The best POS systems for small businesses: ranked for 2025 We rank and review the top POS systems to help you decide which option is best for your small business. Written by Eddie Harris Reviewed by Ollie Simpson Updated on 10 November 2025 Our Research When judging the best POS systems, our writers work with expert researchers to focus on key features that matter most to small businesses. These include value for money – setup, hardware and transaction fees – help and support, plus the till, stock, and business management tools available. Written and reviewed by: Eddie Harris Senior Reviews Writer Ollie Simpson Senior Research Executive Startups.co.uk is reader supported – we may earn a commission from our recommendations, at no extra cost to you and without impacting our editorial impartiality. 1 of 3 Square: best all-round POS system Visit Square 2 of 3 Shopify: combine in-store and online sales Visit Shopify 3 of 3 Lightspeed: advanced iPad system Visit Lightspeed Our latest research and testing, conducted in May 2025, analysed 11 of the UK’s top POS systems across six key categories, and revealed Square to be the best POS system for small businesses. This is thanks to its extremely user-friendly software, range of help and support options, and free plan. The best POS systems for small businesses at a glance Square: best all-round POS systemShopify: combine in-store and online salesClover: top class POS terminals and accessories for expanding businessesSumUp: a simple, low-cost POS that excels in speed and efficiencyToast: best for established restaurants with busy kitchensLightspeed: first class loyalty features to encourage repeat customerstakepayments: seamlessly combine your POS with a merchant accountEpos Now: best for restaurants and shops with large, complex inventoriesDon’t overspend – you can click any of the links above to begin comparing fees on POS systems for your own business’s size and needs. We may earn a commission from our recommendations, at no extra cost to you. Hiring woes continue to worsen in the UK. A decline in consumer spending, tougher visa laws, and rising business rates have all contributed to the ongoing hiring crisis. If you’re having to rely on a limited staff, or deal with high staff turnover, it’ll help to have a reliable, feature-packed, POS system that can keep your business running smoothly. It’s also essential to choose a provider whose prices fit your budget, and whose transaction fees are competitive. This is especially true in the current financial climate, as you’re going to be doing all you can to keep overheads down. 💡Key takeaways Square is our top small business POS system thanks to its user-friendly interface, transparent pricing, and free plan option.You can start with a limited free POS plan, but more established restaurants will likely need the advanced tools of a monthly subscription-based provider.For those who sell both in-person and online, Shopify’s unified dashboard is very helpful for managing sales.You need to consider whether or not you’ll need a sturdy, countertop terminal (like Clover’s), or whether you’ll be able to run your POS system from a tablet. The best POS systems for small businesses: comparison table 0 out of 0 backward forward Rating Pricing from SPONSORED BEST OVERALL Epos Now Square Shopify Clover SumUp Toast Lightspeed takepayments 3.6 4.8 4.7 4.4 4.2 4.0 4.0 3.8 Hardware: from £225Monthly subscriptions: from £25 per month Hardware: from £149 + VATSoftware from: free Hardware: From £239Software: from £25 per monthCurrently £1 per month for the first three months on select plans Hardware: from £450 + VATSoftware: Currently from £9.99/month (18-month contract) Hardware: from £135 + VATSoftware: free Hardware: quote-basedSoftware: from £80 per month Hardware: quote-basedSoftware: from £69 per month Hardware: from £45 per month (£250 setup fee)Software: included in hardware cost Get Quotes Try Square Try Shopify Get Quotes Get Quotes Get Quotes Try Lightspeed Get Quotes We last updated this article on 10/11/2025 We have verified that all pricing and information in this article is accurate as of 10/11/2025. However, given the rapidly changing nature of the payment processing industry, we always recommend you confirm any pricing directly with the POS providers before making a purchasing decision. 1. Square: best all-round POS system Square 4.8 Visit Square Starting software price: Free plan Transaction fees from: From 1.75% Specific plans for both retail and restaurants, providing industry specific features An extensive ecosystem that allows you to create websites, email marketing and loyalty programmes, all under the same roof Free plan provides a low-cost option for businesses just starting out Summary Square is headed up by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey. Specifically designed for small to medium-sized businesses, it leads the US market for POS systems, currently serving four million clients. Show moreless Suitable if: You want to take payments both in person and online You're a new business that just needs a simple, free plan You need a platform that can scale and grow alongside your business Not suitable if: You have high staff turnover and you need a training mode to help quickly onboard new hires You want to deep