Always Select Point of Sale Software First

Retail businesses that are planning to buy a POS system often make the mistake of purchasing POS hardware before POS software. The selection of your POS software is the most important aspect of purchasing a point of sale system. The POS software you choose must take into account how you do business and provide all of the functionality that your type of retail store requires. For example, many store types such as consignment/thrift stores have a number of industry point of sale software packages specifically designed for that type of business.

It is also critical to understand that not all point of sale software and hardware are compatible. Make sure to buy your point of sale software first and then select hardware from the approved hardware vendor list provided by your point of sale software developer. In addition, selecting a point of sale software that is easy to use is important. Many POS software companies offer free demo programs, inquire about how you can test out their pos software.

How Will You Process Credit Cards?

Most point of sale software companies have options for selecting integrated payment processing or have established relationships with payment processing vendors their software is authorized to work with. Not all point of sale software and credit card processing vendors are compatible either, so ask your point of sale software provider who they recommend for payment processing. And remember, credit card processing is a competitive industry, so make sure you compare rates and fees to ensure you are getting the most affordable processing rates and fees possible.

After Sale Support and Hidden Costs

What happens when your point of sale system crashes? Do you have a local point of sale reseller that offers fast and reliable phone or onsite technical support? Do you know what they offer in terms of typical response time, replacement units, or repair capabilities?

While getting a down POS system up and running is critical, it is also important to understand what the total cost of ownership is for your point of sale system. The original purchase price is one aspect of the total cost, but the ongoing maintenance and service costs must be accounted for as well. Make sure your contract clearly states what your rates are for technical support and repair services.

Don’t Wait

While many new retail store owners are busy tackling a number of issues before opening day, training and implementation of point of sale and credit card processing technology often gets pushed to the back of the to do list. Make sure you set aside ample time to do training and testing with your employees before your store opens. Nothing will deter repeat business more then not being able to check out waiting customers!