The basic functionality of a POS software system doesn't vary much from one package to the next. However, as you add more features, the software becomes more complicated and costly.

Make sure you know what you need your POS software system to do before comparing long lists of features. Draw up a list of the factors that make your business unique. What unusual purchasing programs do you have? Do you offer incentives that require very detailed or specific tracking? A good POS software system salesperson will ask you these types of questions to determine what point of sale software would be best for you - do yourself a favor and ask them of yourself beforehand.

Basic POS software system features
Most POS software system handles a large number of common functions: displaying the items and prices in a sale, handling taxes, returns, voids, payment options including credit card processing, layaways, discounts, accounting reports, and inventory tracking. Restaurant versions allow creation of checks by diner or table, special orders, tracking orders per server, moving diners from the bar to a table, waiting lists, and more. Most major POS software can handle just about any standard customer transaction.

Capabilities for multiple locations
Some POS software offers an "Internet data board." This is essentially a snapshot of the day's business that you can access from anywhere with a web connection. For franchises or other businesses with multiple locations, this can provide significant peace of mind. Other POS software systems can be set to download daily totals to a central server.

For businesses with branches in different regions, "multimanagement" capabilities can be particularly useful. Multimanagement allows you to share some settings but vary others between sites – for example, offering the same menu but with different prices in different locations.

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