POS Systems Review

If you are looking for a new point of sale solution, you either are just starting out, have one that is not satisfying your needs or you are ready to upgrade to a more advanced or modern system. If you are just starting out, you have the advantage of not having to worry about migrating inventory data to a new system, and you have the full world of payment processors at your feet, pleading with you to sign up with them. If you are already in business and are looking to change to a new POS system, you will want to find one that satisfies your needs and is relatively simple to migrate your data to.

All-in-one POS systems are certainly appealing. They include all the basic hardware with the software preinstalled. They are a plug-and-play solution. Basic POS packages are commonly offered in retail or restaurant packages. The retail packages usually include a terminal, monitor, barcode scanner, cash drawer, card reader, keyboard, mouse, receipt printer and retail software. The restaurant packages usually include a touchscreen monitor, terminal, receipt printer, cash drawer, card reader and restaurant software.

Some POS providers also offer salon packages that include salon-specific software that can manage appointments and customer accounts. Grocery packages usually include software that can manage grocery store's unique needs, such as compatibility with a scale and in-counter barcode scanners.

Many POS providers also offer you the choice to create your own unique package. You can also work with an account representative to create the perfect package for your business. The advantage to creating your own solution is that you can choose which software you like the best. You can also add POS hardware and software to a system you already own. You can also easily add devices that can help streamline your processes, such as kitchen printers, wireless tableside order-entry devices, customer displays and more. The best POS providers will be able to help you configure the best solution for how you do business.

To help you determine the best POS solution for your business, please check out our reviews and articles about POS systems. To learn more about the best POS provider we found for the lowest upfront price, see Harbortouch. If you want to choose your own parts and software, see POS Guys. For an all-in-one solution that works seamlessly with QuickBooks and Sage accounting software, see AccuPOS.

POS Systems: What to Look For

Point-of-sale systems are the core of your business. They track sales, inventory, process payments and help keep your customers happy. Since POS systems are such a crucial part of your success, we put our research skills to work to help you make the right choice. We evaluated a long list of POS providers to determine which companies provide business owners with POS systems for a low start-up cost, and which ones offer a good selection of hardware and software, as well as exceptional after-purchase care.

Start-up Cost:
This is a primary concern for many small business owners. We looked at the estimated cost of obtaining one complete POS system. Through most POS providers, you can purchase a system outright. Others provide a free point-of-sale system if you sign up with their credit card processing service. In this category, we rated the POS providers that offer free systems or low-cost starter systems the highest.

Terminals & Peripherals:
There is a huge variety of POS hardware available online. We looked for POS companies that at least offer touchscreen systems, which is what many restaurants are now using. We also looked at whether they provide a range of full-system options and whether they provide popular peripherals such as barcode printers, customer displays and PIN pads.

POS Software:
For the most part, POS resellers offer popular point-of-sale software such as QuickBooks POS, Cash Register Express, Restaurant Pro Express and Aldelo. However, a few offer software such as Harbortouch or proprietary POS software. We looked at which software each service sells, as well as the quality of the software. When it comes to features, or what your POS system can do, these are software dependent, not hardware related. If you need features such as table assignments in your restaurant or inventory reports for your retail store, you will need to obtain software that can do that for you.

After Purchase Care:
Keeping your POS system running smoothly is critical. Good customer support can often be a decisive factor in selecting a POS system. Frequently, service plans require a monthly or yearly support fee, but it is worth it for 24/7 support and conveniences such as overnight delivery of replacement parts. We contacted the POS providers we reviewed to ask them what support services they offer their clients after purchase. We looked for afterhours telephone support, installation assistance, training, remote support and more to determine which POS company offers the best post-sales support.

Mobile & Wireless Technology:
The demand for mobile POS options is increasing. In this category, we rated those companies that offer wireless tableside, or inventory tools at the minimum, the highest. Others that offer software compatible with the iPad and Android devices also received a bump in their ratings in this category for staying abreast of current technologies.

For reasons that have yet to be proven, an attractive POS system with efficient software increases business. Customers seem to like to see technologically advanced systems, and they definitely enjoy a speedy, accurate checkout. If you are using a clunky old cash register or if your company is just starting out, take the time to find the perfect POS system for your business. It will speed up your checkouts, streamline your accounting and keep your customers happy.

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