dive into your costs versus profits You're running a restaurant and you want to assign ingredients to specific dishes Why is Square a top choice for small businesses?On the basis of our most recent in-house tests, Square is the easiest POS system I’ve used. While setting up the backend was slightly easier that the frontend, the system excels in usability thanks to its intuitive interface, making it great for first time users.Small, single locations can run Square’s free app on an iPad to save on costs, while more sophisticated operations can upgrade to its excellent range of terminals and accessories, and subscription-based software plans (which are split into plans for restaurant and retail).I found the Square interface very easy to navigate. Source: Startups.co.ukSquare performs so strongly across all categories that we also chose it as the best POS for restaurants and the best POS for retail businesses, as well as the best POS for takeaways. However, if you do run into any issues while using it, you can rest assured that Square provides an impressive range of help and support options. What could be improved? I did note the absence of any serious cost management tools. For business owners who want to take a more granular look at their profit margins, I’d recommend Clover instead. Our feedback to Square would be to also include a dedicated training mode to help onboard new staff (the kind that Toast provides). How much does Square cost?PricingSoftwareFree plan: FreeSquare for Retail Plus plan: £49/month, per locationSquare for Restaurants Plus plan: £69/month, per locationPremium plan (for businesses that process more than £200,000 per year): custom pricingHardwareSquare Stand: (to turn your iPad into a countertop terminal): £99 plus VATSquare Terminal: £149 plus VATSquare Handheld: £169 plus VATSquare Register: £599 plus VAT Transaction feesFree plan: 1.75% in person, 2.5% for virtual terminal and invoices, 1.4% + 25p for online transactionsSquare for Retail Plus plan: 1.6% in person, 1.4% + 25p for online transactionsPremium plan: custom ratesFree trial?You can test the system using the free plan on a tabletOne of Square’s strengths is its transparent pricing model. Merchants will know exactly what they’re budgeting for, with no hidden fees and fair transaction rates you won’t be overpaying on.Newer businesses will appreciate the option of a free app-based plan, while the paid plans will unlock slightly lower transaction fees, which is beneficial for more established merchants with higher sales volumes. What's new in 2025? Helping to cement its place as our number one POS provider, Square continues to make regular updates, including:The Square Handheld: launched in June 2025, this slimline point-of-sale device has a built-in barcode scanner and camera.The new Square Point of Sale app: also launched in June 2025, Square’s unified app combines Square for Restaurants, Square for Retail, and Square Appointments in one place.October 2025 feature updates: these include multi-channel menu management and House Accounts (which allows your customers to aggregate purchases into one account, settling their bill later), which is helpful if you have corporate clients. What our researchers think I’m a huge fan of the Square interface. When we tested it on an iPad, I found it really easy to navigate as everything was clearly labelled and the interface was really modern and clean looking, which made it even easier to find all the functions I needed. Ollie Simpson Senior Research Executive Need to know The frontend vs. the backend The frontend of your POS software is the ‘front of house’ part – what you'll use to manage customer transactions, such as inputting an order or printing a bill. The backend of your POS software is the ‘back office’ part – the interface used to view any analytics, change your settings, and use management features (for example, create menu items or manage your inventory). 2. Shopify: combine in-store and online sales Shopify 4.7 Visit Shopify Starting software price: £25 Transaction fees from: 1.7% Easily integrates with a Shopify online store (depending on your plan) Strong support options to help inexperienced users Extensive app store Summary Headquartered in Ontario, Canada, Shopify is the second largest publicly traded Canadian company. It hosts 5.6 million active stores across more than 175 countries. Show moreless Suitable if: You have a wide-ranging and diverse inventory You want access to an extensive app store You want to integrate your existing Shopify website Not suitable if: You need to keep processing costs as low as possible You want a training mode for new staff You want a dedicated countertop terminal, rather than using software on an iPad Why is Shopify a top choice for small businesses?Shopify’s POS stands out thanks to its seamless integration with Shopify-built ecommerce stores, making it the go-to option if you want to sell online as well as in person. Its unified dashboard for both online and in-store operations is especially helpful.Shopify has made significant improvements to its software since our previous 2024 testing, particularly with the introduction of its new, helpful AI assistant. In 2025, many of our expert users reported that Shopify is now the best POS system they’ve used.The