5 Best POS For Restaurants With Multiple Locations (Features + Pricing)

What is a POS System?

A point of sale or POS system is a combination of software and hardware that work together to help businesses manage their inventory, track sales, streamline the checkout process, manage orders, integrate with the supply chain, and keep track of customer data. The software component of a POS system often includes features like barcode scanning, product catalogs, customer databases, and reporting tools. The hardware component includes cash drawers, receipt printers, barcode scanners, and credit card readers.

Another important aspect of a POS system is its ability to integrate with most other third party business management software solutions an establishment may be using. From accounting tools, to supply chain management and customer relationship management (CRM) tools, the POS system can be integrated with all of these, and with the data shared between them help business owners make better decisions for the company. You no longer need to transfer data to spreadsheets or manually enter it into another software. All of this is done automatically by interlinking the different software systems.

Components of a POS System - Software + Hardware

A big part of an efficient and fully functioning POS system is the software that runs the show. POS software doesn't just look after order management and payments, it is a complete restaurant management solution. From inventory management to supply chain tracking, reporting and analytics, you can trust the POS software to do it all. A cloud based software solution will ensure ease of use, make your operation time- and cost-efficient, and easily accessible no matter where you are. You won't have to buy separate tools for your inventory management needs. An integrated POS software will seamlessly manage inventory, issue low stock alerts, and track purchase orders and product catalogs.

Another key component of a restaurant POS system is the hardware. You can bundle POS software with hardware to get the best results from your Pos system. Hardware tools offered with POS systems include POS stations or terminals for order processing, checkout and payments. They also include mobile POS devices. These are handheld units that give servers greater flexibility to move around the floor, performing the same functions as a stationary POS terminal. POS hardware also include cash drawers, receipt printers, barcode scanners, kitchen display systems, self-service kiosks, and digital signage. All of these devices work together to make customer service and restaurant operations smooth and swift.

How Can a POS System Help a Business With Multiple Locations?

A business with multiple Restaurant Franchises spread across several districts or states has a lot on its hands. From inventory coordination, to order management, and staff coordination between different outlets, restaurant chains have a lot of additional tasks compared to small businesses. Therefore, a POS system that supports multiple locations is an indispensable tool in the enterprise owner's kit. Let's take a deeper look at the benefits such a POS system offers-

• By funneling all of your data into one central location, a restaurant POS system can give you valuable insights into your operations. You can see which products are selling well at each location and adjust your menu, pricing, and inventory stocks accordingly.
  
• A cloud based restaurant POS can help you keep track of employee performance, attendance and work schedules from a centralized location, which will help you manage your entire workforce better.
  
• You can use the POS system to run promotions and customer loyalty programs and improve your customer service.
  
• Those with online ordering systems can integrate their POS systems with their e-commerce platforms and streamline order management.
  
• The POS system can also be used to generate periodic reports and analytics to help you better understand sales, employee performance, inventory usage, and customer loyalty, so that you can optimize these functions across outlets.
  

Plum POS System

Plum POS is a comprehensive, all-in-one restaurant management system from the stable of restaurant back-office solutions provider Hubworks. Plum POS has tools that help restaurant chains manage their daily workflow, right from payment processing, order management, and inventory management, to employee scheduling, tracking and management. This cloud basedrestaurant POS system improves the efficiency of both quick service and full service establishments by offering Real Time updates on orders, inventory usage, and sales. It also provides a platform for staff members to communicate with each other. The software can be integrated with other third party tools to help a business function at its best.

Hardware- Plum POS software is best paired with the hardware the company offers. First in its expansive range of products stands the Plum POS station, a solid POS terminal that takes care of order and payment processing and menu customization. Next comes Plum Clock, a time and attendance management device for all your employee scheduling and attendance tracking needs. It supports facial recognition, customization of employee schedules, and time tracking. Among Plum's other offerings are the Plum Card Reader, the Plum Self-service Kiosk, and Kitchen Display Units -- all geared towards smoother kitchen operations and enhanced customer service.

