October 29, 2024
Written by: The POS Exchange Team
As a restaurant owner, you always look for ways to improve your operations. Have you considered that your point-of-sale system might be the solution? Installing the best POS system for restaurants can streamline processes, enhance customer satisfaction, and improve your bottom line. This article will explore the best systems on the market and how they can benefit your restaurant.
The POS Exchange is a great place to start your search for the best restaurant POS systems. We help you find the best fit for your unique operation, ensuring that your chosen system will improve your day-to-day processes and help your business thrive.
A restaurant POS system is software that helps restaurants manage their business. A restaurant POS system has features designed specifically for food-service businesses. These can include assisting employees to:
Restaurant POS system providers commonly offer hardware, usually a:
They are under the same umbrella, making them a one-stop shop. Some providers, like Clover, let you use third-party payment processors. Working with a separate payment processor isn’t the most convenient option, but it could help you save on credit card processing fees. Many restaurant POS systems are compatible with third-party hardware accessories, like receipt printers and barcode scanners.
When running a restaurant, there are two main options for handling transactions:
While traditional cash registers have been a staple in the industry for decades, they are outdated. Restaurant POS systems offer many advantages over traditional cash registers, including increased efficiency, more accurate record-keeping, and access to a wide range of powerful tools and features.
One of the biggest advantages of using a restaurant POS system is its increased speed and efficiency. Rather than manually input transactions and keep track of inventory, a restaurant POS system automates most of these processes, freeing up time and reducing the risk of human error, such as a transposed number.
Restaurant POS systems often have built-in tools for managing tables, tracking sales, and generating reports, making it easier to run a restaurant and determine what is and isn’t working. After all, success can’t be measured without a proper yardstick.
Another advantage of using a restaurant POS system is the improved record-keeping accuracy. With a traditional cash register, tracking sales and inventory is difficult, leading to discrepancies and potential loss. Restaurant POS systems provide real-time data that is easily accessible and much more accurate. This makes managing finances easier, maintaining inventory control, and making informed decisions about menu offerings and promotions.
Most of these systems offer real-time updates, making it easier than ever to manage your restaurant, even when not in-house. While traditional cash registers may have served the industry well in the past, they simply can’t keep up with the demands of modern restaurants. Restaurant POS systems offer a wealth of benefits that make them the preferred choice for many restaurant owners, and they will probably continue to grow in popularity as technology continues to evolve.
There are many benefits of using a POS system for restaurants. Perhaps most importantly, it can help restaurant owners save time and money. A POS system can automate tasks, such as inventory management and reporting, which frees restaurant staff to focus on more important tasks. Another benefit of using a POS system is that it can help restaurants increase sales. This is because POS systems often have features like upselling and cross-selling, which can encourage guests to spend more money at the restaurant.
POS systems can also help restaurants improve their customer service. They often have features, such as guest tracking, that allow restaurant staff to quickly find information about guests and provide them with better service.
The POS Exchange brings over 20 years of restaurant expertise, serving 200,000+ merchants and processing billions annually. Our tailored POS system solutions help businesses speed up checkouts by 30%, implement dynamic pricing, and manage customer reviews while reducing overhead. Perfect for:
We offer end-to-end service, from smart consultation and interactive demos to local installation and 24/7 support.
Our mobile iPad POS systems streamline operations with features like order management, bill splitting, and inventory control. With integrations for business management tools and advanced security measures, we ensure your POS system grows with your business. Trust our expertise to help you avoid the common pitfall that affects 38% of new business owners who choose the wrong POS system. Whether managing a busy restaurant, a local café, or operating a multi-location business, The POS Exchange delivers customized POS system solutions that tell your unique business story.
Book a free demo with POS exchange to learn about our customized POS system solutions today.
Toast is the best POS system for established restaurants with complex operations whose owners want to optimize efficiency. It offers a large array of inventory and profit management tools and some neat customer engagement features, which are most suited to well-established restaurants with multiple locations.
For example, you’ll be able to create different menus for different times of day (a feature missing from rival Clover) and create menu item variations, allowing you to cater to fussy customers. We don’t like that a lot of Toast’s marketing and advanced profit and inventory management tools come as add-ons, meaning you’ll have to pay extra for them. How much exactly isn’t something Toast advertises? It raises some eyebrows. This isn’t the case for most rivals, including Lightspeed and Clover.
Square is the best POS system for scaling up your restaurant business. Its app-based POS software starts at $0 monthly, making it a good entry-level system for new restaurateurs or small eateries. The advanced features available on its paid plans (starting at $60 per month) and its wide range of hardware make Square an equally great option for small chains.
