How to Choose a Cafe POS System for a Small Business

Are you on your way to run a successful business? Well, a good POS system used by your employees can get you there much faster and with much less stress involved. A POS (point of sale) system is a retail system that allows you to automatically organize and simplify various business operations. These make the entire buy-sell process easier for both the customer and the merchants. POS can make business management easier and allow employees to make quick decisions and work more productively. Do you want one of these POS systems for yourself? Here’s how to choose one and get ahead of your competition.

First things first

Most people don’t know whether they should start by finding the right credit card processor or finding the right POS system. So, here’s the deal: if you have a unique business that requires some specific features, then the first thing you need to do is analyze the features and find a POS system. Some specific features you might need are online ordering, delivery tracking for your food or drink, age verification for your liquor offer, appointments and class calendars for cupping classes and wine tastings. If any of these points are must-haves for you, start by selecting a POS system before doing anything else. This might cost you some more money, but it will be worth it in the end.

Compare prices

Is the price your main criteria? That’s very understandable. Start by finding a good credit card processor and then move to POS systems. Get a few quotes from different companies and compare them (there are even websites that allow you to do that privately). After you have your quotes, it’s time to choose a POS system. It’s true that you’ll have a smaller range of choices, but your product will definitely be affordable, user-friendly and effective.

Leasing or buying

While we’re on the subject of paying, it’s important to remember that there are different ways to pay for your POS system. You can always expect to pay more for your POS system than for a basic credit card machine, but you will also have some payment options before you. You can lease or you can purchase. When leasing, your initial costs will be very low but think of the future before you choose this option. Leasing can cost you much more than buying over time, so check the math and see what fits your needs and wants the best.

Free POS systems

Sometimes, you can get free POS software with your mobile credit card processing service. Some small businesses can use this freebie the right way—it all depends on how you use your software. If you process a few card transactions and don’t need specific benefits paid POS systems offer, this might be the thing for you. You just need to keep in mind that there are basically no other benefits to free systems than cost.

Easy setup

Setup costs for certain POS systems can be too high for small businesses—they require technicians, on-site servers and additional hardware. So, oftentimes, it best to opt for a modern iPad cafe POS system that can be downloaded as an app. This allows you to be up and running in literal minutes. Also, updates to the system are quick and regular, and you can always get improvements and new features. This kind of system is perfect for all small businesses (cafes, bars, restaurants) that want a fuss-free and cost-effective way to launch their system.

What else to look for?

Your business will definitely benefit from good data storage with different levels of access rights. You can define levels of access, so that only owners, managers and trusted employees can access certain data. Also, your POS system needs to be easy to learn. Most software can be mastered in around 15 minutes, with integral learning taking less than a day. Your software needs to be transparent, comprehensible and pleasurable to use. Additionally, you will need fast and efficient order processing. Once you put the data in, you can expect that your POS software will do most of the work. And, the operations need to be executed in no more than a few clicks. Data modification is also important. You want to quickly set prices, change dish ingredients, add menu items and other things. Having good and easy to use loyalty programs such as discounts, special offers, promotions and bonuses can additionally make your life easier.

All in all, a well-chosen POS system can help you run circles around your competition because it will give you speed, efficiency and security all of which improve customer loyalty. Also, your staff will have more comfortable work experience, make fewer mistakes and do their best to make guests feel welcome. Your new system will increase the attendance of your establishment and allow your business to grow, change and garner good income.