essentials plans
Pricing model
Monthly software fee from $69 plus hardware and processing fees
Target company size
Restaurants, from single venue to multi-terminal venues

Full TouchBistro profileRequest an offer

How to choose POS systems

Hardware and terminals

This covers the terminals, handhelds, card readers, printers and kitchen screens a vendor sells or supports. Strong vendors offer several devices for counter, table and mobile use, with clear support if something breaks. Weak ones tie you to a single proprietary terminal or leave hardware choices unclear.

Payment processing terms

Processing terms decide who handles card payments and at what rates. Strong setups state flat or tiered rates openly and let you understand how they change with volume. Weak ones require the vendor's processor, hide rates behind a quote or bundle fees with long contracts.

Inventory management

Inventory management tracks stock by item, variant and location, and alerts you before products run out. Strong tools update counts at each sale across channels and support purchase orders. Weak tools offer only basic item lists or gate stock features behind an add-on.

Online and omnichannel sales

This describes how well the shop and the web store share one catalog, one stock count and one customer record. Strong platforms sync in real time and support online ordering or pickup. Weak ones need manual uploads or third-party connectors.

Industry features

Industry features are the tools made for a specific trade, such as table service and kitchen displays for restaurants or barcode scanning and variants for retail. Strong tools cover your trade natively. Weak ones are generic or serve a different industry.

Reporting and analytics

Reporting turns sales into numbers owners can act on, such as best sellers, busy hours and results per employee. Strong tools offer filters, exports and multi-location views. Weak tools provide only daily totals or have gaps that users complain about.

Pricing model

This criterion covers how the system is billed, including software plans, hardware purchases or financing, processing percentages and add-ons. Strong models spell out each part and the contract term. Weak models rely on quotes, hidden fees or bundles that make the real monthly cost hard to forecast.

Target company size

This shows whether a POS was built for a market stall, a single shop or a multi-location group. Smaller tools stay cheap and simple, while larger ones add central management and permissions. Picking one too small means outgrowing it, and picking one too large means paying for unused features.

The SaaSBid view

Which POS systems tool fits your company size

Fit of each tool by company size
Tool1-10 people11-50 people51-500 people500+ people
Epos NowWorkableStrong fitNo dataNo data
ToastWorkableStrong fitStrong fitWorkable
LightspeedPoor fitStrong fitStrong fitWorkable
SumUpStrong fitWorkablePoor fitPoor fit
CloverWorkableStrong fitNo dataNo data
Shopify POSStrong fitStrong fitWorkableWorkable
Square POSStrong fitStrong fitWorkableNo data
HeartlandNo dataNo dataNo dataNo data
Revel SystemsNo dataNo dataWorkableWorkable
TouchBistroStrong fitStrong fitNo dataNo data

Strong fitWorkablePoor fitNo data from the vendor

Ratings rest on each vendor's stated audience, whether a free or low entry plan exists, how pricing scales by location or terminal, and whether larger tiers are described. Missing evidence for a size leaves the cell empty.

  • 1-10 people

    Low upfront cost and simple setup matter most. Square POS and SumUp start at $0 per month, and TouchBistro or Toast suit a single restaurant. Shopify POS makes sense for a seller who already runs a Shopify web store.

  • 11-50 people

    Staff roles, inventory depth and reporting start to matter. Toast, TouchBistro, Square POS, Clover and Lightspeed all list small-business or SMB positioning. Check which plan unlocks employee permissions, since Shopify keeps them in POS Pro.

  • 51-500 people

    Multi-location control becomes the main need. Lightspeed and Toast describe mid-size or multi-location use, and Shopify POS bills per location. Revel targets restaurant chains but has changed hands, so ask about its roadmap.

  • 500+ people

    Large groups need central management and negotiated terms. Lightspeed lists SMB to enterprise reach, Shopify Plus includes POS Pro for the first 20 retail locations, and Toast covers larger restaurant groups. Expect custom quotes.

