How Much Does a Restaurant POS System Cost?

Running a restaurant can cost you the most money you’ll ever make (if you’re lucky). You have dozens of plates spinning at the same time.

And it’s not just managing staff or customer service and ensuring they have all the food they need. It’s also tracking your inventory and ensuring you have enough ingredients and supplies to keep the orders coming in at a profitable rate.

A sound POS system is something that helps to ease this burden. Tracking your inventory and ordering new ingredients and supplies eliminates costly mistakes. 

With software that helps to streamline your process, your bottom line will be much better off than if you were operating without one.

But, how much is a POS system for a restaurant? How will you decide? 

Let’s look at those in this article

What Are the Features of a Restaurant POS System?

The POS system is the heart of any restaurant; its primary function is to take customer orders and process payments. However, with current technological advances, POS systems have become much more sophisticated in what they can do.  

Now the POS system is a computerized system that records and tracks sales, inventory, customer orders, employee time, and pay. And you can use a restaurant POS to track all of the above data in one centralized location. 

And POS systems offer users a range of features that can help streamline restaurant operations. In addition to sending orders from customers to servers in the kitchen, modern POS systems often offer

• Analytics and reporting, 
• Inventory tracking, menu management, 
• Employee/labor management (including time clocks, hour tracking, and earnings tracking), and 
• CRM (customer relationship management). 

Some POS systems also offer loyalty/rewards program management, online ordering and delivery, and tableside service and payment.

How Much Does a POS System Cost for a Restaurant?

The cost of a restaurant POS system varies greatly depending on the size of your restaurant, the features you want and need, and which provider you choose. A small pizza place with only a few employees will have a much different system than a large restaurant with multiple locations that need robust security measures and inventory control.

The entire price tag depends on the hardware, software, and additional cost that you may require for efficient management. The cost of the restaurant POS system also depends on what features you want to be included with your POS solution.  

And the market has myriad types of systems and pricing structures. A more expensive system does not always indicate better quality and vice versa. With each of these systems comes different hardware and capabilities from other brands.

This includes hardware, software, and additional features. Because of this, you can’t compare quotes from different POS vendors like apples to oranges.

So let’s look at the restaurant POS systems cost of each component. 

How Much Does a Restaurant POS System Cost? (Component Wise Analysis)

1. POS Hardware 

A Restaurant POS system’s price will depend on the hardware system you want for your restaurant. 

The two main types of restaurant point-of-sale systems are Cloud-Based Systems and Legacy Systems. 

• Cloud-Based Systems store data on remote servers that can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection. 
• Legacy Systems store data on a local server in your restaurant and run on a closed internal network. These older systems require additional hardware, such as servers, to run properly.

So select the one that suits your need. When we look at efficiency and budget, Cloud-based POS systems are the perfect fit. 

Now, let’s consider the hardware part. A hardware system comprises several factors that take customer orders and payments. Here is what we mean, 

• The Front of the House includes the terminal that the customer interacts with to place their order. This is typically a touchscreen display, though some restaurants still use physical menus. The customer pays at the terminal, either with cash or a card. 
• The Back of the House refers to the kitchen, where cooks prepare the food. They receive orders from terminals in the front, typically printed on paper or displayed on a screen. The kitchen staff uses this information to make and assemble the meal. 

When considering the POS system for restaurant costs, it’s essential to look at each line item individually. This will help you understand what you’re paying for and whether it’s worth the investment. 

Look at the below table to understand the pricing model, 

2. POS Software

When choosing a restaurant point of sale system, you should consider the hardware and whether the software can handle your cash flow and reporting needs. 

If the software powering your concept isn’t lightning-fast, robust in functionality, and continually improving—and if it doesn’t have a low or no monthly/yearly software fee, it isn’t worth your money. To calculate the actual value of a software purchase, you need to consider more than its price. Consider asking these questions before investing, 

• What kind of support is offered for the subscription? 
• Are there any upgrade plans available, and if so, what are they like?

The cost will be like, 

• $75 per device/month 
• $25 for KDS software

3. Additional POS features

The purpose of a restaurant POS system is similar to that of a restaurant itself: to provide a service beyond the basics. 

They now offer features that can take your business to the next level, including online ordering, gift card hosting, loyalty rewards programs, and credit card pre-authorization. Some of the best systems also offer inventory tracking and management, a CRM solution, an online ordering app, and integrations with other software vendors. Plus, they can work offline in case of an Internet outage.

See the table below to understand the pricing model:

4. Training and Installation Cost

Installation and training are crucial factors when choosing a new restaurant POS system. But not every vendor offers these services, so if you go with one of them, it’ll be up to you to set everything up and ensure that your staff knows how to use the different features. 

This can take a lot of time and effort, and there’s a risk that something will go wrong. Therefore, it’s essential to weigh all your options carefully before making a decision.

On the other hand, if you stick with a POS system like POSbytz, you can cut down the additional cost of installation and training, as it will handle everything for you. 

What Should You Consider When Evaluating a POS System Pricing?

A restaurant POS system cost is like any other significant business investment in that you want to ensure you’re getting the most bang for your buck. 

You should be looking at things like the quality of software, support, and service to ensure that this is an investment and not just an extra business expense. The goal is always to find a vendor who will help you improve operations and attract and serve more guests while enhancing the overall dining experience for each customer. 

If you are looking for multiple features under one umbrella, POSbytz is your ideal destination. With the practical solution, you can take clumsy work from your plate and focus more on improving your business. 

The best thing about POSbytz is that the cost of a restaurant POS system can be simplified without breaking the bank. Still, wondering how to propel your restaurant management with a POS system? Get started for free and evaluate it by yourself!

Related Resources

• Best POS Software for Restaurants in UAE
• Best Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) POS Systems
• What are Pos Reports?
• Best Cloud Kitchen POS Software
• What Is a Retail POS
• 8 Best POS Inventory Systems