Editor/Content Strategist | Taxes, retirement, small business, Social Security, estate planning, home services, cars
Tina Orem is an editor and content strategist at NerdWallet. Prior to becoming an editor and content strategist, she covered small business and taxes at NerdWallet. She has a degree in finance, as well as a master's degree in journalism and a Master of Business Administration. Her work has appeared in a variety of local and national media outlets. Email: <a href="mailto:torem@nerdwallet.com">torem@nerdwallet.com</a>.
Karrin Sehmbi is an editor and content strategist on the small-business team. She has more than fifteen years of editorial experience in the fields of educational publishing, content marketing and medical news. She has also held roles as a teacher and a tutor.
Christine Aebischer is an assistant assigning editor on the small-business team who joined NerdWallet in 2020, originally as a copy editor. Previously, she held editing roles at Fundera, Northwestern Mutual and LearnVest, where she covered a variety of personal and business finance topics. Christine earned bachelor's degrees in English and journalism from The College of New Jersey. Email: <a href="mailto:caebischer@nerdwallet.com">caebischer@nerdwallet.com</a>.
Christine Aebischer is an assistant assigning editor on the small-business team who joined NerdWallet in 2020, originally as a copy editor. Previously, she held editing roles at Fundera, Northwestern Mutual and LearnVest, where she covered a variety of personal and business finance topics. Christine earned bachelor's degrees in English and journalism from The College of New Jersey. Email: <a href="mailto:caebischer@nerdwallet.com">caebischer@nerdwallet.com</a>.
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Editor/Content Strategist | Taxes, retirement, small business, Social Security, estate planning, home services, cars
Tina Orem is an editor and content strategist at NerdWallet. Prior to becoming an editor and content strategist, she covered small business and taxes at NerdWallet. She has a degree in finance, as well as a master's degree in journalism and a Master of Business Administration. Her work has appeared in a variety of local and national media outlets. Email: <a href="mailto:torem@nerdwallet.com">torem@nerdwallet.com</a>.
Karrin Sehmbi is an editor and content strategist on the small-business team. She has more than fifteen years of editorial experience in the fields of educational publishing, content marketing and medical news. She has also held roles as a teacher and a tutor.
Christine Aebischer is an assistant assigning editor on the small-business team who joined NerdWallet in 2020, originally as a copy editor. Previously, she held editing roles at Fundera, Northwestern Mutual and LearnVest, where she covered a variety of personal and business finance topics. Christine earned bachelor's degrees in English and journalism from The College of New Jersey. Email: <a href="mailto:caebischer@nerdwallet.com">caebischer@nerdwallet.com</a>.
Christine Aebischer is an assistant assigning editor on the small-business team who joined NerdWallet in 2020, originally as a copy editor. Previously, she held editing roles at Fundera, Northwestern Mutual and LearnVest, where she covered a variety of personal and business finance topics. Christine earned bachelor's degrees in English and journalism from The College of New Jersey. Email: <a href="mailto:caebischer@nerdwallet.com">caebischer@nerdwallet.com</a>.
NerdWallet's content is
fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness, and relevance by humans.
It undergoes a thorough review process involving writers and editors to ensure
the information is as clear and complete as possible. Learn more by checking
our
Editorial Guidelines.
Content was accurate at the time of publication.
Why trust NerdWallet
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95+ years of combined
experience covering small-business and personal finance.
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business loan selections.
Objective and comprehensive business loans ratings rubric
– learn more about our star ratings.
NerdWallet's small-business loans content, including ratings,
recommendations and reviews, is overseen by a team of writers and
editors who specialize in business lending. Their work has appeared in
The Associated Press, The Washington Post, MarketWatch, Nasdaq,
Entrepreneur, ABC News, MSN and other national and local media outlets.
Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity to ensure accuracy and fairness in our coverage.
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You’re our first priority.
Every time.
We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with
confidence. And while our site doesn’t feature every company or
financial product available on the market, we’re proud that the guidance
we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are
objective, independent, straightforward — and free.
So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us. This may influence
which products we review and write about (and where those products
appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or
advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our
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The best grocery store point-of-sale (POS) systems track inventory, provide thorough sales reporting and are easy to use, among other factors. Some of the POS systems listed offer software plans specific to industries like grocery stores, while others have retail plans or are more universal.
Here are some of NerdWallet’s top picks for grocery store POS systems:
IT Retail: Best overall grocery store POS system.Â
Square : Best for smaller grocery stores with simple POS needs.