Feature coverage at a glance

Documented features by tool
ToolHardware and terminalsPayment processing termsInventory managementOnline and omnichannel salesIndustry featuresReporting and analyticsShare
Epos NowDocumented: Countertop, Countertop 2, Duo, Air, Link, Pro+, Kitchen Display; printers, scanners, cash drawersDocumented: Not stated by the vendorNot documentedNot documentedDocumented: Retail and hospitalityNot documented50%
ToastDocumented: Proprietary Toast terminals, handhelds, kitchen display and kiosks; tiered hardware bundle around $1,024 (third-party)Documented: Toast Payments only; rates vary by plan and pay-as-you-go vs traditionalNot documentedDocumented: Core and Growth add online ordering and loyalty (third-party)Documented: Restaurant-specific: table service, kitchen display, online orderingDocumented: G2 reviewers flag missing reporting features83%
LightspeedNot documentedDocumented: Lightspeed Payments about 2.6% + 10c (one review); same across plansDocumented: Reviewers highlight inventory managementNot documentedDocumented: Retail and Restaurant (plus Golf, hospitality)Documented: Reviewers highlight reporting67%
SumUpDocumented: POS Lite Register plus Solo reader $499 bundleDocumented: 2.6% + 10c in person; 3.5% + 15c eCommerceNot documentedNot documentedNot documentedNot documented33%
CloverDocumented: Clover Station Duo, Mini, Flex; Station Duo about $1,799 to $1,899 (third-party)Documented: About 2.3% + 10c card-present, 3.5% + 10c keyed (third-party); rate depends on resellerNot documentedNot documentedDocumented: Retail, restaurant and services plansNot documented50%
Shopify POSDocumented: Shopify card readers plus tablet or phone; hardware prices not confirmed by the vendorDocumented: Shopify Payments; in-person 2.6%/2.5%/2.4% + 10c by plan (third-party); EU page 1.5%/1.3%/1.2%Documented: Inventory management is in POS Pro, not the free baseline (EU page)Documented: Native: same Shopify store and catalog online and in storeDocumented: Retail focusedDocumented: G2 reviewers praise reporting100%
Square POSDocumented: Square sells its own handheld, terminal, register, stand and kiosk hardware (hardware prices not confirmed by the vendor)Documented: Square-only processing; 2.6% + 10c in person on Free, 2.5% + 10c on Retail PlusDocumented: Free plan includes basic inventory tools and unlimited items; G2 inventory sub-score 8.7/10Documented: Free online store included on Retail Free planDocumented: Separate Retail, Restaurants and Appointments productsDocumented: Reviewers on G2 praise reporting (G2 summary)100%
HeartlandNot documentedDocumented: Integrated Heartland processing with end-to-end encryption and tokenization (Wikipedia)Not documentedDocumented: eCommerce offered (Wikipedia)Documented: Restaurant and retail POS productsNot documented50%
Revel SystemsNot documentedDocumented: Shift4 plans to sell its payments product to Revel customers (Restaurant Business)Not documentedNot documentedDocumented: Restaurant focus, 18,000+ locations at time of deal (Restaurant Business)Not documented33%
TouchBistroDocumented: POS plan requires own hardware; Essentials Bundle and Custom Setup include restaurant-grade hardware; financing for 2+ terminalsDocumented: Integrated payments bundled in Essentials and Custom plans; rates not published on pricing pageDocumented: Paid add-on, price not publishedDocumented: Online ordering is a paid add-on, no commission on online orders per vendor FAQDocumented: Floor plan and table management and tableside ordering included in base plan; Kitchen Display System as add-onDocumented: Reporting and analytics included in POS and Essentials plans100%

A check means the vendor documents the capability publicly (hover for the detail). A dash means we found no public documentation, which is a question to put in your request, not proof the feature is missing.

POS Systems requirements checklist

Use this list to write down what your team actually needs. Sorting requirements into must-have, should-have and nice-to-have is what lets vendors quote accurately instead of pitching their biggest plan.

