How Much Does a Point Of Sale System Cost?

A standard POS  software subscription costs around $60-$150 per month, although a lot of providers will let you use their POS software for free. One-time hardware purchases cost $100- $1,000, depending on your setup, and transaction fees are generally 2.3% and 2.5% for in-person transactions.

The three main types of costs associated with top POS systems are: software-use costs, hardware costs, and card processing fees.

A lot of POS providers charge monthly subscription fees for their software, but let you buy their hardware upfront. However, there are some providers that charge monthly rental fees for both software and hardware.

The cost of your POS system will depend on how feature-rich you want your POS software to be, transaction fees enforced by your provider, how extensive a hardware setup you need, and how many locations you need to sell at.

How Much Do POS Systems Cost?

Here’s a table outlining the average costs associated with POS systems:

Most POS systems cost between $60-$150 per month, with the absolute top range being around $400. This fee typically covers the cost of using the provider’s POS software, although it can sometimes include one hardware kit (countertop terminal and card reader, for example).

If POS hardware is a separate charge from the software, you can expect to pay around $1,000 upfront for a full countertop setup, including a terminal, receipt printer, and card machine.

However, some POS providers don’t have monthly rates, and charge a single, upfront fee for both their software and hardware, in which case you can expect to pay between $1,200 and $2,000.

Other providers let you use their POS software for free, such as Square, while still charging for their hardware. Others don’t charge for either software or hardware, but instead let you pay for your POS system through transaction fees. Examples include SpotOn and Toast.

In the following sections, we’ll take a closer look at the three main costs associated with POS systems:

• POS Software
• POS Hardware
• Card Processing Fees

POS Software Subscription Fees

As we’ve covered, POS software subscription fees typically cost $0-$400 per month, depending on the provider and the needs of your business. This is quite a wide range, but most initial paid plans now cost somewhere in the region of $60-$150.

Here’s a look at how much POS software costs with popular providers:

Providers will usually offer tiered subscription plans, with the lowest-priced plans offering basis management features, suitable for small locations, and the most expensive plans offering more advanced features for large or multi-location establishments.

If the software subscription also includes a subscription to hardware, as is the case with SpotOn and Toast, then the lower-tier plans will include a more basic kit (a terminal and card machine), and the most expensive plans will include an extensive kit (added cash drawer, receipt printer, and even KDS).

Some providers also offer free plans – these won’t include very advanced features but are a good starting point for businesses that have straightforward needs.

The plan you choose comes down to your business’s budget and the features you’re after. It will also depend on the industry you’re in, for example, a retail business will want a package with features that cater to that industry, such as email marketing and barcode scanners.

POS Hardware Costs

Some POS providers charge a one-time fee for buying hardware, and others include one hardware kit or device in their software package, but charge extra for additional devices.

A step up from traditional cash registers, the great thing about a POS system is that you can make it as basic or as sophisticated as you want.

Here’s how much you can expect to spend on hardware based on your business’s size:

To give you even more insight, here are the hardware prices of some of the best POS providers:

Some POS providers, such as Square and Shopify, who sell hardware outright let you pick and choose your hardware, regardless of your software plan. Other providers, such as Clover and SpotOn, require you to purchase specific hardware based on your software plan.

Most suppliers will also offer some accessories, such as barcode scanners, receipt printers, and cash drawers, and give you the option to purchase ongoing supplies, such as receipt printer paper.

If you need to purchase POS hardware for multiple locations, we recommend going for a custom plan, since it’ll usually work out cheaper than way. Toast, Square, and Lightspeed all offer custom plans.

Credit Card Fees

As a rough guide, the standard credit card processing fee  for in-person payments in the US is usually between 2.3% and 2.5%.

Check out our credit card fee comparison table below for some of the most popular POS suppliers:

Most POS suppliers double up as payment processors, which means they have a system that can process card payments for you. Others give you the option of integrating a separate, third-party payment processor into your POS system.

Some POS suppliers also support online payments, sometimes through an integrated online store, as is the case with Square and Shopify. Online card processing fees are usually higher, around 3%, since it’s considered a more risky transaction.

Additional POS Costs

There are a few additional costs to watch out for when purchasing a POS system, besides the three we’ve outlined above. These include:

• Setup fees: some providers charge a fee for setting up your software and hardware. SpotOn, for example, charges around $1,000 for this service.
• Add-on feature costs: some providers charge extra for features like marketing and loyalty tools, or reservation management. Square, for example, charges $15 per month for loyalty tools, while TouchBistro charges $330 per month for advanced profit management tools.
• Multiple locations costs: POS providers that bundle their software with a hardware kit will charge you extra if you need additional hardware for other locations. Some providers will also increase the cost of their POS software if you need to use it at multiple locations. One example is Shopify.

POS Costs by Industry

POS system costs can vary slightly depending on your industry. For example, a POS system for restaurants tends to be more expensive than one for salons, since restaurants have bigger inventories and require extra equipment, like KDSs.

In this section, we’ll compare some of each industry’s most popular POS system packages. The prices shown are either a monthly subscription or a one-off fee.

Restaurant POS Systems Cost

As a restaurateur, customizing menus and table plans, and managing ingredients are just a few of your regular assignments.  Unspecialized POS systems just can’t handle the heat of the kitchen. Luckily, the best restaurant POS systems are designed with you in mind.

Here’s a look at the pricing of popular restaurant POS systems:

No two businesses are truly the same, and so some will require fewer features. For example, if you need a POS system for your food truck, you won’t need to spend as much on your hardware. Alternatively, if you’re looking for the best hotel POS software, you’ll need a hospitality-focused system with the capabilities to manage reservations, bookings, and payments. 

Retail POS Systems Cost

Retail POS systems let you manage your inventory, set up automatic low stock alerts, and accept gift cards, all with the tap of a touchscreen. Some also integrate with online stores.

The best solutions even use advanced analytics and reporting to shed valuable insight into your best and worst selling products. Here’s how much the best retail POS systems cost:

Salon POS Systems Cost

The more time you spend pampering your customers, the more money you’ll make from their repeat business. But it’s easier said than done when you’ve got lots of payments to process and appointments to manage, especially during peak hours.

POS systems designed for salons help you manage bookings with ease, reschedule appointments, and take requests for new ones. Here’s what you can expect to pay:

Bar POS Systems Cost

As a bar owner, you no doubt keep close tabs on hourly, daily and seasonal trends that affect drink prices. If you serve food, you probably also juggle ticket orders, food preparation and section seating.

Here’s how much the best bar point of sale systems cost:

How Much Do iPad POS Systems Cost?

iPad POS systems can be cheaper than standard ones if you already own a tablet, since you’ll have less hardware to buy.

It also makes it cheaper to switch to a different iPad system, since you won’t be buying new countertop terminals, you’ll just be switching software. That’s why many small businesses prefer them.

Here’s how much iPad POS systems cost on average: