Restaurant POS Systems

The Ultimate POS Buyer's Guide

Table of Contents

I’ve said this so much that I’m blue in the face, but I’ll say it again: your POS system is the central nervous system of your business, and choosing the right one is so critical to the success of your business.

 

I myself have tested and used dozens of POS systems over my career. I also know hundreds of business owners and I am always getting their feedback on how they like their POS system. In other words, I take a comprehensive approach to helping you find the best POS system for your business.

 

As you’ll see below, I have listed the top 7 POS systems today, based on my research. For four of those I have negotiated special offers for my audience, which I list below the POS comparison chart. 

 

Make sure to read those, because those offers are real and they will save you a ton of money.

 

**In order to get the special offer, you’ll need to click on the links provided to sign up for a demo so they know you came from me and they can hook you up.

Top 5 Restaurant POS Systems Right Now

best restaurant pos system

The Breakdown

lightspeed pos

Lightspeed is the best overall POS system on the market. It’s easy-to-use, loaded with features and it has the best reporting and analytics on the market, which helps you make more money and better decisions. 

 

Lightspeed is great for both retail and restaurants, and it’s best for medium to larger-sized businesses.

 

SPECIAL OFFER: If you sign-up for a demo with Lightspeed below, if/when you sign-up, they will give you up to $2,000 off the hardware (if you need that much), and they will also provide a BOGO offer (buy one get one free) for their handheld devices. 

Sign-Up For a Lightspeed Demo

SkyTab POS is the best value on the market, hands-down. Like Lightspeed, it is easy-to-use, it has every feature you could ever need, it’s remarkably powerful, and it simply gives you so much that you feel stupid saying no, including no upfront costs whatsoever.

 

In addition, it is only $29.99/mo per terminal and that includes all of these add-ons for free: online ordering, reservation & waitlist, marketing and loyalty, QR code order & pay, and a website builder. All for free.

SPECIAL OFFER: If you sign-up for a demo with SkyTab below, if/when you sign-up, they will pay you $6,000 to switch over. Read that again. It’s a real offer, so don’t miss out.

Sign-Up For a SkyTab Demo

Square POS is one of the most popular POS systems for small businesses, and that’s because it is extremely affordable, including a free plan. With that said, the free plan is extremely limited, so I definitely recommend the $49/mo option. It has great capabilities when it comes to features, pricing and onboarding. Square has definitely upped its game and is worth a serious look.

Special Offer: If you sign-up for a demo using the link below, Square will give you up to $2,500 off your hardware when you sign-up

Sign-Up For a Square Demo Demo

GoTab is the most versatile POS system on the market and is best for breweries, event spaces, venues with RFID bracelets and food halls. That’s not to say GoTab is not good for traditional bars and restaurants, but it can perform complex operations for these other venues that no other POS system can do.

 

SPECIAL OFFER: If you sign-up for a demo with GoTab below, if/when you sign-up they will give you $500 off the set-up and onboarding fee.

Sign-Up For a GoTab Demo

Axe Pay is actually a payment processing company, but they are the best payment processing company in the country, and they have created an amazing POS system that businesses can use for free if they need it. In addition, Axe Pay is completely free to use. No processing fees (because they implement the dual pricing model) and they give you all the hardware you need–again, for free. Tough to beat that.

 

Special Offer: If you sign-up for a demo with Axe Pay below, if/when you sign-up they will waive all set-up and onboarding fees.

Sign-Up For an Axe Pay Demo

The most important and critical action you can take is to sign-up for a demo with any POS system you are looking at. The demo is going to show you exactly how the system works and what it can do for you. In addition, you’re able to ask as many questions as you need to in order to get the answers you need to feel good about your selection.

11 Things to Consider Before Buying a POS System

1. Understand Your Business Needs

  • Type of Business: Determine if your business is retail, restaurant, service-based, etc. Different industries have different requirements.
  • Features Required:
    • Sales tracking
    • Inventory management
    • Customer relationship management (CRM)
    • Employee management
    • Reporting and analytics
    • E-commerce integration (if applicable)

2. Budget Considerations

  • Initial Costs: Factor in hardware, software, and installation fees.
  • Ongoing Costs: Consider subscription fees, payment processing fees, maintenance, and support.
  • Hidden Costs: Be aware of potential costs for upgrades, additional features, and training.