Pricing- The Plum POS system has two offerings- the Starter Bundle priced at $1,302.98, and the Essential Bundle at $2,605.96. Hardware and software products can also be purchased individually.

Toast POS

Toast POS is a dedicated point of sale system built especially for restaurants and other foodservice businesses. From online ordering, to inventory management, payment processing, and customer loyalty programs, Toast POS has all essential restaurant management tools with which you can centrally manage multiple restaurant outlets. This cloud basedPOS software will help you access your data from any location and manage multiple outlets from your phone or tablet. You can integrate the POS system with your Business Intelligence tools for detailed reports and analytics on your overall operation, as well as reports on individual outlets. The POS system integrates with other third-party software systems as well, to help restaurant owners with functions such as accounting, auditing, and supply chain management.

Hardware- Toast offers a range of hardware solutions, such as a POS station, handheld POS devices, kitchen display systems, and self-service kiosks. These make customer service easy for servers and kitchen assistants, while enabling customers to process orders on their own. Toast also offers additional accessories, such as contactless payment devices, receipt printers, USB ports, routers, and barcode scanners.

Pricing- Toast offers a free starter kit that includes the POS system and hardware configuration for a single terminal. The second offering is the Essentials bundle, which is priced at $165 per month, and the third is a custom plan where you can choose to have as many hardware units and add-ons you need, at a customized price.

Square for Restaurants

Square for Restaurants is a complete restaurant management system that offers tailored solutions for quick service, full service, and fast casual restaurants, bars, breweries, and even ghost kitchens. The Square POS toolkit helps restaurant operators manage their menus in real time. With a few taps operators and managers can view and manage their online ordering and on-premise orders with equal ease. The system also keeps track of sales and revenue and helps operators understand broad trends within these numbers through reports and analytics. Restaurant owners and managers can remotely manage tables, process reservations, and redesign and customize floor plans for special events and parties.

Hardware- Square POS has a range of handheld and countertop POS solutions for restaurant chains as well as small businesses. The POS hardware offered by Square includes POS stations, mobile POS units, and kitchen display systems.

Pricing- Square POS offers a 30-day free trial for its hardware and POS software solutions. It has two paid plans- the Plus package, which costs $60 per month and includes one countertop device for one location; and a custom plan that can be tailored to the number of outlets you have for a custom quote.

Lightspeed Restaurant

Lightspeed Restaurant offers versatile POS solutions that cover online ordering, contactless delivery, floor plan management, table management, and contactless payment processing there's a tool here for all your operational needs. QR code scanning, split bills and digital payment solutions offered by Lightspeed Restaurant helps businesses speed up service and also boost revenue with better turnover. Third party integration with food delivery aggregators further helps boost business and reach more customers.

Hardware- Apart from its POS software, Lightspeed Restaurant also has a range of hardware, including mobile POS devices, iPad stands to support iPads that work as POS stations, cash drawers, receipt printers, and barcode scanners.

Pricing- Lightspeed Restaurant offers three pricing solutions- the Essentials plan for $39 per month; the Plus plan for $119 per month; and the Pro plan for $289 per month. There is a fourth plan for large enterprises that can be customized according to their needs.

Upserve Restaurant POS

The Upserve restaurant management system is an all-in-one solution that has all the essential POS features, including payment processing, inventory management, and business analytics. It also processes gift cards and manages customer loyalty programs. Upserve offers marketing and customer relationship management tools that help restaurant owners manage their marketing from the POS itself. From employee management, to table management and menu optimization, Upserve has a tool for every restaurant need.

Hardware- Upserve works on both, iPad and Android devices and its hardware solutions include mobile POS, POS terminals, contactless payment processing devices, printers, and kitchen display systems.

Pricing- The Upserve Starter bundle is priced at $59 per month; the Pro bundle is priced at $199 per month; and the Pro Plus package for enterprises starts at $359 per month.