There was once a time when sales could only be processed inside of a store at a cash register. At times, a business owner might have carried out a cash sale and given the buyer a handwritten receipt, but credit cards and debit cards had to be put through an electronic system. At that time, cash registers and payment processing systems, otherwise known as the point of sale systems (POS), were simply too large to carry out of the store. And wireless Internet did not exist which limited external sales even further. Fortunately for the modern business people, this is no longer the case. POS systems are as mobile as your phone or tablet, mainly because those are the places that these mobile POS systems exist and work.
As technology increases and improves, so do the capabilities of businesses. Online businesses are too numerous to count. Home-based businesses are as well. The fact that these businesses are not located in a physical store does not have to stop them from making transactions. All business owners need a mobile POS system. There are many to choose from, but six of the top mobile POS systems are Vend, Square, Bindo, Clover, ShopKeep, and PayPal Here.
6 Top Mobile POS Systems
Vend is considered one of the best mobile POS systems for retailers, both online and offline. The software can turn iPads into mobile registers. It also works with Mac and Windows laptops but not Android smartphones. It can integrate with pretty much any external payment processing hardware. If you already have payment processing hardware, check to see if it will integrate with Vend before purchasing a new one. Vend works both online and off, so you do not need an Internet connection for it. You will, however, need a third-party payment processor such as Square or PayPal. You have three different plan options that start at $99 per month but you can get a free 30-day trial of any of those plans to try before you buy. Additionally, all these plans include one free register though you can add more if need be.
Another software to rank with the best mobile POS systems is Square. You can download and use the Square app on either your Apple or Android device. The software is completely free to use but the hardware is not. Square’s available hardware includes Square contactless and chip reader for $49, a magstripe reader (this one is free), and Square chip and magstripe reader for $35. The Square POS system does give the user the ability to accept and process payments, but it has other features for the user as well such as employee management, CRM, and inventory tracking. Be sure to read over the terms as Square does charge you processing fees for transactions starting at 2.75%, but they increase and vary depending on your hardware and the type of payment. Read the terms and conditions to educate yourself on these fees.
Bindo is one of the best points of sale systems for small businesses. It is a cloud-based POS for iPads meaning it can be used just about anywhere. One great thing about Bindo is that it is a one-stop shop. It has more than 300 features including CRM, inventory management, analytics, online selling capabilities, and a time clock. If you need physical hardware, such as a register, they have that available as well. Bindo offers a 14-day free trial before switching you over to a plan, the price of which you can receive through a personal quote.
If you like the idea of Square, you might want to investigate Clover as well. The two are very similar in their customizable POS capabilities, but Clover offers a couple of really useful pieces of hardware: the Clover Go which is a Bluetooth device for accepting magstripe and a couple of other payments, and Clover Flex which is another mobile device capable of accepting a wider variety of payments. Clover Go is $59 while Clover Flex is a pricier investment at $449. Additionally, Clover offers three different plan options beginning with a free plan and moving up to $29 per month. Transaction fees will be charged for processing payments so be sure to read the details before signing up.
ShopKeep is comparable to Vend with its capabilities and features, but there is one key difference. Vend is geared more toward while ShopKeep is a better mobile POS for restaurants and small businesses in the food industry. It can be used for retail shops as well, but ShopKeep really shines with its ingredient inventory tracking, customizable tip suggestions, tableside ordering features, and online ordering, If this sounds like the mobile POS you are looking for, contact ShopKeep directly for a customized quote on your specific needs.
PayPal has been around long enough to gain a trusted reputation for online payment processing. Now, they offer PayPal Here, a mobile POS system, which works directly with the PayPal app. They offer hardware with a one-time fee including a mobile card reader for $14.99, a chip and swipe reader for $24.99, chip and tap reader for $59.99, or a chip card reader for $99.99. Like other payment processors, they do charge transaction fees starting at 2.7%. It is important to read the fine print to know the details.
If you are a small business or a business on the go, a mobile payment system can be a valuable tool. It can give you the freedom you need to move about, and most can give you all the features you need in one place. Check out these six mobile POS systems to see what they can do for you and how they can help you grow your business.