Must have

  • Card-present payments with chip, tap and mobile walletsMany vendors require their own processor, which sets your rates.
  • Hardware that fits our counter or tables, with offline modeTerminal type and connectivity handling change the equipment quote.
  • Real-time stock counts across all sales channelsInventory tools are sometimes reserved for a paid plan or add-on.
  • Staff logins with role-based permissionsRole controls are often a higher-plan feature and affect theft and refund control.
  • Daily sales and tax reports exportable to our accountantExport and report depth differ by vendor and tier.

Should have

  • Shared catalog with our online storeNative web store links avoid manual stock updates.
  • Table management and kitchen display for dine-in serviceRestaurant features are sold as add-ons by several vendors.
  • Customer profiles and a loyalty programLoyalty tools are sometimes priced separately.
  • Support available by phone during opening hoursSupport channels vary by plan and by reseller.

Nice to have

  • Multi-location reporting from one dashboardIt matters if we expect to open a second site.
  • Free choice of payment processorMost platforms tie software to their own processing, so this narrows the list.
  • Accounting integration with QuickBooks or XeroIt removes manual entry of daily takings.

Turn this checklist into a request

Questions vendors will ask you

Have answers ready for these, and your first conversation with a vendor starts at pricing instead of discovery.

  1. How many terminals, registers or handhelds do you need?Hardware and monthly fees often scale per device.
  2. What is your monthly card volume and average ticket?Processing rates depend on volume and card type, and they can outweigh the software fee.
  3. Are you a restaurant, a retailer or a service business?Several products serve only one industry.
  4. How many SKUs or menu items do you manage?Inventory limits and add-ons differ by plan.
  5. Do you sell online as well, and on which platform?Web store links decide whether stock stays in sync.
  6. Are you willing to sign a multi-year term or use the vendor's processor?Contract length and bundled processing change the rate offered.

Example request

What a strong POS systems request looks like
We run a family restaurant with 28 seats, a small bar and a staff of 16. Our current terminals are six years old and freeze during dinner service. We need table management, split checks, a kitchen display for the grill and fryer stations, and tableside ordering on tablets. Online pickup orders are a nice-to-have. We process roughly 60,000 dollars in cards each month and would like to see rates for both bundled and separate processing. Phone support during opening hours is important. We want to switch within two months, and our budget is mid four figures upfront for hardware.

Write your own request

POS Systems FAQ

What is a POS system?

It bundles the software and hardware used at checkout. Staff scan or tap items, customers pay, and the system logs stock, shifts and sales. Cloud versions also talk to web stores and accounting packages.

What is the best POS system for a small business?

It depends on your trade. Square POS and SumUp suit shops that want to start at $0 software, Shopify POS fits sellers with a Shopify store, and Toast or TouchBistro serve restaurants. Compare processing terms along with features.

What is the best POS for restaurants?

Toast, TouchBistro and Revel are made for restaurants. They differ in table service, kitchen screens and online ordering. Toast requires its own payments, and Revel now belongs to Shift4, so compare contract terms and support before choosing.

Do POS systems lock you into their payment processor?

Many do. Square, Toast, Shopify POS and Heartland tie software to their own processing, which means a switch may require new hardware. If processor choice matters, say so in your request.

Which POS works for both online and in-store sales?

Shopify POS shares one catalog between web and shop, and Square includes a free online store on its Retail Free plan. TouchBistro offers online ordering as a paid add-on. Ask how stock syncs between channels.

What should I include in a POS system request?

List your business type, number of terminals, monthly card volume, product or menu size and online channels. Add integrations, support needs and your timeline. Vendors can then quote hardware, software and processing together.

The bottom line

Start with your industry, since restaurant and retail products rarely overlap. Next remove any system that forces a processor, contract or hardware you cannot accept. Two or three candidates should remain. A precise request on SaaSBid, covering terminals, card volume and online sales, lets vendors quote hardware, software and processing together, so the offers are easier to compare.

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