Restaurant POS Software

What is Restaurant POS Software

Restaurant Point-of-Sale (POS) Software streamlines most aspects of the foodservice industry and its day-to-day tasks. Restaurant POS Software handles sending and processing orders between front and back of house, managing inventory and menus, accepting and processing payments, and making reservations. Restaurant POS Software can also be used to generate sales reports, assist with training, track monthly expenses, and measure productivity. These products can be deployed using proprietary hardware or on third-party peripherals.

Restaurant POS Software can be extremely useful for businesses of all sizes. Since these tools can track inventories, process payments, and adjust menus in real-time, POS software can help business owners create realistic sales projections, manage costs effectively, and observe material use. Restaurant POS Software also has a variety of intuitive customer- and employee-facing features, such as easy-to-use self-service kiosks or schedule and time clock management.

Restaurant POS Software has elements of standard Point of Sale Systems combined with Payment Gateway Software and Restaurant Management Software. Restaurant POS Software bundles the foodservice-oriented aspects of these into a single package, namely payment and inventory handling tasks. Restaurant POS solutions also provide several unique features such as order processing, ticket printing, and table and floor management that are not often found in products from other categories.

Restaurant POS Software Features

The most common Restaurant POS Software features are:

• Payment processing
• Card reading
• Employee time tracking
• Employee scheduling
• Onboarding and training assistance
• Table and reservation management
• Order processing
• Menu management
• Inventory use reporting and management
• Receipt generation
• Productivity reports
• Sales and revenue reports
• Hardware kits, including self-service kiosks, cash registers, and printers
• Customer loyalty programs
• Customizable upsell prompts
• Automated menu pricing
• Sales tax calculation
• Delivery app integration
• Custom survey management
• Multilocation reporting
• CRM integration

Restaurant POS Software Comparison

When choosing the best Restaurant POS Software for you, consider the following:

Hardware needs. Many Restaurant POS Software vendors offer hardware and external peripherals, such as tablets or cash drawers, that are designed to be seamlessly integrated with their POS software. Virtually all vendors offer their software as separate products, but for new businesses, restaurants looking to upgrade their equipment, or delivery and catering services, having ready-to-use, capable hardware with no integration issues will be helpful.

Hardware durability. If you intend to use a vendor’s hardware options, you’ll want to make sure that the hardware can withstand the everyday working environment of your dining rooms, bars, kitchens, delivery vehicles, and so forth. Hardware that can withstand spills, grease, heat, moisture, collision, and other daily incidents will be important, as will a replacement, insurance, or troubleshooting service should you need a replacement.

Payroll management features. Some Restaurant POS Software provides payroll management features. This includes tracking employee hours worked, reported tips for tipped workers, and post-payment tip calculations. These features may be part of the POS package, which generally means a higher cost of investment in the service itself, but most products offer third-party integrations with existing accounting workflows.

Contract lengths. Some vendors require contracts to use their POS systems. These contracts can range between 1 and 5 years and will require exclusive use of these systems and their auxiliary products where necessary. Be sure that these contract lengths are agreeable to your needs, and be aware of possible contract termination fees should circumstances change.

Payment processing costs. If you are using Restaurant POS Software to process credit card payments, be advised that some vendors charge a payment processing fee for each transaction. These costs can accrue quickly, especially for online orders, split checks, and post-payment gratuity processing. Processing fees can be either a percentage based on the amount processed or a flat-rate fee for each transaction.

Pricing Information

Restaurant POS Software comes with a variety of pricing considerations, including software costs, hardware costs, and payment processing fees. Many vendors offer a free, restricted software plan, usually with limitations on the number of terminals that can be used or available customization features. Hardware and software installation costs vary between vendors, as do payment processing fees. Vendors should be contacted directly for quotes and pricing plans.

More Resources

The following resources may help you pick the best Restaurant POS Software for you:

• F&B Software: The SaaS tools you need as a food & beverage business (besides just restaurant management)
• Top Free Point of Sale Software