straightforward design of the Shopify interface makes for a user-friendly experience. Source: Startups.co.uk Shopify’s built-in features, like its detailed reporting and excellent inventory management, left me impressed, but I also appreciate the extensive range of integrations available on the Shopify app store. You shouldn’t be found wanting if you need to bolt on any additional features. What could be improved? Shopify has a potentially steeper learning curve for new businesses. If you’re looking for a simple and low-cost POS, Square or SumUp might be a better option for you. And while we were certainly impressed by how easy the system was to use on an iPad, some might prefer using a dedicated countertop terminal, like Clover’s. How much does Shopify cost?PricingSoftwareSell in person:Retail plan: £69/monthSell everywhere:Basic plan: £25/monthGrow plan: £65/monthAdvanced plan: £344/monthHardwareShopify POS Terminal: £239Shopify POS Terminal Countertop Kit: £335Transaction fees1.5% - 5%Free trial?YesWhile Shopify doesn’t come with a free plan, the upside is that it’s transparent about its pricing, and offers a broad range of tiers for different needs. The downside is that, on its lower tiers, it can charge some pretty eye watering fees. What's new in 2025? Shopify’s major 2025 update was the launch of Shopify POS 10.0 in April. This introduced new features to make retailers’ day-to-day operations smoother, including:A vertical navigation bar: making navigating around the platform easier.Brand theming: the ability to customise your customer-facing display to fit your own brand’s colour scheme and imagery.Improved visual design: redesigned layouts, which now show more line items. What our researchers think This is the number one platform if you want to sell online too. I was able to set up my online store and then within two minutes I had set up my POS station and connected it to my iPad. That meant everything was in sync across both channels, something which most other platforms make a lot more complicated to set up! Ollie Simpson Senior Research Executive 3. Clover: top class POS terminals and accessories for expanding businesses Clover 4.4 Get Quotes Starting software price: Currently £9.99 per month (18-month contract) Transaction fees from: 1.49% Customisable customer display that supports contactless payments Great range of apps to help scale your business and support your customers Wide range of software tools to support your staff Summary Clover is based in California and, as of 2020, processes $133bn in card transactions annually. It’s owned by Fiserv, the largest merchant acquirer in the world. Show moreless Suitable if: You have a medium-to-large retail store or restaurant You're an established business that's willing to pay extra for top class terminals and accessories Your store is growing rapidly Not suitable if: You have a small store or pop-up that just needs low-cost basics You have a limited inventory and don't need to pay extra for advanced management tools You work in hospitality and automated tip sharing is non-negotiable Why is Clover a top choice for small businesses?Clover stands apart for its first-class POS terminals and accessories, which connect seamlessly. I particularly like the thoughtful design touches like its built-in fingerprint scanner, which makes it extremely quick and easy for staff to log in during peak hours in either a hectic retail outlet or busy restaurant floor.The sleek Clover terminal is one of the most impressive pieces of hardware we’ve tested. Source: Startups.co.ukI found the software to be just as well-designed as the hardware: I appreciated the usability and simplicity of the system, especially compared to some clunkier competitors. This ease-of-use would lend itself particularly well to a fast-paced hospitality environment. The Clover POS terminal also comes bundled with its own receipt printer. Source: Startups.co.ukThe POS also comes stocked up with features to help your staff, including everything from invoicing to inventory management to discounts. With Clover, you should have everything you need to run your business smoothly and scale it over time. A standout, though, is the customisable customer display screen. What could be improved? Restaurateurs should take note that Clover doesn’t include automated tip sharing tools, so if you’re concerned about falling foul of the UK Tipping Act, Toast is a better option. Overall there was a bit of a learning curve with the backend of the system, so if you just need a simple option, check out Square instead. How much does Clover cost?PricingSoftwareCurrently from £9.99 per monthHardwareClover Mini: £450Clover Station Solo: Contact Clover for pricesClover Station Duo: £1,300Transaction feesFrom 1.49%Free trial?NoneThe key thing to be aware of is Clover’s comparatively expensive hardware: the Clover Station Duo costs almost double some of the other terminals we tested.While Clover is a great choice for larger businesses, if you’re just starting out, Square’s transparent set pricing, cheaper hardware, and free plan is more beginner friendly.However, right now, Clover is running a promotion with prices starting from £9.99 per month (which includes a POS device) for 18 months. Just be aware that this offer only applies if