How to Choose a Bar POS System
When you are choosing a point-of-sale (POS) system for your bar, don’t just consider the price and the features it can do. You must also make sure it is compatible with your existing office systems’ software and hardware and that the provider offers customer support to address any technical problems that pop up.
Your POS system should have features to manage inventory and streamline the ordering process. It should keep a record of sales and also analyze trends that can affect your decisions and your bar’s success.
Here are some tips on how to choose the right system for your bar.
Choosing a POS system
You must ask these questions when you are looking for the best POS system for your bar:
- Can it help your business grow? If you don’t plan for your business’s future, your business may not have a future to worry about. Choose an option that has the features you need to develop a good plan to expand your business.
- Is it within your price range? There are many POS systems on the market at various prices. Find a system that fits your budget. This equipment is supposed to help you manage your business and ease your worries. If you spend too much on a POS system, it could hurt your cash flow and actually cause you more worries than its resolves.
- Is the POS system compatible with your existing business software? To properly handle all aspects of your bar, the POS must work with your other business programs. If it doesn't, and you want to keep that service provider, you will have to choose a different POS system.
Bar POS hardware
You can either buy or lease the hardware, but industry experts recommend purchasing. Lease contracts can be lengthy and difficult to cancel. The POS station usually includes a tablet and stand, a receipt printer, a cash drawer, and a credit card terminal/card reader.
Depending on what you need and how much you are willing to pay, you can add a barcode scanner, scales, and liquor control devices to create a smooth-running, comprehensive POS station.
Bar POS software
Most POS software is either web-based or app-based, but there is a local server-based option available. Your bar’s physical size and customer volume are key factors to consider when choosing the POS system that is best for you.
Cloud-based systems, like the one offered by Poster, are popular because they are easily accessible and inexpensive. This software allows you to keep and review your online sales data. It is easy to install on your POS terminal/tablet and has multiple uses.
While cloud-based software is simple to use, it is dependent on a reliable internet connection. Slow speeds and periodic crashes can occur if you have internet connection issues.
POS systems are usually operated with software that allows you to keep the data on-site. This may concern managers who may need to review the data from another location, such as in a business office elsewhere.
The off-site access system costs more and would only be needed for a very large operation. A cloud-based POS software is best for a small-to-midsize establishment.
Final Words
After considering the above information and your bar’s unique qualities, needs, and financial resources, you should be able to determine the best POS system for your bar.
The right system will make running the bar easier while also managing the business’s finances.