The Best EPOS Systems For Small Businesses

Electronic Points Of Sales systems (EPOS) are becoming widespread in the business world. From simple systems that mimic old-fashioned cash registers to highly sophisticated ones with multiple functions, they’re a cost-effective way of handling your day-to-day business. But if you run a relatively small business and want to start using an EPOS system, how do you choose the right one?

It’s not always as simple as opening a catalogue and picking the top-rated one. EPOS systems come in a wide variety, and they’re not all designed to be universally applicable. For example, an EPOS perfect for a charity shop might not work for a pub and vice versa. 

With so many choices available, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, but if you’re looking for an EPOS system, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s look at several types of small businesses and what to think about when shopping for an EPOS system.

EPOS Systems For Pubs

Pubs are busy places that often handle hundreds of daily transactions. When looking for an EPOS system for a pub, you’ll want one that can process orders quickly and efficiently. They’ll also need to be easy to use; new staff at pubs are trained on the job, and dealing with a complicated payment setup while a queue of thirsty customers waits to be served won’t make any first-time barman happy. 

Pub systems also benefit from being linked to inventories. If you’ve just sold six pints of a guest ale, it’ll be helpful if your EPOS system automatically deducts them from the storage records. It makes it easier to keep track of when a keg is likely to need changing, or more stock needs to be ordered. For a good all-rounder, the Zettle Go is a good choice. It’s relatively easy to set up, and staff can immediately start taking payments through the linked card reader. The charges (1.5% for cards, 2.5% for card-not-present payments) are reasonable, and the management application helps track which menu items are bestsellers. And because it’s backed by Paypal, it’s also very reliable.

EPOS Systems For Charities

Choosing an EPOS system for a charity comes with different concerns. Charities don’t operate the same way as other businesses and have to calculate things like Gift Aid on a regular basis. Because they depend on donations, charity shop inventories tend to fluctuate more often than other business types. They’ll need responsive systems to keep track of everything they have in stock. 

Due to their specific requirements, several EPOS systems are available that were designed with charities in mind. Chariot Retail Systems is one such example, and it’s renowned for its simple store-management program. They also come with HMRC-recognised auditing tools as standard. Alternatively, you may be interested in Cybertill. This system is incredibly popular and is used by nearly a third of all UK charities. It’s based in the Cloud, so the entire system is managed digitally and offers free software updates.

EPOS Systems For Takeaways

Like pubs, takeaways are places that handle lots of orders every day. When running a busy food environment, you’ll want an EPOS system that can process them quickly and with minimal effort. It also helps to have a system that can send requests to the kitchen from the sales counter too, so less time is spent running back and forth, telling the kitchen staff what to cook next. Square is a decent and reliable option for most takeaways. It has an intuitive interface that makes it easy to manage your orders on a single device. The central dashboard updates in real-time, and tracking which shifts your staff have worked is easy. It may not be suitable for the busiest takeaways, but it is a good choice if you don’t regularly see queues going out the front door.

EPOS Systems For Builders Merchants

EPOS systems are also useful for workers in the construction industry. Although they are primarily viewed as the modern equivalents of old-fashioned shop tills, they also have a back-office function. This is a real advantage for any business merchant that has multiple channels to organise.

They’re great for managing complex financial histories. Builders who regularly organise multiple projects at once will also benefit; EPOS systems can coordinate jobs and stock. You won’t constantly need to fill notebooks with supply lists and try to balance them. The EPOS system will do that digitally. Builders merchants looking for a good EPOS system may be interested in Benchmark Software. They have one that was specifically designed with construction workers in mind and has programs for managing complex stock lines included. It allows you to compile customer order histories, email invoices and process end-of-day reports.

Choosing The Right EPOS System

No matter what type of business you run, you’re bound to find a suitable EPOS system. The sheer volume of available options can make it tricky, but that’s why Business Quotes is here. We can cut through the chatter and help you make an informed decision. Our unique online price comparison tool will find quotes for EPOS systems quickly and easily. It takes only a few minutes to complete, so you’ll get the big picture and be able to make the right choice. It’ll allow you to compare prices, and you could save a lot of hassle, so why not give it a try today?