you take up to £100k in card turnover. If you exceed this threshold, Clover will work out a bespoke price. What's new in 2025? In 2025, Clover continued to pack out its already highly impressive line of POS hardware with:The Clover Flex 4: an updated version of the Clover Flex handheld POS device, with an improved operating system and a new processor for faster and more reliable transactions.The Clover Flex Pocket: in June 2025, a new version of the Clover Flex was rolled out. It doesn’t feature the built-in printer but is 25% lighter, making it easier for your staff to carry around. What our researchers think The Clover hardware was the most modern and sleek for me, out of all the POS systems we tested. I’d liken it to Apple in the way it looks, with glossy white colours. Using the system was really simple too – it’s laid out with icons and looks similar to an iPad, so there’s no issues with learning to use it. Plus, the finger print recognition was so useful and meant I could log in quicker than on any other system we tested. Ollie Simpson Senior Research Executive How many POS terminals does your business need? Just 1 2-3 Over 3 Unsure Compare Costs 4. SumUp: a simple, low-cost POS that excels in speed and efficiency SumUp 4.2 Get Quotes Starting software price: Free Transaction fees from: 1.69% Superb range of hardware and accessories Built-in electronic gift cards Low-cost system with a free plan Summary In 2020, London-based payment service provider SumUp acquired GoodTill, an iPad-based POS software provider. Show moreless Suitable if: You run a small business that's in its early stages You're looking to keep overheads lean and avoid monthly costs You're also looking to integrate an ecommerce site Not suitable if: You want the option to create physical gift cards You prefer customisable transaction fees Your business is more complex and requires a sophisticated POS back office Why is SumUp a top choice for small businesses?The SumUp POS Lite terminal immediately stood out as sleek and lightweight, while still feeling professional, and at a reasonable price point. This terminal, coupled with the easy-to-use software, would be a great fit for a smaller hospitality business like a coffee shop.SumUp’s simple, intuitive interface makes completing sales easy. Source: Startups.co.ukThe POS Lite consists of a 13” HD touchscreen tablet with a stand and comes bundled with the free version of SumUp’s POS software (you also get the SumUp card reader). This is a pretty standout deal for new business owners who want to get set up with all they need to start taking payments, but without worrying about factoring in monthly software fees.You can download the free SumUp app to your smartphone, which connects up to the card reader. Source: Startups.co.ukSince 2024, we’re happy to note a marked improvement to SumUp’s frontend design, with the addition of a helpful “park order” function. SumUp is a simple-to-use option, and you can easily integrate your POS with SumUp Online to start selling online as well as in person. What could be improved? While the frontend might have been given a polish since our 2024 testing, the backend is less intuitive and prone to slow loading times, which might render it unsuitable for more complex businesses. We would also like to see the option to accept physical gift cards. While SumUp does come with electronic gift card functionality, Square’s POS is able to support physical cards too. How much does SumUp cost?Pricing SoftwareFree POS: FreePOS Plus: £19/monthPOS Pro: £49/monthHardwareHandheld Terminal: £135POS Lite tablet and stand: From £249 (depending on add-ons)Transaction fees1.69%For Payments Plus members: 0.99% for standard cards, 1.99% for international/corporate/premium cardsFree trial?Free planIf you’re looking for a low-cost POS system, SumUp is worth your attention. Speaking purely in terms of cost, SumUp is the best deal on this roundup. You can use the free plan to take payments with a very reasonable transaction fee, and you can get it pre-installed on the POS Lite, and bundled in with a SumUp Solo card reader, for just £290 upfront.This is a great option for merchants looking to get started for a small investment, and avoiding monthly fees. But if you do start to see a dramatic uplift in your sales volume, you can join the Payments Plus membership plan, which can save you up to 60% on your transaction fees. What's new in 2025? SumUp followed Clover and Square’s trend of launching a new handheld POS device. In July 2025, SumUp unveiled the SumUp Terminal – a handheld POS device with a built-in printer.We’ve previously criticised SumUp for having a limited selection of POS devices, but the SumUp Terminal acts as the missing link between the simple SumUp Air card reader and the fully-fledged POS Lite terminal.In April 2025, SumUp also announced a mid-tier software plan, POS Plus, which includes features like floor plans, barcode scanning, and integrations with top accounting software. 