For example, Square gives you access to bill splitting by amount, items, or percentage and has a proprietary KDS system that you can customize and view reports on. However, we don’t think Square’s inventory management tools have enough depth to meet the needs of large restaurant chains or those with complex inventories. It doesn’t come with ingredient tracking or cost vs. profit management. Lightspeed Restaurant is a better choice if those are the tools you need.
Aloha POS is a cloud-based service owned by the American software company NCR Voyix Corporation. The United States serves as the central hub for Aloha Cloud, with thousands of restaurants and food businesses relying on Aloha POS systems. The all-in-one POS and management platform Aloha has a 30-year history of top-notch service and a great client base.
Over the years, the company has gained the trust of global brands like:
In 2024, Forbes Advisor’s list of the best restaurant POS systems ranked Aloha 4.1 out of 5, considering almost every aspect, like:
Clover is the best POS system for professional restaurant hardware. Its collection ranges from countertop terminals complete with screens (no need to purchase your tablets separately), to handheld devices that sync with the main EPOS system and allow you access to all features, from order management to reporting. They’re a great option for restaurants that do table service. Clover is also a great choice for counter-service restaurants. We particularly liked Clover’s customer display screens when we tested them: they’re bright and very reactive to touch, making it easy for customers to use them.
Another standout is Clover’s fingerprint login function, making it quicker for staff to access the interface and serve customers. Clover no longer displays its pricing in Canada, offering custom packages. This can understandably put some businesses off since it can be hard to tell if it’s in your budget. Clover still advertises pricing for the US market; based on that, we can tell you it’s expensive. If you’re a budding restaurateur, you might be better off with cheaper options like Square or SpotOn, which have free plans.
SpotOn is a great POS system for simplifying staff scheduling and streamlining communication. It’s designed for restaurants and has a proprietary Teamwork app that handles shift management and cost projections. This includes full tip management, such as tip sharing and tip reports, features not offered by established providers Clover and Lightspeed.
It’s well-suited to new restaurants since its free starting plan includes a terminal, customer display, stand, receipt printer, and cash drawer. All you’ll have to pay is the 2.89% + 25¢ card processing fee, which goes down to 1.99% + 25¢ once you upgrade to one of SpotOn’s paid plans. That’s a better deal than even Square, which charges upfront fees for its hardware, even if it has a free version of its POS software.
Lightspeed Restaurant is the best POS system for restaurants looking to increase customer loyalty, thanks to its integrated marketing features. You’ll get access to email and SMS marketing, loyalty programs, and automated marketing, all of which can entice customers to return. It’s got far more built-in loyalty and marketing features than rival Clover. There’s also an optional Order Anywhere feature, which allows you to give your customers more ways to order, such as online or via a QR code.
These tools can help create a loyal customer base and contribute to growth. However, Lightspeed is a tablet-based POS system; it can only be operated via iPad, and the company doesn’t sell physical terminals. Providers like Toast or Clover have you covered if you'd prefer a physical terminal.
TouchBistro POS is one of the best iPad POS systems. It powers over 29,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries. The specific services TouchBistro POS offers to help you deliver on your promise include:
SumUp gives users a simple, low-cost way to accept card payments. Its card reader options offer basic functionality for less than $100, and no monthly charges or contracts are required to use them. Payment processing fees are:
Compared to options with feature-rich point-of-sale systems, such as Clover or Square, SumUp’s offerings are limited. Not every business needs that extra horsepower; for small businesses with straightforward payment needs, this could be a good right-size option. SumUp lets businesses accept card payments in person, through an online invoice, with payment links, or over the phone.
Epos Now is a versatile POS system combining feature-rich software and professional hardware. Whether starting with its tablet-based app or a multi-device POS terminal, Epos Now lets businesses skirt monthly fees by paying upfront and offers sophisticated inventory management features to meet the needs of most large, full-scale restaurants.
Revel’s POS and business solutions provide native cloud technology with a design focus on serving restaurateurs (although retail customers can also use it). It can also be utilized to diversify revenue streams and can be scaled as your workforce grows.
The company offers a personalized onboarding process in its top-tier version, where you will be taught. Revel's POS pricing starts at $99 per month. This includes inventory, employee operating system and hardware use, and customer relationship management integration, reporting, and analytics. It’s worth noting that you need to purchase at least two terminals with this plan.
SkyTab is a cost-effective and comprehensive point-of-sale solution for tableside restaurants. It offers a free POS software and hardware package, free installation, and 24/7 support. This eliminates the need for a large upfront investment often seen in POS systems and makes it an attractive option for restaurants looking to replace their current system.