Clover : Best for dependable, well-designed hardware.
Why trust NerdWallet
250+ small-business products reviewed and rated by our team of experts.
95+ years of combined experience covering small business and personal finance.
75+ categories of best business software selections.
NerdWallet's small-business software content, including ratings, recommendations and reviews, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in business software, including POS systems, payment processing, accounting and payroll. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, The Washington Post, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur, ABC News, Yahoo Finance and other national and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity to ensure accuracy and fairness in our coverage.
Free plan available if you’re only using a mobile card reader.
24/7 phone support.
All restaurant plans include no-fee online ordering, and retail plans let you integrate with existing online stores.
Offers a variety of plans tailored to six specific types of businesses.
Can pair POS systems with third-party payment processors.
Cons
Promotions require a three-year contract.
May be subject to early termination fees if you use Clover as your payment processor.
Online payment processing rates are more expensive than competitors.
Clover point-of-sale hardware is pricey, but the reasonable monthly cost and low payment processing fees may help offset that upfront investment over time.
Free plan available if you’re only using a mobile card reader.
24/7 phone support.
All restaurant plans include no-fee online ordering, and retail plans let you integrate with existing online stores.
Offers a variety of plans tailored to six specific types of businesses.
Can pair POS systems with third-party payment processors.
Cons
Promotions require a three-year contract.
May be subject to early termination fees if you use Clover as your payment processor.
Online payment processing rates are more expensive than competitors.
Clover point-of-sale hardware is pricey, but the reasonable monthly cost and low payment processing fees may help offset that upfront investment over time.
Includes detailed inventory management tools for creating product variants.
No long-term contracts.
24/7 live chat support.
Generate unlimited barcode labels.
Cons
No free plan options.
Accounting integrations are only available in Core and Plus plans.
Can’t process card payments in offline mode.
Lightspeed Retail is a POS system with strong, built-in inventory management features. In addition to keeping track of stock, business owners can fill out purchase orders from within the software and make bulk price changes across sales channels. They can also set up reorder points and low stock alerts and choose from a wide variety of product variations.
Includes detailed inventory management tools for creating product variants.
No long-term contracts.
24/7 live chat support.
Generate unlimited barcode labels.
Cons
No free plan options.
Accounting integrations are only available in Core and Plus plans.
Can’t process card payments in offline mode.
Lightspeed Retail is a POS system with strong, built-in inventory management features. In addition to keeping track of stock, business owners can fill out purchase orders from within the software and make bulk price changes across sales channels. They can also set up reorder points and low stock alerts and choose from a wide variety of product variations.
Cloud-based platform makes it easier to manage across multiple store locations.
Extensive list of tools and features.
Can configure to suit many business types and sizes.
24/7 customer support.
Cons
Lack of pricing transparency.
Requires a three-year contract.
Revel offers iPad-based POS systems along with a wide variety of hardware, including stands and self-service kiosks. Revel’s extensive list of POS features may best serve larger establishments with multiple locations, especially given the higher price point of the company’s software. Revel also offers setup and installation help as well as training and onboarding services, at an additional cost.
Cloud-based platform makes it easier to manage across multiple store locations.
Extensive list of tools and features.
Can configure to suit many business types and sizes.
24/7 customer support.
Cons
Lack of pricing transparency.
Requires a three-year contract.
Revel offers iPad-based POS systems along with a wide variety of hardware, including stands and self-service kiosks. Revel’s extensive list of POS features may best serve larger establishments with multiple locations, especially given the higher price point of the company’s software. Revel also offers setup and installation help as well as training and onboarding services, at an additional cost.
Supports sales of regulated items like alcohol and tobacco.
Cons
Lack of pricing transparency.
Prices that are disclosed run higher than some competitors.
POS Nation’s software comes with a variety of useful retail features, including coupon creation and acceptance, customer loyalty and built-in cash discount capability. Its hardware comes with 24/7 support and a two-year or lifetime warranty, depending on your plan. POS Nation offers both pre-built and custom plans and even includes a pricing tool on its website.
POS Nation
Best for Grocery store-specific features
Payment processing fees
2% + $0.00
to 2.5%
Monthly fee
$49
and up.
Pros
Long list of POS features.
24/7 tech support and training.
Supports sales of regulated items like alcohol and tobacco.
Cons
Lack of pricing transparency.
Prices that are disclosed run higher than some competitors.
