After a long day, you count your cash and stow it away for the night. Before opening your doors the following morning, you take a moment to reconcile your records from yesterday's sales. If you are like most small business owners, this process can be tedious and error-prone. However, with a POS cash register, this will be a thing of the past. Beyond the heavy lifting of tracking your business's sales, a POS system can also make your customers' experience smoother and more enjoyable. If you're wondering how to choose a point of sale system, it's important to evaluate options based on features like inventory management, ease of use, and customer support to ensure it meets your unique business needs.
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The POS Exchange has a solution to help reduce the friction of transaction processes for you and your customers. An efficient POS system will help you achieve your objectives, like improving transaction efficiency, so you can focus on growing your business instead of getting stuck in the weeds.

What is a POS Cash Register?

A point of sale system, or POS, is often a touch-screen system that allows users to:

• Total sales
• Track inventory
• Run reports
• Manage sales
• Create menus
• Communicate orders to the kitchen to print barcodes
• Manage customer relationships
• Track rewards and discounts
• Automate tasks
• Control marketing
• Analyze data and much more

A point-of-sale system combined with a POS cash register features all of the benefits of a POS system. In short, the modern POS cash register has come a long way from the original version of Ritty’s Incorruptible Cashier. There are two primary types of POS cash registers:

• Fixed
• Mobile

Today’s POS systems overlap, as the best retail POS systems allow businesses to create bundles with elements of traditional checkout setups and mobile solutions.

What’s the Deal with Fixed POS Cash Registers? 

A fixed POS cash register is a stationary cash register integrated with a business’s POS system. It’s typically installed at designated checkout locations and includes:

• Terminals
• Screens
• Cash drawers
• Receipt printers

Most fixed POS systems also include or connect to card readers, allowing businesses to accept credit card payments and digital payment methods. These registers are typically tied to robust POS software. Their stationary setup makes them ideal for retail stores, restaurants, and other businesses with a centralized checkout process.

What is a Mobile POS (mPOS) Cash Register?

A mPOS cash register combines a cash drawer with an mPOS system. mPOS systems operate on tablets, smartphones, or proprietary mobile devices and typically include a card reader that accepts near-field communication mobile payments and card payments. Businesses that want to accept cash payments must have a cash drawer to store money and provide change.

While some businesses, such as restaurants using mPOS systems for tableside service, may not need a cash drawer, others, like food trucks and retailers selling at local events, often require one to simulate traditional register functionality.

What are the Benefits of POS Cash Registers?

A POS cash register and robust overall POS system can bring numerous benefits to your business, depending on the software features you’ve opted for. The following are some of the most important:

• Inventory management: Inventory is a POS system’s primary selling point. Top POS systems have built-in inventory management. They can track stock changes automatically after every sale, making replenishment much easier.
• Data analytics: A POS reduces labor costs by digitizing sales data. Instead of manually entering receipt information into a computer automatically, you can utilize data analytics to create POS reports. POS retail reports can help you make informed decisions on staffing, inventory, etc.
• Time and attendance tracking: If you integrate a time clock into your POS system, you can easily track employee hours, sales, and labor statistics. Helpful timers can schedule mandatory breaks, station rotations, or responsibilities and staffing changes to handle sales traffic patterns.

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9 Best POS Cash Registers for Small Businesses

1. Square: Best Touch-screen Cash Register for Small Businesses

We recommend Square as the best POS-driven cash register for small businesses because it delivers a complete suite of:

• Free sales
• Payment
• Inventory
• Business management tools

Why We Like It

Square is a cloud-based, POS-driven registers with several low-cost hardware options. An all-in-one point-of-sale solution that combines a credit card processing service, software, and cash register, Square is our top choice for the best small business POS systems. 

Unlike electronic cash registers, Square lets you process sales and run your business from your smartphone or tablet. You can also use one or more countertop registers to meet in-store selling needs.

Square POS: Pros, Cons, and Alternatives

Unlike the other picks on our list, with Square’s POS register, you can’t rate-shop merchant account providers. Square’s payment processing is very small-business-friendly, with transparent and straightforward flat-rate fees and no startup or monthly account fees for a baseline subscription. 

If you want to keep an existing processor or shop for rates, consider any electronic registers on this list. If you wish to have an iPad-based register with more payment integrations, check out Lightspeed.