5. Toast: best for established restaurants with busy kitchens Toast 4.0 Get Quotes Starting software price: £80 per month Transaction fees from: Quote-based Excellent inventory management tools Reservation tools built into the POS package Includes customer engagement tools that let you create a points system Summary Toast, Inc. is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, with its POS system purpose built for the food and beverage industry. Toast's POS operates on Android, and is currently used by 140,000 restaurant locations. Show moreless Suitable if: You're running a restaurant with complex operations You need help managing a large inventory You want built-in customer engagement tools to encourage repeat business Not suitable if: You're just running a small eatery with a basic inventory You want to run your POS on an iPad (Toast is Android exclusive) You're looking to avoid monthly costs Why is Toast a top choice for small businesses?Toast is purpose built to support businesses in the food and beverage industry, and we’re impressed by its wide range of advanced features, including automatic tip sharing (something many of its competitors overlook), mobile ordering, and built-in reservation tools. When we tested Toast, we found that the back office in particular is highly intuitive, making it easy to navigate.The Toast Flex has a screen that can be flipped, and adjustable height, to fit a range of different hospitality environments. Source: Startups.co.ukToast offers an extensive range of features for established businesses, including an excellent inventory management system, which will be crucial to eateries that have a complex stock to look after. Its cost vs. profit management tools are especially helpful for seasoned restaurants (and those with multiple locations) that need a more sophisticated look at their spending.We appreciated the array of features packed into Toast, including the built-in reservation tools. Source: Startups.co.uk What could be improved? One thing that small business owners need to know about Toast: it’s Android only. That means if you’re planning to use iPads you already own, they won’t be compatible with Toast. We’d say take a look at Square if you want a low-cost, iPad-friendly POS. How much does Toast cost?PricingSoftwareStarter: From £80/monthEssentials: £150/monthCustom: Custom pricingHardwareQuote-basedTransaction feesQuote-basedFree trial?NoneStarting at £80 per month, Toast is the costliest option on this roundup. If you’re fresh off the ground as a small eatery, like a food truck or coffee shop, SumUp should be more your speed.However, established restaurants with complex needs are likely to find that Toast’s vast array of advanced features and well-constructed back office bring a lot of value. What's new in 2025? While Toast might not have rolled out any groundbreaking updates in 2025, it continuously makes helpful improvements.For example, in October 2025, Toast gave staff the ability to locate current and past checks just by scanning the barcode receipt, and in September, Toast added the ability to hide specific dining options from your POS interface. 6. Lightspeed: first class loyalty features to encourage repeat customers Lightspeed 4.0 Visit Lightspeed Starting software price: £75 (Retail), £69 (Restaurant) Transaction fees from: Quote-based Offline functionality that syncs automatically when back online Brilliant customer engagement features Tablet-based system is easy to carry around Summary Based in Montreal, Canada, Lightspeed is a commerce platform that currently serves over 150,000 customer locations. Show moreless Suitable if: You're a restaurateur or retailer looking to expand your operations Inspiring repeat business is a top priority for your business You want reliable offline functionality Not suitable if: You need to frequently change your floor plan You want automated tip management You prefer having a dedicated countertop till, rather than an iPad Why is Lightspeed a top choice for small businesses?Lightspeed stands out from the crowd by offering some of the most impressive tools for driving customer engagement that I’ve seen. You get a built-in loyalty programme on which your customers can collect and redeem loyalty points, and you can also contact your customers via email and text.Lightspeed’s customer engagement tools are some of the strongest we’ve tested. Source: Startups.co.ukLightspeed’s software comes in two versions: Lightspeed Retail or Lightspeed Restaurant. But both versions of the POS are equally well-equipped to manage large and complex inventories. The inventory management tools also come with some pretty comprehensive cost/profit breakdowns, which are great for a deeper look into your analytics.We found creating table plans with Lightspeed Restaurant effortless. Source: Startups.co.ukLightspeed also provides tools for managing multiple locations (such as the ability to share customer data across locations), so it’s a strong option for merchants looking to expand. When we tested Lightspeed, we found it to be fast and reliable, and we appreciated its automatic offline functionality. What could be improved? I did note that Lightspeed is missing automated tip management (which comes built-in with Toast). The system could also prove tricky for restaurateurs who need to change their floor plan frequently, as this can only be done from the back office. If you want to quickly change your floor plan from the frontend, this is something you can do on Epos Now. How much does Lightspeed cost?Lightspeed RestaurantLightspeed RetailSoftwareBasic: £69 