POS Nation’s software comes with a variety of useful retail features, including coupon creation and acceptance, customer loyalty and built-in cash discount capability. Its hardware comes with 24/7 support and a two-year or lifetime warranty, depending on your plan. POS Nation offers both pre-built and custom plans and even includes a pricing tool on its website.
IT Retail
3.0
Best for Overall grocery store POS
Payment processing fees
N/A
Quote-based.
Monthly fee
$49
and up.
Pros
System and features specifically designed for grocery stores.
Accepts all payment types, including EBT, checks and gift cards.
24/7 tech support and training.
Supports sales of regulated items like alcohol and tobacco.
Cons
Lack of pricing transparency.
Prices that are disclosed run higher than some competitors.
IT Retail has been in the business of building and selling grocery store POS systems for more than two decades. While its prices are higher and less transparent than some of its competitors, the company has built a POS system that includes all the features you’ll need to run your store, including a product lookup menu, wholesale sales functionality, customer loyalty programs and capabilities to accept all forms of payment, including EBT. The pricing structure is largely quote-based, but there is a pay-monthly option and two hardware bundle options with listed prices.
IT Retail
Best for Overall grocery store POS
3.0
Payment processing fees
N/A
Quote-based.
Monthly fee
$49
and up.
Pros
System and features specifically designed for grocery stores.
Accepts all payment types, including EBT, checks and gift cards.
24/7 tech support and training.
Supports sales of regulated items like alcohol and tobacco.
Cons
Lack of pricing transparency.
Prices that are disclosed run higher than some competitors.
IT Retail has been in the business of building and selling grocery store POS systems for more than two decades. While its prices are higher and less transparent than some of its competitors, the company has built a POS system that includes all the features you’ll need to run your store, including a product lookup menu, wholesale sales functionality, customer loyalty programs and capabilities to accept all forms of payment, including EBT. The pricing structure is largely quote-based, but there is a pay-monthly option and two hardware bundle options with listed prices.
Loyverse
3.7
Best for Free POS software
Payment processing fees
N/A
Varies by processor.
Monthly fee
$0
Pros
Can be used for a variety of businesses, including restaurants, cafes, bars, grocery stores, retail stores and boutiques.
Integrates with several payment processors, including SumUp and Zettle.
Free software includes a loyalty program, which most competitors offer as an add-on with additional cost.
Cons
24/7 live chat support is only available with paid add-on subscriptions.
Not all features are available with the free version, including employee management and advanced inventory.
Loyverse offers free POS software with several features well suited to businesses in retail or food and drink industries. It can support inventory tracking for mixed drinks in bars and order management for cafes and restaurants, for example. It can also handle retail store inventory.
Loyverse
Best for Free POS software
3.7
Payment processing fees
N/A
Varies by processor.
Monthly fee
$0
Pros
Can be used for a variety of businesses, including restaurants, cafes, bars, grocery stores, retail stores and boutiques.
Integrates with several payment processors, including SumUp and Zettle.
Free software includes a loyalty program, which most competitors offer as an add-on with additional cost.
Cons
24/7 live chat support is only available with paid add-on subscriptions.
Not all features are available with the free version, including employee management and advanced inventory.
Loyverse offers free POS software with several features well suited to businesses in retail or food and drink industries. It can support inventory tracking for mixed drinks in bars and order management for cafes and restaurants, for example. It can also handle retail store inventory.
Full details: Best grocery store POS systems
IT Retail
Best overall grocery store POS system
Why we like it: IT Retail proudly declares on its website that it has been in the business of building and selling grocery store POS systems for more than two decades and, in fact, its “founder was a second-generation grocer.”Â
While its prices are higher and less transparent than some of its competitors, IT Retail has built a POS system that includes all the features you’ll need to run your store, including a product lookup menu to easily find products without scanning a label, wholesale sales functionality, customer loyalty programs and capabilities to accept all forms of payment, including EBT. The system supports sales of highly regulated items like alcohol and tobacco and includes important employee-related functions such as time tracking, a built-in training module and the ability to set employee permissions.Â
The POS app runs locally but auto-syncs every few minutes to the back-office software, which operates in the cloud, so your store data remains safe and can be easily accessible across multiple devices and locations. Back-office software includes an analytics dashboard, various sales and inventory reports and more.Â
The pricing structure is largely quote-based, but there is a pay-monthly option and two hardware bundle options with listed prices; it also offers an online pricing tool that allows you to customize your own POS system.Â
Monthly POS software fees
$49 for Starter plan.
