Best POS systems for 2021

Your small business POS system needs more than just a cash register to record sales and take payments. You need a point-of-sale (POS) system to record sales, manage inventory, generate reports and store customer contact information. Whether you’re in the market for your first POS system or you’re looking to upgrade to a new POS system,

The challenge is deciding which one is right for your business

Read on to find out why we chose our top pick and to learn more about buying a POS system. The best POS systems do more than just process sales and take payments. They make it easier to run your entire business, with features that help you analyses sales data, track stock, communicate with customers and manage staff. They include or are integrated with e-marketing, loyalty programmers and other features that simplify processes and save time. The best POS providers offer reliable customer support that you can contact 24/7, so even if your business hours are irregular or you’re working late, you can get help when you need it.

When comparing POS and software

Look for the system that gives you the most flexibility, a monthly subscription for the software, a choice of payment processors, and compatibility with third-party POS hardware that you can buy upfront. That way, you’re not locked into a system or a multi-year lease, but can swap out any part of the system if you wish – whether you’re missing features, feel the service doesn’t meet your expectations, or can find a better deal elsewhere.

Another important feature of a modern checkout system is support for advanced ordering and checkout technology. Demand for contactless payments has skyrocketed due to the coronavirus epidemic. Customers want to pay for food and goods securely using contactless payment methods and many POS systems have been enhanced to support this demand. Self-service ordering is also a growing trend due to the pandemic. This allows customers to order food and drinks at a safe distance from staff.

Cost of POS systems

When evaluating and comparing POS system, cost is a major, if not the deciding factor in choosing a supplier, especially for budget-conscious small business owners. However, when buying a POS system, be sure to compare all the elements – POS hardware, POS software and payment processing.

Cost of POS software

The prices of cloud-based POS software vary widely.

Most POS providers give you the option to choose between several levels of service, including basic, standard and premium tiers that vary in terms of features or the number of users they support. High-quality, full-featured POS software that gives you a choice of payment processors and does not require a long-term contract ranges from $40 to $100 per month per register.

Because each tier of each POS company offers different features, comparing systems can be tricky because you first have to decide which tier each system needs. Sometimes the basic tier of one system will include the functionality you need, but you may need the advanced tier of another system to get that specific functionality.

POS hardware costs

With POS hardware, you first want to know if the system works with third-party hardware or if it is proprietary. The advantage of working with a POS vendor that supports third-party hardware is that if you later change POS software vendors, you can continue to use your hardware, saving thousands of dollars on the purchase of a new system.

Another thing you want to know is whether the system is salable. You may want to start with a few basic components and add peripherals or additional registers as your business grows POS software. card reader that allows you to take payments and then send receipts to customers by email.

You can also start with the necessary accessories and set up a basic cash station with a tablet, a kiosk, a receipt printer, a cash drawer and a card reader. If you already have a tablet, this equipment usually costs between $600 and $1,000.

Later, if your business and budget