Standout features:

• Touch-screen cash register
• Easily expandable hardware
• Built-in credit card processing
• Track unlimited items and variations
• Track unlimited employees
• Specialized options for retail and restaurant businesses
• Easy to add:some text
  • Gift cards
  • Online ordering
  • Employee timekeeping
  • Marketing
  • Loyalty and more

2. Toast: Best Free Cash Register for Restaurants

Toast is a cloud-based POS designed for restaurants, our top-recommended restaurant POS system.

Why We Like It

Two things set Toast apart from the others on this list: 

• It is designed specifically for restaurants and operates on Toast-designed POS hardware for:some text
  • Terminals
  • Self-service kiosks
  • Kitchen displays
  • Handheld order
  • Payment devices
• It also offers a no-upfront-cost hardware option.

You’ll pay higher payment processing fees if you opt for Pay-as-You-Go hardware, but if you are a new, small, independent restaurant, you’ll pay higher processing fees no matter what system you use.

Toast has a couple of downsides, though. It is the only system on this list that requires a lengthy contract (two years). Like Square, Toast also locks you into its built-in payment processor, Toast Payments.

Toast POS: Features, Pricing, and Alternatives

Though Toast has a history of matching or beating competitors’ processing rates, contact the provider directly to see what rates you can negotiate. It also doesn’t have tools for retailers. If you need something more short-term, consider Square. If you want a POS-driven register for retail, consider Lightspeed.

Standout features:

• Touch-screen operation 
• Restaurant-supporting order screens
• Manages complex modifiers
• $0 upfront option for registering hardware
• Built-in credit card processing 
• Google online ordering integration 
• Track unlimited items with modifiers
• Unlimited employee log-ins

3. Lightspeed: Best Register for High-volume & Multi-location Retailers

Lightspeed is one of the best options for a multi-location business needing networked or cloud-based systems. Businesses that need intensive inventory management and purchase ordering tools would also do well with Lightspeed. Users should be mindful, though, as this cloud-based system needs a strong internet connection to keep the network running.

Why We Like It

Lightspeed, like Square, is a POS-driven cash register with a comprehensive set of store management tools. Users can track inventory in real-time and manage purchasing, staff, and business tasks across multiple locations. 

Like Square, Lightspeed also connects in-store and online sales. As a POS-based register system, Lightspeed lets you set up several registers in one or many locations and connect all data within one centralized, cloud-based software system.

Lightspeed vs. Square vs. Toast: Choosing the Best POS

If you like Lightspeed’s touch-screen register but hate monthly fees, check out Square (which offers free register software). Restaurants should check out Toast’s Pay-as-You-Go plan. The SAM4S SAP-630R is your best bet if you want to go electronic.

Standout features:

• Multiple options for payment processing 
• Operates on iPads or desktop computers 
• Specialized software for retailers and restaurants
• Top-of-the-line inventory tracking and reporting

4. TouchBistro: Best POS Register for High-turnover Food Businesses

Like Toast, TouchBistro is designed to support food service businesses. TouchBistro includes ingredient-level inventory in the baseline POS. Still, it is much simpler and less automated than Lightspeed’s inventory module, making it an excellent fit for quick-service restaurants and coffee shops that experience high staff turnover.

Why We Like It

TouchBistro is an iOS-based POS system that, like Square and Lightspeed, operates on iPads. It is one of the most user-friendly registers on the market. Most users say they can train staff to use the system in under an hour. If you’ve ever operated an iPhone, you’ll know how to operate TouchBistro.

This system requires a monthly baseline cost of at least $69 per register. Unlike Square and Toast, TouchBistro does not offer a free baseline subscription; unlike Lightspeed, it does not offer a free trial. Toast and Lightspeed also both have deeper reporting capabilities than TouchBistro.

Lightspeed POS: Features and Alternatives

Lightspeed’s ingredient-level inventory is also much more automated (though only available with the priciest monthly subscription). If you need to register without monthly subscription fees, check out Square or any ECRs on this list.

Standout features: 

• iOS-based touch screens are very user-friendly
• Easy to self-install
• Quote-based pricing tailored to fit your needs
• Unlimited items and employee logins

5. Vend

If you’re looking for a retail cash register and POS system, you should consider Vend. This software is popular amongst retailers due to its inventory management and reporting capabilities. Vend’s retail cash register software provides customer loyalty initiatives and can be used on an iPad, Mac, or PC. Retail businesses of any size can use Vend to operate their business, and the features include:

• Customer database
• Real-time reporting
• Available offline

Vend integrates with several other types of software, including:

• Deputy
• Stitch Labs

There are different price points for Vend’s retail cash register software. The ‘lite’ package for small retailers is $99 monthly, and multi-store retailers pay $129 monthly.