$99 for Growth plan.
$149 for Premium plan.
Hardware costs
Quote-based.
Payment processing fees
Fees are undisclosed; you need to sign a processing agreement.
Pros
System and features specifically designed for grocery stores.
Accepts all payment types, including EBT, checks and gift cards.
Regular system backups keep data safe and up to date.
Can sync and access data across devices and locations.
Supports sales of regulated items like alcohol and tobacco.
Cons
Lack of transparent pricing.
Disclosed software and hardware fees are on the pricey side.
Square for Retail
Best for smaller businesses with simple POS needs
Why we like it: Square for Retail POS leads the charge in offering accessible, smart device-enabled POS systems. Square also stands out among competitors because it offers a free version of its POS system that includes all the core functionality most small retail businesses need, such as sales reporting, barcode scanning, low inventory alerts, employee time tracking and reporting and the ability to accept payments during Wi-Fi outages.Â
The Square for Retail Plus plan includes valuable features such as barcode printing, order forecasting, vendor management, and advanced reporting on profit margins and cost of goods sold. Add-ons for payroll and customer loyalty programs are available for an additional cost.Â
With competitive payment processing rates, transparent pricing and no contracts, Square for Retail POS is a strong fit for smaller stores that don’t require more specialized POS capabilities. Read our full Square for Retail POS review.Â
Monthly POS software fees
$0 for Square POS, Restaurant, Retail and Appointments Free plans.
$29 for Square Appointments Plus plan.
$69 for Square Appointments Premium and Square Restaurants Plus plans.
$89 for Square Retail Plus plan.
$165 for Square Restaurant Premium plan.
Custom pricing for Square Retail plan.
Hardware costs
$0 for Square magstripe-only card reader ($10 for each additional reader) or if using Tap to Pay for iPhone (iPhone not included).
$59 for Square Reader contactless and chip card reader.
$149 for Square Stand iPad POS or Square Stand Mount (iPad not included; monthly financing available).
$149 for Square Kiosk for self-serve ordering.
$299 for Square Terminal mobile card reader with built-in printer (monthly financing available).
$399 for Square Handheld portable POS system with built-in barcode scanner (monthly financing available).
$799 for Square Register two-screen system (monthly financing available).
Payment processing fees
2.6% plus 15 cents (Free plan) or 2.5% plus 10 cents (Plus plan) for in-person transactions.
2.9% plus 30 cents for online transactions.
3.5% plus 15 cents for manually keyed transactions or card-on-file invoices.
Pros
Transparent pricing.
No contract or early-termination fees.
Diverse hardware offerings.
Free POS offering provides a lot of functionality.
Cons
Doesn’t run on Windows.
POS functionality is not as specialized as some of the competitors in this space.
Best for well-established businesses with multiple locations
Why we like it: Revel offers iPad-based POS systems along with a wide variety of hardware that’s well suited for grocery stores, including stands and self-service kiosks. Revel’s extensive list of POS features may best serve larger establishments with multiple locations, especially given the higher price point of the company’s software. Revel also offers setup and installation help as well as training and onboarding services, at an additional cost. Read our full Revel POS review.
Monthly POS software fees
Quote-based.
Hardware costs
Pricing is quote-based. Revel relies on third-party hardware such as iPads, Ingenico card readers and Epson printers. You can buy the hardware directly from Revel. Installation starts at $674.
Payment processing fees
Fees are undisclosed; you have to call to get a custom quote. Revel offers payment processing through its Revel Advantage arm. It also integrates with payment processing platforms from Adyen, FreedomPay and Moneris.
Pros
Cloud-based platform makes it easier to manage across multiple store locations.
Extensive list of tools and features.
Can configure to suit many business types and sizes.
24/7 customer support.
Cons
Lack of pricing transparency.
Requires a three-year contract.
Clover
Best for dependable, well-designed hardware
Why we like it: If you’re looking for a grocery store POS system that runs on high-performing, sharply designed hardware, Clover is a great fit. Although the company’s hardware pricing tends to be higher than some of its competitors, it outranks competitors with lower payment processing fees and monthly software fees. Particularly useful grocery store POS features include the ability to sell items by weight (through app integration), offer physical and digital receipts, track and report on sales, schedule and manage staff, set employee permissions, and offer promotions and loyalty programs. Read our full Clover POS review.
Monthly POS software fees
$0 for Clover Go Payments, Retail Starter and Personal Services Starter plans.