3. Hardware Requirements

  • Type of Hardware: Determine if you need:
    • Touchscreen monitors
    • Barcode scanners
    • Receipt printers
    • Cash drawers
    • Mobile devices (tablets/smartphones)
  • Compatibility: Ensure that the hardware is compatible with the POS software you choose.

4. Software Features

  • User Interface: Look for a user-friendly interface for easy navigation.

  • Customization: Check if the system allows for customizations to fit your business needs.

  • Integrations: Ensure compatibility with other software (e.g., accounting software, e-commerce platforms).

  • Offline Functionality: Look for systems that can operate offline if internet connectivity is an issue.

5. Payment Processing

  • Payment Methods: Ensure the system supports multiple payment types (credit/debit cards, mobile payments, etc.).

  • Transaction Fees: Understand the fees associated with payment processing.

  • Merchant Services: Decide if you want to use your own merchant service provider or if you prefer an all-in-one solution.

6. Security Features

  • Data Encryption: Ensure that sensitive customer data is encrypted.

  • Compliance: Verify that the system complies with PCI DSS standards.

  • User Permissions: Look for customizable user roles and permissions for added security.

7. Support and Training

  • Customer Support: Research the availability and quality of customer support (phone, chat, email).

  • Training Resources: Look for training options (videos, tutorials, live training) to help staff get up to speed quickly.

8. Scalability

  • Future Growth: Consider whether the system can grow with your business. Look for features that support multiple locations or increased transaction volumes.

9. User Reviews and Testimonials

  • Research: Read reviews and testimonials from other business owners to gauge the system’s effectiveness and reliability.

  • Case Studies: Look for case studies or examples of similar businesses successfully using the POS system.

10. Trial and Demos

  • Free Trials: Take advantage of free trials or demos to test the system firsthand.

  • Live Demonstrations: Request a live demo from the vendor to see the system in action and ask questions.

11. Vendor Reputation

  • Research the Vendor: Look into the vendor’s history, reputation, and longevity in the market.

  • Customer Feedback: Check for customer feedback on forums and review sites to gauge satisfaction levels.

The 10 Biggest Concerns When Choosing a POS System

1. Cost: Concerns about the initial investment, ongoing fees, and potential hidden costs can make owners wary, but you need to make sure you take into account the ROI the system can get you before just writing them off because they’re a little more expensive. Most of the time the more expensive systems save you enough time and money that it pays off more than the cheaper systems.

 

2. Complexity: Fear that the new system will be complicated to use or require extensive training for staff can be a significant deterrent. Ease-of-use is a big factor in choosing a POS system.

 

3. Integrations: Hesitation about how well the new POS will integrate with existing systems (like inventory management, accounting, etc.) can lead to reluctance. Make sure the POS system you choose has all the integrations you need.

 

4. Disruption to Operations: Worries about the transition process disrupting day-to-day business operations can make owners hesitant to make a change.

 

5. Data Security: Concerns about the security of sensitive customer and financial data can be a major issue, especially with increasing cyber threats.

 

6. Customer Support: Uncertainty about the level of customer support available if issues arise can make business owners cautious.

 

7. Reliability and Downtime: Fear of system failures or outages that could impact sales and customer service. Make sure they have an offline mode or some solution if the connection goes down.

 

8.Payment Processing Fees: Uncertainty about the fees associated with processing payments through the new system. This is why going with a system like SkyTab or Axe Pay is great because they completely eliminate processing fees for you, which can save you $25,000 – $30,000 per year.

 

9. Loss of Familiarity: If staff are accustomed to a particular system, the prospect of learning a new one can be daunting.

 

10. ROI Uncertainty: Business owners may question the return on investment and whether the benefits of a new system will justify the costs.

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