6. QuickBooks POS

QuickBooks Desktop Point of Sale allows retailers to process different payment methods. You can purchase different hardware to accompany QuickBooks POS. Cash drawers, pole displays, and wireless barcode scanners can be bought to accompany the QuickBooks POS software. QuickBooks POS features include:

• Inventory management
• Customer relationship management
• Customer reward and loyalty tracking

QuickBooks POS: Pricing, Features, and Plans

QuickBooks POS integrates with its accounting software for seamless business accounting. QuickBooks POS system is for sale with a starting sale price of $720 for the basic version. The pro version of their POS system is for sale at a discounted price of $1,020.

After a discount, the multi-store option costs $1,140. After purchasing the hardware, you can choose from monthly plans, starting at $5, depending on your business type.

6. ShopKeep

ShopKeep is another POS system that can replace traditional retail cash registers. This cloud-based software allows retailers to accept all types of payments, including cash, credit cards, and mobile payments. ShopKeep’s iPad cash register system provides the functionality of a cash register on an iPad.

The ShopKeep Pocket App can be used with the iPad register to provide real-time business performance updates. ShopKeep’s POS system is versatile enough to be used in different industries, like restaurants, bars, and franchises, due to the following features:

• Customer marketing
• Inventory management
• Reporting and analytics

ShopKeep POS: Features and Pricing Overview

ShopKeep integrates with QuickBooks and Big Commerce to enable retailers to sell online. There are no contracts required to sign up for ShopKeep. You must provide your business details to get a quote, but monthly prices start from $69.

You can also buy POS hardware to accompany the ShopKeep app for a complete POS cash register system. The monthly fee includes 24/7 live chat, phone, or email support.

7. Upserve

 Upserve POS system helps restaurateurs manage their eating establishments from anywhere and in real-time. Upserve runs on iPad POS software and is compatible with most iPad models. The cloud-based model allows for automatic updates, so your restaurant won’t be subject to interruptions during operating hours.

Upserve POS is similar to other restaurants' POS and cash register systems because it integrates with tools like employee scheduling and accounting software. The ‘pro’ version provides restaurants with a loyalty program integrated with online ordering.

Upserve POS: Features and Pricing

Upserve has features to help you process payments, track inventory, and manage tables most efficiently. Here are some of the features available on Upserve’s restaurant POS system:

• Table Ordering
• Kitchen display system
• Menu and inventory management
• Live reporting of sales

Upserve’s software pricing starts at $69 per month per terminal. The hardware price depends on your needs, but Upserve offers 0% interest on hardware costs.

8. Royal POS 1500

Used for small businesses that require the ability to process both cash and contactless payments, Royal’s POS 1500 includes a touchpad and a separate cash drawer. Users can add:

• Optional attached credit card readers
• Bar code scanners
• Radio-frequency identification (RFID) or tap-to-pay readers
• Weight scales
• Wireless thermal printers

The registers typically cost $700 to $900. Although the Royal has add-ons for various businesses, it cannot connect to the cloud, and its size might make it a tough sell for more technically minded business owners.

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How to Choose a POS Cash Register

1. Choosing the Right POS Hardware for Your Business Needs

Choosing the right POS cash register is directly tied to your selected POS system. You must carefully evaluate your business’s needs, budget, and future growth plans to choose the right POS system. For example, a retail store might need one or more fixed POS cash register terminals with receipt printers and barcode scanners.

If you own an eatery, the best restaurant POS systems for easy tableside checkout offer options such as:

• Robust kitchen display systems
• Payment terminals
• Handheld mPOS systems

A small service-based business may need a simple smartphone card reader with a cash drawer to accept mobile payments. In short, the POS system vendor you select must offer the hardware you need to run your business.

2. What POS System Features Does Your Business Need?

While software needs may not seem to be a factor in choosing a POS cash register, they’re a crucial consideration when evaluating POS software — and it’s all tied together. Numerous POS system features exist, but you don’t want to pay for features you don’t need.