$14.95 for Clover Go Essentials, Professional Services Starter, and Standard and Home & Field Services Starter and Standard plans.
$84.95 for Retail Standard and Professional, Personal Services Standard and Advanced, and Home & Field Services Advanced plans.
$89.95 for Full-Service Dining Starter and Quick-Service Dining Starter and Standard plans.
$104.90 for Retail Advanced plan.
$109.90 for Full-Service Dining Standard and Quick-Service Dining Advanced plans.
$129.85 for Full-Service Dining Advanced plan.
Hardware costs
$199 for chip, swipe and contactless Clover Go card reader.
$349 for countertop card reader.
$749 for Clover Flex mobile POS with receipt printer.
$699 for slimmer Flex Pocket with no printer.
$849 for Clover Mini POS.
$799-$899 + $25 per month for kitchen display system.
$1,799 for Clover Station Solo.
$1,899 for Clover Station Duo.
$3,499 + $34.95 per month for self-ordering kiosk.
Payment processing fees
2.3% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions on Full-Service and Quick-Service Restaurant plans.
2.5% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions on Retail Standard and Advanced plans, Professional and Personal Services Standard and Advanced plans, and the Home and Field Services Advanced plan.
2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions on the Retail and Personal Services Starter plans and the Home and Field Services Standard plan.
3.5% plus 10 cents for online or keyed-in transactions.
Pros
Competitive software and payment processing fees.
Many useful grocery store POS features.
Reputable, dependable hardware.
Extensive library of app integrations.
Offline mode to accept payments without a Wi-Fi connection.
24/7 support by phone, chat or email.
Cons
Products and pricing can be challenging to navigate.
Why we like it: If you’re looking for a POS system built specifically for grocery store sales that includes a ton of relevant features — like coupon creation and acceptance, customer loyalty, scale integration and built-in cash discount capability — consider POS Nation. The hardware comes with 24/7 support and a two-year or lifetime warranty, depending on your plan. POS Nation offers both pre-built and custom plans and even includes a tool on its website that allows you to build your own POS system and see how much it would cost. Because POS Nation also caters to liquor stores, tobacco shops and convenience stores, its system also includes those specialized sales capabilities. For example, you can validate IDs using a barcode scanner when ringing up regulated items like alcohol and tobacco.
Monthly POS software fees
For most industries:
$69 for Starter plan.
$99 for Growth plan.
$149 for Premium plan.
For convenience stores:
$49 for Starter plan.
$69 for Growth plan.
$99 for Premium plan.
Hardware costs
$1,349 for the POS hardware bundle, which includes a terminal, receipt printer, barcode scanner, cash drawer and mini keyboard.
$99.99 to $269 for add-on barcode scanners.
Payment processing fees
Fees are quote-based but range from 2% to 2.5% of your business’s total monthly sales volume.
Pros
System and features specifically designed for grocery stores.
24/7 tech support and training.
Supports sales of regulated items like alcohol and tobacco.
Cons
Lack of pricing transparency.
Prices that are disclosed run higher than some competitors.
Why we like it: Lightspeed Retail POS excels in integrations and inventory management, particularly across multiple store locations. It offers an entire marketplace of partners whose applications integrate seamlessly with the POS system. You can filter by dozens of categories, including inventory management, payroll, loyalty and food costing. Lightspeed also offers 24/7 chat, email and phone support across all of its paid plans, as well as a complimentary onboarding session, how-to guides and webinars — offerings that not many of its competitors can boast of. Read our full Lightspeed Retail POS review.
Monthly POS software fees
Lightspeed offers three different plans for retail stores:
$109 for Basic plan ($89 if billed annually).
$179 for Core plan ($149 if billed annually).
$339 for Plus plan ($289 if billed annually).
Hardware costs
Pricing for Lightspeed's iPad and desktop hardware kits is quote-based. Individual hardware products are listed in Lightspeed's online store:
$79 for Mobile Tap V2 card reader.
$199 for iPad swivel stand.
$329 for WisePOS E countertop reader.
$429 for Lightspeed Lite Server for data backup and offline mode functionality.
Payment processing fees
2.6% plus 10 cents per in-person transaction.
2.9% plus 30 cents for online transactions.
Pros
24/7 customer support through multiple channels.
Breadth of software and app integrations.
Inventory management features.
Cons
Some lack of transparency on hardware pricing.
Annual contracts are required for lower software pricing.
