Epos Now review: is it right for your small business?

Epos Now is one of the biggest players in the POS market. It offers a huge range of hardware, has very competitive POS system costs, and has over 64,000 restaurants and retail store customers already.

But as well as the positives – like having a designated agent during setup – Epos Now does have its flaws, so it’s a good idea to do your research before purchasing anything.

Luckily, our team of experts has been helping businesses for over two decades. We know how important it is for you to have an accurate understanding of the platforms available.

In our latest round of research, we reviewed Epos Now based on specific business requirements including industry features, available hardware, and user allowances. Below, we’ve broken down the findings into an easy-to-read guide.

Or, to see how Epos stands up against other providers on the market, try our cost comparison tool. It’s designed to match you with the best-value quotes in just one minute, based on specific details about your business.

Epos Now: An overview

Epos Now’s countertop EPOS terminal

According to the Epos Now official website, the company has customers in 71 countries – the majority of which are retail and hospitality firms.

The platform is popular for a reason. Packed full of features, it can manage every aspect of the sales process. We specifically recommend Epos Now for shop owners or restaurateurs with 10+ employees, owing to its sophisticated staff management features.

There is a mix of hardware and software products included under the Epos Now umbrella, all of which are compatible with mobile devices.

Handily, the platform organises its product range into industry-specific packages such as Epos for Bars, Epos for Retail, and Epos for Hospitality. However, while the Epos range is impressive, its monthly pricing isn’t available publicly, so you’ll need to request a quote to find out how much it will cost for your business.

Epos Now pricing

One of the biggest drawbacks of the Epos Now system is its confusing pricing plans that can make it difficult to work out just how much a package will set you back. You’ll need to pay an upfront price plus a monthly subscription charge, but you’ll need to speak to Epos Now’s sales team to find out how much a package would cost you.

Unlike other providers, such as Lightspeed, there is no free trial option available with Epos Now. We recommend you use our online comparison tool to get direct quotes for EPOS systems before tying yourself into any long-term plan.

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Plan Complete System

Price £225 upfront

Does Epos Now have any hidden fees?

It’s best to contact a platform’s customer service desk to understand exactly what you’ll pay. We’ve made things easier by designing our Startups-exclusive cost comparison tool that will match you to provider quotes in just one minute.

Epos Now: Feature comparison

Till management – 4/5

Epos Now’s Back Office software is split into Setup, Reporting, and Management. In Setup, your business can make changes to a range of features in order to match your requirements.

These changes can cover a range of things, including:

• Tax rate
• Discounts and promotions
• Receipts

Plus, the management tool lets you make day-to-day changes that are needed for business such as changing prices and inventory, categorising items, and overseeing staff schedules.

These are also industry-specific. Restaurants will need to make use of Epos Now’s floorplan customisation and booking capabilities, while a retail store will benefit more from its ecommerce integration.

Taking payment in a shop with Epos Now’s Duo countertop terminal

Help and support features – 4/5

Epos Now claims to be able to get staff fully comfortable with its system in just fifteen minutes. We agree that it’s a system that’s easy to master, and score it 5 out of 5 in terms of usability.

Still, the Epos Now support team has received mixed reviews according to our analysis. We therefore knocked a mark from its help and support score due to its bewildering, and inconsistent, customer service.

During installation, you’ll have a one-on-one coach to help you with training staff and getting set up. However, should your system then crash, some Epos customers have described waiting days for help – something to be wary of during the lunchtime rush.

Subscribers can contact the provider for help through a 24/7 live chat, but other streams of support – such as priority phone support – are only available with one of a selection of premium plans.

Business management – 5/5

Knowing as much as you can about your business performance is key to optimising cash flow – which is why we gave Epos Now full marks for its intelligent capabilities.

Probably one of the biggest benefits that Epos Now has for sellers is its fantastic reporting tools that make it easy for you to celebrate wins and identify areas of improvement.

You’ll be able to automatically generate reports on everything from employee performance, total sales, to monthly revenues.