Talech’s POS system has been developed specifically with the challenges of smaller restaurants in mind, helping you with many administrative tasks your staff may need support with. Talech also offers a range of plan options for your budget. Talech POS is a cloud-based point of sale. Everything you need to run your business will be in the cloud and accessible from any device, anywhere, at any time. It's designed to be user-friendly and easy to use, with minimal training required.
When choosing the best restaurant POS system for your establishment, you must start by narrowing down your options based on your restaurant’s specific needs. Consider your establishment’s size (square footage and number of staff), the cuisine you serve, and whether you have multiple locations.
This assessment will help you identify the features and functionalities that best support your operations. For example, a small café that serves breakfast may not need the same kind of system as a large steakhouse that operates on multiple floors and has a large staff. While both systems may have similar capabilities, the smaller café can benefit from a simple, easy-to-use solution. At the same time, the steakhouse likely needs a more robust system to help manage its complex operations.
Once you assess your restaurant’s specific needs, you can start looking at the features of various restaurant POS systems. Some of the essential features to look for include:
With more customers ordering food online, it’s important for restaurants to have an online ordering system that integrates with their POS software. This will help you streamline the ordering process, reduce errors, and provide a better experience for your customers.
A robust system can help you track your food and beverage inventory, manage recipes, and manage ingredient costs. Most POS systems have a notification system that alerts you if there are shortages or if supplies are running low.
Accurate and up-to-date sales data are critical for any restaurant to make informed business decisions. Is one product selling better than another? What times are busiest? A good POS system will provide real-time sales reporting and the ability to generate custom reports and export data to other platforms.
An efficient table management system can greatly improve the speed and accuracy of service, which is crucial when you’re busy and short-staffed. This feature should allow you to manage reservations, seating arrangements, and the flow of diners through your restaurant.
By tracking customer orders, preferences, and feedback, you can offer a more personalized experience and build stronger relationships with your diners. A good CRM system will also allow you to send targeted marketing campaigns and reward loyal customers.
A seamless and secure payment system is essential for any restaurant. Good POS software should be able to process credit and debit cards and support various payment methods, such as gift cards, mobile payments, and contactless transactions.
A customer display shows the customer the items being purchased and the total cost, helping to prevent mistakes and build trust.
A mobile POS system allows flexibility and the ability to take orders and process payments at tableside.
Understanding your restaurant POS system’s costs and fees can help slim margins that are already rampant in the restaurant industry. Some systems have upfront costs for hardware and software, while others have monthly fees for support and maintenance. Many systems also charge fees for processing credit card transactions. To help you better understand the costs you can expect, here’s a breakdown of common pricing and fees:
Upfront Costs
Monthly Fees
Other Fees
Like most technologies, restaurant POS systems come with a range of costs. The price of a POS system will vary based on features, the provider, and whether you purchase or lease the equipment. For example, some systems charge a monthly fee for software, while others require you to pay a one-time fee upfront. When calculating the cost of a restaurant POS system, consider the following:
Some systems charge upfront for hardware and software, while others charge monthly fees for support and maintenance. Many systems also charge fees for processing credit card transactions.
Some POS systems require purchasing hardware, such as terminals, printers and barcode scanners. Depending on the system, this can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.
You may also need to pay for the software upfront or opt for a monthly subscription.
Many systems charge a monthly fee for support and maintenance. This fee helps cover the cost of updates, security, and 24/7 support.
If you process credit card transactions through the POS system, you’ll likely need to pay a processing fee. This fee is typically a percentage of each transaction plus a fixed fee per transaction.
You'll need to pay extra fees to purchase additional hardware, such as terminals or a kitchen display system. Some systems charge a fee for training and setup, while others offer it for free.
Once you narrow down your options, read customer reviews before deciding. This step will help you avoid problems or issues with specific restaurant POS systems.
The POS Exchange brings over 20 years of restaurant expertise, serving 200,000+ merchants and processing billions annually. Our tailored POS system solutions help businesses speed up checkouts by 30%, implement dynamic pricing, and manage customer reviews while reducing overhead. Perfect for:
We offer end-to-end service, from smart consultation and interactive demos to local installation and 24/7 support.
Our mobile iPad POS systems streamline operations with features like order management, bill splitting, and inventory control. With integrations for business management tools and advanced security measures, we ensure your POS system grows with your business.
Trust our expertise to help you avoid the common pitfall that affects 38% of new business owners who choose the wrong POS system. Whether managing a busy restaurant, a local café, or operating a multi-location business, The POS Exchange delivers customized POS system solutions that tell your unique business story.
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