What is a POS system? Point of sale explained for small businesses
By SendPay Business · · 2 min read
A POS (point of sale) system is where a sale is completed: it records what was sold, takes the payment and keeps the numbers. For a shop or cafe it's usually a till app on a tablet with a card reader; for others it can be much simpler.
What a POS system does
- Rings up items and prices, including discounts and tax.
- Takes payment by card, phone or cash.
- Prints or emails a receipt.
- Tracks sales, stock and staff in reports.
The parts
Most POS systems have software (the till app, often a monthly subscription), hardware (a tablet or terminal, a card reader, sometimes a receipt printer and cash drawer) and a payment provider that charges a fee on each card payment.
Do you need one?
If customers pay in person over a counter, a POS system usually helps. If you sell remotely, visit customers, or take payment after the job is done, a payment link or an invoice can take the payment without any hardware.
Where SendPay fits
SendPay doesn't sell card machines or POS hardware. SendPay platforms let you take payment with payment links and invoices under your own brand, which suits businesses that don't need a counter.
Build it
Create your own financial platform.
Pick a template, name it, brand it, preview every page before you pay. Your brand, your users, your fees.
Build my platform →Questions people ask
How do card machine deals compare?
Compare two card machine deals over the first year, including device, per-payment and monthly costs.
Card machine cost calculator →Are there alternatives to a card machine?
The guide compares the options for small businesses.
Card machine alternatives →Virtual terminal or payment links?
The guide explains the difference.
Virtual terminal vs payment links →Read next
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. SendPay Business is a technology company, not a bank, and does not take deposits; regulated services on the platforms are provided by licensed partners. PayPal, Patreon and Substack are named as reference points only and are not affiliated with SendPay Business.