Consider the following features and their importance to your business. Your industry will dictate many of your POS system needs. Some industries require specialized management, while others are more straightforward. For example, you'll charge by the hour if you own a service business, such as a:

• Bookkeeping
• Tutoring service

Choosing the Right POS for Your Business Needs

Accepting customer payments will be simple — you’ll likely just select the customer name and input the number of hours worked with a short description. In contrast, a specialized outdoor equipment retailer will have a complex inventory of clothing and equipment.

The POS system must load each product and its variations for inventory management, so businesses need robust features. Similarly, an appointment-based business will need a POS system with appointment-setting features and reminder communication functionality.

Tip: Create a list of your must-have POS system features to ensure your POS cash register choice aligns with your business processes.

3. Set a Budget for Your POS System

POS system costs vary widely — free POS systems and setups can cost hundreds of dollars monthly. Do some budget planning to establish what you’re willing to spend on your POS solution. Consider the upfront hardware and software costs and ongoing expenses such as:

• Monthly subscription fees
• Maintenance costs
• Potential transaction fees

4. Choose Between a Cloud-Based or On-Premise System

Some businesses prefer cloud-based POS software for its flexibility and remote access functionality. Others opt for an on-premise system that stores data locally. Cloud-based systems often have lower upfront costs but require a stable internet connection.

5. Ensure Hardware and Software Compatibility

You may already have hardware you want to use with a POS system, or you may have a specific hardware preference. If so, you must ensure the POS system works with your chosen POS cash register or hardware setup.

If you’re starting from scratch, you’ll likely opt for a vendor that can provide all the hardware and software you need. If not, research software that meets your needs and verify that it integrates seamlessly with your chosen hardware.

Seamless POS Integration Tips

Read reviews, ratings, and testimonials to ensure reliability. Similarly, you may need your POS system to integrate seamlessly with your business software. Ensure any potential POS system can work with your accounting and email marketing software if you want to tie all your systems together.

FYI, Top POS systems integrate with the best accounting software and email marketing services. Ensure your POS partner works with your chosen solution.

6. Test Potential POS Cash Register Solutions

Your POS cash register must be intuitive for you and your staff. Request a demo or free trial to evaluate any potential system’s usability. A complicated interface can slow operations and require extensive training, and clunky or flimsy hardware won’t work.

7. Evaluate Potential Vendors’ Customer Support and Scalability

Your POS provider should offer reliable customer support and be able to handle potential technical issues during your business hours. Consider whether the solution can scale as your business grows, such as:

• Adding new locations
• Integrating advanced features

8. Look at Payment Processing Fees

The POS cash register you select must support your customers’ preferred payment methods, including:

• Credit cards
• Mobile payments
• Contactless transactions

To manage costs, look for a vendor with competitive POS charges, including payment processing fees.

9. Verify the POS Platform’s Security

Choosing a system with robust security measures, such as end-to-end encryption and Payment Card Industry compliance, is crucial to protect customer data and reduce the risk of credit card fraud.

10. Compare Vendors and Finalize Your Choice

Once you’ve narrowed your options, compare pricing, features, and contracts among the most promising vendors. Select the one that offers the best combination of features, cost, and support for your business.

Book a Free Demo Today!

A Trusted POS System Partner for Small Businesses. Whether you run a full-service restaurant, café, or a multi-location pizza shop, The POS Exchange delivers tailored POS systems for small businesses like yours. With over 20 years of experience in the restaurant industry, The POS Exchange knows how to help you implement a customized POS solution that boosts efficiency and improves your bottom line.

The POS Exchange caters to over 200,000 merchants, processes billions annually, and offers end-to-end service, from consultation to local installation and 24/7 support.  The POS Exchange understands your unique business needs and helps you avoid choosing the wrong POS system, a common pitfall that affects 38% of new business owners. Book a free demo with The POS Exchange today to discover how their tailored POS solutions can help your business.

Boost Operational Efficiency with POS System Features

The right POS system can improve your business operations to serve customers better and reduce costs. The POS Exchange POS systems help full-service restaurants, cafes, pizza shops, and multi-location operations boost operational efficiency by at least 30%.

Their mobile iPad POS systems come with features that help you manage orders, inventory, customer reviews, and more. If you run a busy restaurant or multi-location enterprise, you can use a customized POS system to streamline your operations and reduce the stress of managing a complex business.

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