per month Core: £129 per monthPro: £219 per monthAnnually:Basic: £75 per month Core: £149 per monthPlus: £189Monthly:Basic: £89 per month Core: £189 per monthPlus: £229 per monthLightspeed represents one of the more premium options on this roundup. But you are getting an impressive amount of tools and features for your money.Square and SumUp are better options if you’re just starting out and need a low-cost, simple solution. But if you’re an established and growing business, you might find Lightspeed’s top loyalty tools and multilocation features to be worth the cost. What's new in 2025? In July 2025, Lightspeed announced several new updates to help both retail and hospitality businesses, including:Enhanced inventory tracking and financial metrics for retailers: Lightspeed Insights now supports Inventory Turns and GMROI (Gross Margin Return on Investment). Just know that Insights is a paid add-on for Lightspeed Retail.Omnichannel management: allowing retailers to set custom online checkout charges.Lightspeed Restaurant improvements: you now have greater control over menu updates and item details. 7. takepayments: seamlessly combine your POS with a merchant account takepayments 3.8 Get Quotes Starting software price: £45 per month Transaction fees from: Quote-based Code scanners built into the front and back of the terminal User-friendly and simple frontend balanced with a feature-dense backend The terminal comes with a built-in printer Summary takepayments is a UK-based company offering payment solutions including card terminals, online payments, and POS systems. It currently serves over 750,000 customers and is one of the fastest-growing card payment providers in the UK. Show moreless Suitable if: You want to seamlessly integrate your POS with your merchant account You have a small cafe or shop with a basic inventory You want to be supported in your onboarding Not suitable if: You want to customise or enhance your system with app integrations You want to be able to sell gift cards Tools for building customer engagement are critical for you Why is takepayments a top choice for small businesses?If you’re looking to bring your merchant account and POS system under one roof, takepayments is a strong option, thanks to its flexible payment solutions and fast next-day payouts. These are the key reasons as to why we ranked takepayments the best merchant account provider for small businesses.takepayments provides the tPOS Counter, which comes fully integrated with the POS software, and is also bundled with a card reader. Source: Startups.co.uktakepayments’ POS terminal, the tPOS Counter, comes with built-in scanners, a printer, and a customer display. This makes it really useful for speeding up order processing and checkout, especially for smaller cafes and shops as the all-in-one terminal can help declutter your counter.takepayments’ reporting tools can provide insights into your best-selling products. Source: Startups.co.ukWhen I tested it, I found it to be particularly new-user-friendly, thanks to an intuitive onboarding process and clear labelling. If you do run into any issues while using the system, takepayments can provide remote support to easily diagnose and solve the issue. What could be improved? takepayments doesn’t come with the ability to set up a loyalty programme within the system. If building customer engagement is a top priority, Square or Lightspeed will be a more solid option. There’s also no option for creating or selling gift cards, and no app store. Clover will have you covered with both gift cards and an extensive app store, if these are key features for you. How much does takepayments cost?PricingSoftware/HardwaretPOS Counter retail: £45/month plus £250 setup feetPOS Counter hospitality: £55/month plus £250 setup feetPOS Complete retail: £55/month plus £250 setup feetPOS Complete hospitality: £65/month plus £250 setup feeTransaction feesQuote-basedFree trial?Nonetakepayments’ POS terminal prices aren’t the most expensive I’ve seen, but it doesn’t offer a free plan like Square or SumUp. However, as we’ve mentioned, one of takepayments’ key strengths is its bespoke transaction fees. This means you should get a fee structure that’s tailored to your business.Read more: our full takepayments review 8. Epos Now: best for restaurants and shops with large, complex inventories Epos Now 3.6 Get Quotes Starting software price: £25 Transaction fees from: 1.3% In-depth inventory management tools Automatic offline mode High quality terminal with a large 15.6" HD display screen Summary Based out of Norwich, Epos Now is a payment service provider and SaaS company, specifically focusing on providing POS systems to small and medium sized businesses. Show moreless Suitable if: You have a restaurant or shop of any size, small or large You’re looking to reduce your monthly outgoings You have a large and detailed inventory to manage Not suitable if: You're a restaurant owner who wants to share out tips automatically You need a free POS plan You prefer more beginner-friendly, basic software Why is Epos Now a top choice for small businesses?If you need to efficiently manage a large inventory, Epos Now should be in your crosshairs. When I tested it, I was impressed by how well it managed inventory updates, as well as stock