Select a time period you want to compare to and you can also view year-on-year or month-on-month reports to see how well you are performing during specific trading periods like Christmas time.

Stock management – 5/5

Staying on top of your business’ inventory is key if you’re going to accept any kind of transaction in your firm. Being aware of what items sell best and adjusting your product listings accordingly can notably improve cash flow.

After extensive testing by our independent research team, we can confidently give Epos Now full marks for its stock management tools.

Users can easily get a real-time look at which products are selling best to order new stock, reducing errors and increasing overall efficiency.

Most importantly, it can do all of this without you needing to lift a finger – dramatically reducing time spent on manual administration.

There’s no need for messy Excel spreadsheets with Epos Now. All of your stock is overseen and managed in one online location, making collaboration between staff members much easier.

Integrations

Another excellent benefit of Epos Now is the platform’s gargantuan app store that allows your business to add on tools and features and expand operations.

Epos Now can be used independently, or in line with other software, including:

• Credit card processing systems
• Online ordering platforms
• CRM systems 
• Accounting software. 

As a consequence of the pandemic, many food or retail SMEs have moved online to offer customers a way to buy without needing to visit a brick and mortar business.

Epos Now can integrate with a wide variety of tools including Deliveroo. As a result, you’ll be able to provide both takeout and delivery options to create and meet demand.

Also featured are apps that facilitate integration with other software like booking or label generation into your till system, so day-to-day operations can be made as efficient and hassle-free as possible.

Epos Now: products and services

Epos Now plans come in two different forms, designed to suit opposing requirements:

• Epos Now Complete Systems
• Epos Now iPad and Android

Epos Now Complete Systems

Epos Now’s complete systems include everything that a business would need. There’s an Epos terminal – dedicated or tablets available – a cash drawer, and a receipt printer.

Your business may need other tools, depending on your requirements and setup. Users will need to add these extras onto your contract – including a kitchen countertop display and barcode scanner – by contacting the Epos Now support team.

Epos Now iPad and Android Tablet

Tablet POS systems have become particularly useful in the hospitality sector where staff often need to take orders and process sales away from a tethered till area.

Epos Now’s tablet POS is an excellent option for front-of-house staff who need to be mobile during shifts. They also tend to be less obvious than a bulky countertop, making your till more attractive for customers.

As well as the tablet software, you’ll also get a cash drawer and a receipt printer.

What are the top alternatives to Epos Now?

Over a period of several weeks, we examined the top POS systems for small businesses based on nine key criteria. These were:

• Till features (eg. training mode and transaction processing)
• Business management (eg. staff performance tracking)
• Stock management (eg. product listing tools)
• Business development (eg. ecommerce integrations)
• Usability (eg. digital receipts)
• Price (eg. availability of a free trial)
• Help and support (eg. number of support channels)
• Retail features (eg. delivery support)
• Restaurant features (eg. floor plan view)

Our research identified three key areas where Epos Now is outperformed by rival POS software providers: these are help and support, price, and business development.

Square is our top choice for help and support tools. Unlike Epos Now, which scored 4 out of 5, we gave Square full marks for its support desk. We particularly like that it offers multiple channels for users to get help through.

Our top-recommendation for price is Zettle by PayPal. Unlike Epos Now, Zettle’s hardware pricing starts from just £29 for the card reader. That’s a flat rate that includes zero hidden fees and is advertised clearly on the Zettle website – something Epos Now could learn from.

If you want to find the provider that’s best for business development, we recommend Lightspeed. It boasts a variety of brand-building tools that Epos Now lacks, such as an integrated customer rewards system and customer insights.

How do I get started with Epos Now?

The information on this page should help you to understand what Epos Now can offer to your business. The next step is to see how Epos Now compares to other suppliers on the market.

To compare quotes from Epos Now and other top UK POS suppliers, you can use our custom-built EPOS comparison form to tell us what your business needs and get matched with bespoke quotes.

This process is free, quick and easy, and will generate lots of savings in the form of both time and money.

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