Why we like it: Loyverse offers free POS software with several features well-suited to grocery store management, including the ability to sell weighted items, offer print or digital receipts, track inventory and receive alerts when stock is low, manage across multiple store locations, review store analytics, and create a customer loyalty program. The system also has an offline mode that allows you to continue transactions even when the internet connection is weak or broken — an important capability that not all competitors have.
Monthly POS software fees
$0 for base POS software.
$25 each for employee management and advanced inventory management.
$5 to access unlimited sales history.
Hardware costs
$568 for POS hardware bundle with tablet stand, receipt printer and cash drawer.
Costs for add-on receipt printers, cash drawers and scanners vary.
Payment processing fees
Through third-party payment processors.
Pros
Grocery and convenience stores are one specific use case this POS was designed for.
Integrates with several payment processors, including SumUp and Zettle.
Can be used with other payment processors without an integration.
24/7 live chat support.
Cons
Not all features are available with the free version, including employee management and integrations into accounting and e-commerce apps.
Third-party payment processing is not ideal if you’re looking for an all-in-one POS and payment processing solution.
Here’s what to consider when selecting the right grocery store POS system for your business.
The basics
In general, businesses picking out a POS system — regardless of their industry — should take the following points into account:
Pricing: Think about monthly software fees and upfront hardware costs. Grocery store POS plans can be anywhere from $0 per month to more than $100 per month, and full countertop hardware setups typically cost at least $300. Monthly financing may be available and can help spread that cost out.Â
Payment processing: Consider whether you want a POS system provider that doubles as a credit card processing company or prefer to integrate your grocery store POS system with a third-party processor. Regardless, payment processing fees are inevitable. You can use NerdWallet’s payment processing calculator to estimate your processing costs.Â
Ease of use: Your grocery store POS system should let employees quickly clock in and out, ring up customers and accept returns. This is especially important during peak hours when your grocery store is busiest.Â
Contract length: Some POS systems require you to sign a one-year or longer contract to receive the best pricing. Don’t hesitate to ask for a trial or demo before doing so.Â
Integrations: At the very least, your grocery store POS system should integrate with your accounting software so that it’s able to collect sales data and run reports. You may also want the ability to integrate a customer loyalty program or coupon system.Â
Extra costs: Don’t forget to ask about extra costs for things like PCI compliance, hardware setup and chargebacks.Â
POS software features
One of your biggest considerations when choosing the right grocery store POS system should be its software features. There’s a wide range available and deciding which you need can help you select the correct plan. Here are some popular grocery store POS software features to weigh:
Comprehensive inventory tracking: Grocery stores deal with huge amounts of inventory — and rapid turnover of that inventory. A good grocery store POS system helps track how much of each unit you sell and how much you have shelved. You might also want this to sync across several locations if you have more than one store.
Thorough sales reporting: The best grocery store POS systems offer zoomed-out sales analytics. Be sure the sales reporting features for the POS system meet your specific needs.
Employee permissions: You’ll likely want a POS system with customizable employee permissions. That way, different people have different levels of access to POS capabilities. Consider whether you also want employee theft notifications.
Receipt options: Good grocery store POS systems give customers a choice between digital and physical receipts, meaning they can print, text or email receipts.
Special sales capabilities: Your store may accept EBT cards and/or participate in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, or WIC. Or perhaps you plan to sell lottery tickets or regulated items such as liquor and tobacco products. A POS system that includes features related to these sales types will expand your store options.
Grocery store hardware
In addition to grocery-friendly POS software, you'll also likely need certain hardware to complete your grocery store checkout terminal. Here are some items to look for:
Scale: If you sell anything that's priced by weight, then a POS scale is a must for your business — bonus points if you’re able to find a POS scale that has a barcode scanner for produce labels.
Barcode scanner: Being able to easily and efficiently ring up customers will make everyone happier. Plus, printing barcode labels that you can scan will make managing your inventory that much more automated.
Card reader: Card readers can make or break your checkout process. Be sure that your card reader offers all of the payment options your customers want (e.g., magstripe, chip, contactless) and that it works efficiently.
PIN keypad: Whether on a physical keypad or on the screen of a smart device, a PIN verification should be an option that your grocery store POS system offers customers.
Cash drawer: Even though cash-paying customers are getting rarer, you’ll definitely need a cash drawer to store whatever cash you and your employees handle when operating your grocery store POS system.
Receipt printer: Finally, you also want your grocery store POS system to provide your customers with receipt options. If you think your customers will prefer physical receipts over digital receipts, then you’ll need a receipt printer.