tracking.Epos Now provides a high-quality terminal with a large display. Source: Startups.co.ukEpos Now’s sales reports are hugely helpful for closely monitoring profit margins, and it includes a cost vs profit analysis. I found accessing the reports in the system was reassuringly straightforward, and extremely valuable for monitoring profitability.The Epos Now terminal also comes with a separate display screen, which makes it easy for your customers to see their total. Source: Startups.co.ukI was also thoroughly impressed by Epos Now’s big, sturdy terminal. It felt well-built and easy to use thanks to a massive 15.6” HD display. If you’re operating in a fast-paced hospitality environment, this will really help streamline those orders. What could be improved? While we appreciated the range of functionality Epos Now provides, we did feel that its missing a more extensive option for automated tip sharing, which Square comes with. And while the interface has a sleek, modern design, the learning curve could be potentially quite steep for new users. How much does Epos Now cost?PricingSoftwareFrom £25 per monthHardwareFrom £225Transaction feesFrom 1.3%Free trial?NoneEpos Now offers various packages containing different hardware and accessories, depending on your specific needs. While this flexibility is welcome, it can make it difficult to compare its pricing against other providers’. What's new in 2025? In March 2025, Epos Now introduced Standalone Mode. This allows you to keep taking payments with your card reader even when your integrated method of taking card payments (such as the main till) is down. You can now use 4G or wifi as a backup when your till isn’t connecting to the reader, or if the internet has gone down. How do I choose a small business POS system?You should always compare different POS providers against your specific business needs before you sign on the dotted line, and make sure you have a solid idea of how much a POS should cost you.But what factors are most important to look into when deciding on a POS system? Here’s a to-do list to follow before making a purchase:Budget your upfront costs: understand the initial costs you’ll encounter, and how this may vary depending on how many tills, terminals or other devices you need to buy.Calculate your average transaction volume: you can’t avoid transaction fees, but different providers charge different transaction fee rates. Some POS providers’ rates depend on your turnover, so make sure you get the best deal for your sales volume.Check your hardware compatibility: no terminal? no problem – if you want to run a POS system on an iPad or mobile phone, that’s perfectly possible, as most providers now offer a POS app. If you already have equipment, such as card machines, look into whether you can use them with the POS system you’re interested in. You may have to buy new devices.Ensure you can connect your online store to your POS system: if you process online sales as well as in-person sales, a modern POS system should run all of this for you from the same core inventory. You’ll make life easy for yourself by choosing one platform for both.What are the different types of POS systems?Every retail or hospitality business needs a POS system, regardless of their specific sector or size. However, there are different types of POS systems that suit certain types of businesses better:POS apps – best for small businesses with limited budgets that want a flexible and portable POSMobile POS systems – best for market stalls or food trucks, or retailers that want to process transactions on the sales floorMultichannel POS systems – best for businesses that sell online and in-person and need to sync orders and inventorySelf-service kiosk POS systems – best for businesses with self-checkout options, such as quick service restaurants, ticketing, and hospitalityCan I use my own tablet, or do I have to buy the provider’s terminal?It’s now commonplace that POS software can be run on your own tablets. However, you still need to decide whether you’re better off with this, or a dedicated terminal.A handheld, tablet-based POS system means you can take orders and payments on the move, and if you have existing tablets you don’t mind using for business purposes, this can save you a lot of money. However, you might want the rugged durability and customer facing display of a countertop terminal instead.Just make sure you check OS compatibility. For example, Toast is Android only, so you won’t be able to use it on iPads. What are the regulatory requirements for small business owners? If you’re taking card payments, you’re going to need to be fully PCI DSS compliant. This is non-negotiable, and applies to all merchants, whether you’re running a market stall or a chain of restaurants.This stands for Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, and they are regulations that are enforced to ensure payment processing is held to a safe and secure standard.There are four levels of PCI DSS compliance, and which level you fall into will depend on the amount of transactions you take per year.Level 4: less than 20,000 card transactions per yearLevel 3: 20,000 to one million card transactions per yearLevel 2: one million to six million card transactions per yearLevel 1: more than six million card transactions per yearEach level has its own set of requirements to satisfy, but at the very least, the key requirements will be to:Complete an annual Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ)Fill out an Attestation of Compliance (AOC) formPotentially perform quarterly network vulnerability scansBreaching PCI DSS and GDRP regulations could result in severe fines and penalties for merchants. So make sure you understand fully what your responsibilities are, and follow the rules to the letter. How do we test POS systems?We are extensive and impartial.We regularly update our research and testing to ensure it is up to date and accurate. As recently as May 2025, our Senior Research Executive led a brand new set of analysis on 11 of the top POS systems in the UK, so we can be confident in our top five choices.Our dedicated Reviews Writer carried out hours of hands-on user testing of both the front and back ends of the POS software and the hardware at our London offices. This was based around a testing framework devised by our Head of Research, to ensure the systems were thoroughly and effectively analysed.The results of this testing, combined with in-depth analysis from the research department, was then judged against the six categories we determined to be most important to a small business owner in the UK.Those six categories, and their importance weightings, were:Usability (35%): how easy to use and intuitive the platform is.Pricing (25%): are you getting a good deal? We assess hardware prices, transaction rates, monthly costs and any hidden fees.Software (20%): we review all of the features that come included, from inventory management to data reporting.Help and support (10%): which avenues of support are provided to merchants if they run into technical issues?Hardware (5%): we assess the payment terminals and accessories available.Reputation (5%): we research areas such as competitor reviews and online comments to assess the brand’s overall reputation. In summary: what’s the best small business POS system?Square is the best POS system for small businesses thanks to its range of features, usability, and suitability to both small and medium sized operations.However, in order to find the perfect POS system for your business, you’ll need to look for the tools and features you think will benefit your specific operation. For example, Shopify is the strongest at combining both in-store and online sales, whereas Lightspeed’s tools make it one of the best options for managing multiple locations. Revisit any of our reviews: 1. Square: best all-round POS system 2. Shopify: combine in-store and online sales 3. Clover: top class POS terminals and accessories for expanding businesses 4. SumUp: a simple, low cost POS that excels in speed and efficiency 5. Toast: best for established restaurants with busy kitchens 6. Lightspeed: first class loyalty features to encourage repeat customers 7. takepayments: seamlessly combine your POS with a merchant account 8. Epos Now: best for restaurants and shops with large, complex inventories How do I choose a small business POS system? How do we test POS systems? In summary: what's the best small business POS system? Startups.co.uk is reader-supported. If you make a purchase through the links on our site, we may earn a commission from the retailers of the products we have reviewed. This helps Startups.co.uk to provide free reviews for our readers. It has no additional cost to you, and never affects the editorial independence of our reviews. Share this post facebook twitter linkedin Tags Recommendations Written by: Eddie Harris Senior Reviews Writer Eddie is resident Senior Reviews Writer for Startups, focusing on merchant accounts, point of sales systems and business phone systems. He works closely with our in-house team of research experts, carrying out hours of hands-on user testing and market analysis to ensure that our recommendations and reviews are as helpful and accurate as possible. Eddie is also Startups video presenter. He helps create informative, helpful visual content alongside our written reviews, to better aid customers with their decision making. Eddie joined Startups from its sister site Expert Reviews, where he wrote in-depth informational articles and covered the biggest consumer deals events of the year. And, having previously worked as a freelancer providing screenplay and book coverage in the film and television industry, Eddie is no stranger to the demands of the sole trader. Reviewed by: Ollie Simpson Senior Research Executive After three years of refining my skills in data analysis, I transitioned to a role as a researcher to help understand our readers' preferences and needs. My professional journey started as a researcher in law enforcement, where I developed strong analytical abilities. Later, I moved into operations, strengthening my understanding of quantitative data. Now, I blend my quantitative analysis skills with qualitative research to explore both audience preferences and product nuances. Armed with a UX design diploma, I translate research findings into actionable insights that facilitate informed decision-making. Whether enhancing Startups offerings or delivering research presentations, I am driven by a relentless pursuit of improvement and results.