/

How to Choose the Right POS System for Your Restaurant 

How to Choose the Right POS System for Your Restaurant 

Picture of Denise Prichard
Denise Prichard

Looking for a POS solution that simplifies your restaurant operations? Whether you need a standalone solution for basic transactions or an all-in-one platform for full-service management, explore the options that can streamline orders, reduce errors, and boost efficiency.

Keeping track of orders and payments is a big part of running any restaurant, whether you’re running a coffee shop or a busy, multi-location spot. A good point-of-sale (POS) system can make your life a lot easier by handling transactions smoothly, reducing mistakes, and syncing up with things like inventory and staff schedules. But with so many options out there, figuring out which one is right for you can feel overwhelming.  

Let’s take a closer look at some of the top POS solutions, explore what they do well and where they might fall short—so you can find the perfect fit for your restaurant.

What to look for in a POS solution

The right POS solution should feel like a natural extension of your team, making day-to-day operations easier and more efficient. Here’s what to keep an eye out for: 

  • Easy to use: Your POS should be intuitive enough that anyone can pick it up quickly. After all, you don’t want your team to spend more time learning software than serving guests. 
  • Grows with your restaurant: As your business expands—whether you’re adding staff, menu items, or even new locations—a good POS will grow with you, without adding extra complications. 
  • Integrates with other systems: Your POS should integrate smoothly with tools like payroll, scheduling, and accounting, keeping everything connected and helping prevent those pesky data errors. 
  • Minimizes busy work: Automated features, like inventory updates, sales tracking, and order management, save you and your staff time and keep everything running like clockwork. 
  • Offers real-time insights: Customizable reports and real-time data let you see how things are going at a glance, helping you manage costs, track sales, and make quick decisions based on what’s happening right now. 
  • Keeps data safe: Since POS solutions handle payment info and employee details, robust security is a must to keep everyone’s data safe. 

Toast

Toast offers a variety of tools for restaurants, from POS systems to ordering and payment solutions. It’s packed with features like tableside ordering and customizable menus, but it can be a bit complex to set up and may require extra training for staff. Toast also gives you flexible hardware options and integrates smoothly with Restaurant365, helping streamline your operations. 

Square

Square is a POS system that covers the basics—order management, payment processing, and reporting. It’s a good option for small restaurants with simple menus, food trucks, coffee shops, or new businesses just getting started. Its ease of use and straightforward setup make it great for those who need a quick and simple solution. 

Aloha

Aloha POS is a well-known system that offers features like order management, inventory tracking, and employee scheduling to help streamline restaurant operations. It’s reliable, especially for larger businesses, but staff may need extra training to get the most out of its features. 

Lightspeed

Lightspeed is a cloud-based POS system designed to work with iPads, offering a user-friendly interface. It provides reporting features, with customizable and automated reports that cover things like customer behavior and inventory management. While the more advanced features come with higher-tier plans, they’re great for larger operations that need those tools. For smaller restaurants, the basic plan may offer everything needed without the added costs. 

A Good Egg Dining Group Saves $100,000 in the Back Office with R365 Accounting & Operations

TouchBistro

TouchBistro is a really straightforward, cloud-based POS system that works well for restaurants. It connects iPad POS terminals easily, so many users don’t need a separate back-office computer. If you’re familiar with iOS devices, it’s pretty simple to navigate, and new staff can typically get up to speed in under an hour—great for places with high turnover. Most of the management features are available directly from the POS, so again, no need for an extra computer. 

Revel

Revel is a cloud-based POS system that works well for larger businesses or those with multiple locations. It offers a lot of flexibility, with options for different types of restaurants and the ability to integrate with other enterprise systems. 

R365 POS integration

Restaurant365 is an all-in-one restaurant management platform that integrates smoothly with many popular POS systems, letting you keep using the one you already trust. While it may not connect with every system, its ability to sync easily with your POS helps simplify things and keep everything running seamlessly. 

By automatically pulling POS data into your system, R365 helps reduce errors and save time for your team, whether it’s your servers, managers, or accounting staff. Beyond saving time in the day-to-day, this integration gives you access to real-time insights and detailed reporting that can help guide your business decisions. If something looks off in your numbers, you’ll catch it faster, making it easier to take action and stay on top of things. Plus, as your business grows, those insights can be key in shaping your strategy moving forward. 

With open APIs, Restaurant365 also connects your POS, vendors, banks, and more, streamlining workflows and providing accurate, timely reporting. This reduces the time spent on manual tasks, allowing your team to focus on what matters most—delivering a great guest experience. 

Finding the right fit

Choosing the right POS solution is key to your restaurant’s success. Each solution offers unique features, so it’s important to consider your specific needs, from ease of use to pricing. An all-in-one restaurant management solution that integrates with your POS can help streamline operations and keep everything running smoothly. By weighing your options carefully, you can find the best fit to support your restaurant’s growth and efficiency. 

Share this blog:

Restaurant365 bridges the gap between accounting and operations by centralizing all data, helping restaurant operators to become more efficient, accurately forecast, and tackle any challenge or opportunity with speed and accuracy.