In today’s instant-gratification world, customers expect the same convenience and technology ease from their small businesses that they do from large retailers. While this expectation isn’t always realistic, at least small businesses can stay ahead of the curve with their payment management systems. We’ve compiled some of the best POS (point of sale) vendors that are great for smaller operations from family businesses, to farmers markets and solo entrepreneurs.

Top Seven Best POS Systems for Small Businesses

  1. Square– Best Overall
  2. Shopify– Best for Online Sales
  3. Revel– Best for iPad
  4. Lightspeed– Best Industry-Specific POS Solution
  5. Clover– Best for Features
  6. Toast – Best for Food Establishments
  7. SwipeSimple– Best for Mobile Businesses

1. Square– Best Overall

PRICING: Free version available with paid tiers ranging from Professional ($12 per month) to Premium ($72 per month).

Square is probably the biggest name in the POS world and its one of the most common logos you’ll see when you’re swiping your credit card at a small vendor or shop. Pay attention to your business volume as you begin to grow, however. The swiping fees can quickly add up if your business grows quickly.

KEY FEATURES: 

  • Time tracking
  • Barcode scanning
  • Gift card and invoicing options

REASONS TO BUY: 

  • Can integrate with social media for increased visibility and exposure for your brand
  • Free trial available
  • Accepts in-person as well as remote payments to maximize sales

REASONS TO AVOID: 

  • Hefty processing fees for all plans of 2.9% per transaction plus $.30. Some of the higher tiers have additional payment fees
  • Register is an extra fee

2. Shopify– Best for Online Sales

PRICING: Three tiers from $29-$299 per month.

Shopify is one of the most popular platforms for small businesses who complete the bulk of their sales online. The ease in creating your own marketplace within the product is tempting for many business owners looking to expand revenue opportunities and brand footprint.

KEY FEATURES: 

  • Gift cards
  • Ability to create your own online store with detailed customization
  • Can market and sell your products globally

REASONS TO BUY: 

  • Free trial with no credit card required
  • Shipping discounts with trusted partners
  • Attractive templates
  • Integration with thousands of applications

REASONS TO AVOID: 

  • High sales processing fees for both credit and debit cards
  • Subscription prices can be expensive for small operations to sustain

3. Revel – Best for iPad

PRICING: $99 per month billed on a required annual basis.

Revel is a great choice as a POS for a small business owner who sees rapid future growth and would like to prepare for a minimal transition when that time comes. While they have an enterprise version available to upgrade to when your business needs more room to grow, Revel is also one of the only POS solutions that is optimized for the iOS environment.

KEY FEATURES: 

  • On Mode allows transactions to continue operating even if internet signal fails
  • Cloud-based technology allows for automatic technology upgrades
  • Custom reports generated through variety of Business Intelligence tools

REASONS TO BUY: 

  • Optimized for iPad use
  • Remote access management and data analysis
  • Employee performance reports

REASONS TO AVOID: 

  • Contracts lock you into a multi-year term minimum
  • Implementation fee not included in subscription

 4. Lightspeed– Best Industry-Specific POS Solution

PRICING: Three tiers: Lean, Standard, and Advanced ranging from $79-$239 per month with $29 per month per additional registered user for all plans. Annual subscription discount available.

Lightspeed boasts POS features that are geared specifically toward the clothing and retail, restaurant, and golf industries. If you own or are planning to launch a small business in any of these areas, Lightspeed’s custom features can offer you a leg up on your neighborhood competition.

KEY FEATURES: 

  • Offers an SEO for small business guide
  • Customer profile and purchase history analytics
  • Cloud-based mobility allows for remote management

REASONS TO BUY: 

  • Free trial with no credit card required
  • Unlimited 24/7 support
  • Free templates offered for purchase orders, inventory spreadsheets, and social media

REASONS TO AVOID: 

  • Lightspeed payments are only available in the U.S.
  • Expensive for small businesses who may not need all the features they’re paying for

5. Clover– Best for Features

PRICING: Three tiers available ranging from $10-$26 per user per month.

Clover is a strong POS solution and a top choice within this list because of the unique bells and whistles that it can offer to every small business owner. Regardless of your use case, if any vendor is likely to have a solution to meet your needs, start with Clover.

KEY FEATURES: 

  • Payment mode can remain active even if offline
  • ID verification
  • Can accommodate returns and exchanges

REASONS TO BUY: 

  • No monthly fees for first 30 days
  • Payment flexibility with ability to pay via phone, in-person, or online
  • Integration with more than 450 applications
  • Both digital and physical gift card options

REASONS TO AVOID: 

  • Can be difficult to find accurate pricing information for your business category
  • The sales and implementation process can become complicated

6. Toast– Best for Food Establishments

PRICING: Two tiers – Starter and Essential. Starter is free and Essential is $165 per month. Custom pricing also available.

You may already be familiar with Toast if you’ve ordered food for takeout during any point of a pandemic lockdown. As many restaurants have transitioned a great percentage of their revenue share to online and to-go orders, solutions like Toast have been there to fill the gap. The POS solution is a great option for those venturing into the restaurant industry as a small business owner.

KEY FEATURES: 

  • Cloud-based POS solution allows for remote access and automatic upgrades
  • Flat-rate payment processing
  • Real-time fraud monitoring

REASONS TO BUY: 

  • 24/7 support available for all plans
  • Flexible payment options are available for small businesses, including revenue share

REASONS TO AVOID: 

  • Steep price difference when upgrading from Starter tier
  • Customer service is often delayed

 7. SwipeSimple– Best Option for Mobile Businesses

PRICING: Two tiers, both with flat-rate payment processing, from $10-$49 per month, depending on the size of your business.

SwipeSimple clinches the final spot on our top tier POS solution list for its commitment to ensuring the success to small businesses specifically for mobile payments. If your business is constantly on the go, look no further for your POS answer.

KEY FEATURES: 

  • Payment links allow for online sales
  • Invoices, card readers, and virtual terminals all available for diverse payment options
  • Reporting dashboard to manage customer information and keep track of performance analytics
  • Mobile and email receipts

REASONS TO BUY: 

  • 24/7 support
  • Contactless payment option gets rid of transaction fees
  • No cancellation fees or annual contracts
  • Mobile app

REASONS TO AVOID: 

  • The software, the terminal, and the register are all billed as separate products

References and Links

  • https://www.investopedia.com/best-pos-system-for-small-business-5081631
  • https://www.merchantmaverick.com/best-pos-systems-for-small-business/
  • https://squareup.com/us/en/point-of-sale
  • https://ecommerce-platforms.com/ecommerce-reviews/square-reviews
  • https://revelsystems.com/enterprise/point-of-sale/
  • https://www.clover.com/pricing
  • https://pos.toasttab.com/pricing
  • https://home.swipesimple.com/
  • https://www.trustradius.com/products/lightspeed-retail/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons