Running a store is hard; running a chain of multiple stores is much harder. However, the best POS system for multiple stores will provide everything you need to manage your multi-stores and alleviate your burden effectively.
The definition of a point-of-sale (POS) system for multiple stores, the salient characteristics of such systems, and a list of the top POS for retail multiple stores for further reference are all covered in this POS for multiple stores review.
Without further ado, let’s check it out!
Contents
- 1. Best POS system for multiple stores: At a glance
- 2. Best POS system for multiple stores: Our top picks
- 2.1. Lightspeed: Best POS for complex businesses or businesses looking for powerful tools and features
- 2.2. Oracle MICROS: Best POS for large-scale, complex hospitality businesses
- 2.3. Shift4 Systems: Best POS for small convenience multi-location stores
- 2.4. Shopify POS: Best for selling on omnichannel
- 2.5. Square: Best POS for small to medium-sized businesses with multiple locations
- 3. What should I look for in a multi-store POS provider before making a decision?
- 4. Final Thoughts: What is the best POS system for a multi-location business?
1. Best POS system for multiple stores: At a glance
The best POS system for numerous stores is software that enables business owners to manage their stores from various locations. To be more specific, the system will manage your stores’ sales, inventory, and customer data from various locations using a single integrated platform.
With comprehensive features such as real-time data access, streamlined operations, and informed decision-making, this system will assist you in running and managing your store more smoothly and effectively and reducing your workload.
2. Best POS system for multiple stores: Our top picks
POS for multiple stores | The system is best for |
|---|---|
Best for complex businesses or businesses looking for powerful tools and features | |
Best for large-scale, complex hospitality businesses | |
Best for small convenience multi-location stores | |
Best for selling on omnichannel | |
Best for small to medium-sized businesses with multiple locations |
Above is the list of the top 5 best point of sale system for multi store that we’ve compiled. For more detailed information and a review of each system, scroll over to the following section.
💡Looking for more interesting examples of POS systems to kickstart your businesses? Then, don’t look over this helpful list of the best POS systems for small businesses.
2.1. Lightspeed: Best POS for complex businesses or businesses looking for powerful tools and features
Score | 3.9/5⭐ |
Pricing | $89/mo to $289/mo |
Hardware price | Not disclosed |
Key features | ✔️ Centralized inventory management to track stock all levels ✔️ Manage sales across all channels and marketplaces |
In general, Lightspeed is the best multi-store POS system for mid-to-large-scale or small-scale businesses looking for powerful tools and features to effectively operate their stores.
2.1.1. Pricing
For a store POS in the United States with one location and one register that is paid annually, we generally put together a quote. There are 3 plans in total:
Basic | Core | Plus | |
|---|---|---|---|
Fundamental daily requirements of independent retailers | Management tools to support the expansion of retailers | Customization and scalability for retail operations | |
Annually | $89/month | $149/month | $289/month |
Monthly | $109/month | $179/month | $339/month |
All three of these plans have the same transaction fees: 2.6% plus 10c for each payment.
2.1.2. Features
- Inventory management features help you keep an eye on stock levels in real-time across all of your stores, prevent stockouts or overstocking to keep customers happy, and efficiently manage complicated product lines and fulfillment needs
- Streamline employee workflows at every store location in accordance with your specific protocols to speed up checkout and better oversee them
- Use real-time dashboards and reports of every store in your chain in terms of sales, inventory, customers, and other data to inform your decisions; everything can be done in one place, on one unified platform
- Use offline mode to continue processing sales and maintain the smooth operation of your stores even in the absence of internet connectivity, allowing you to manage your stores at any time and from any location
2.1.3. Hardware
Receipt and label printers, a scanner, a drawer, and other accessories are available, along with Apple products such as iPads, Mac Minis, and iPad stands. However, the exact price of the hardware is not disclosed on the LightSpeed website. So, you will need to schedule a demo for a more in-depth consultation.
2.1.4. Payment method
The system accepts contactless payments like Apple Pay and Google Pay, digital wallets like PayPal and Samsung Wallet, gift cards, and credit and debit cards.
2.1.5. Suitable and Not suitable for
- Suitable for businesses that require powerful inventory management features, sales on omnichannel, and prioritized customer relationship
- Not suitable for businesses looking for solutions to cut down on their budget or those with simple feature needs
2.1.6. Pros and cons
2.2. Oracle MICROS: Best POS for large-scale, complex hospitality businesses
Score | 4.2/5⭐ |
Pricing | Not disclosed |
Hardware price | Starting from under $100 |
Key features | ✔️ Manage and smoothly run all locations in one platform ✔️ Real-time tracking inventory across all stores |
Generally speaking, Oracle MICROS is the best POS system for multiple stores of large-scale or complex hospitality businesses.
2.2.1. Pricing
As it turns out, the pricing of Oracle MICROS multi-store POS software is not disclosed right on their website. So, you will need to contact them and schedule a demo with their counselor to get an exact number and a customized plan for your specific needs.
Furthermore, the Oracle MICROS system’s pricing is determined by a variety of factors, including the number of store locations, hardware, software modules, customization options, and integration with third-party features or tools.
2.2.2. Features
- Employee management features allow managers to manage employee schedules, permissions, and performance, ensuring consistent service across the whole chain
- Centralized management features that ensure consistent and effective operation across all locations, real-time and accurate data of the entire chain
- Real-time tracking of inventory of all stores in the chain to prevent stockouts and overstocking
- Advanced report and analysis features in terms of sales performance, customer behavior, and operational efficiency across stores in your chain for in-depth insight
2.2.3. Hardware
Oracle MICROS offers these types of hardware:
- Workstations: frequently have touchscreens for convenience
- Printers
- Receipt Printers: Used for printing customer receipts
- Kitchen printers: Send orders to the kitchen so they can be prepared
- Bar printers: Used to print pertinent information, such as bar tabs
- Cash drawers: Keep money and other valuables safe
- Barcode scanners: Used to efficiently enter orders by swiftly scanning product barcodes
- Payment terminals: Handle electronic transactions, including credit card payments
- Customer Display: A tiny screen that provides the customer with order details
- Peripheral Devices: Scales, signature pads, and staff time clocks are examples of additional optional devices
2.2.4. Payment method
At this moment, Oracle MICROS offers a variety of payment methods, so it’s easy to process purchases at your store and convenient for your customers during their shopping journey. In particular, the methods include credit cards, debit cards, cash, gift cards, mobile wallets, and other electronic payment methods.
2.2.5. Suitable and Not suitable for
- Suitable for handling complicated service items and intricate operations in casinos, entertainment venues, hotels, and large restaurant chains and franchises
- Not suitable for small, independent businesses with limited budgets or businesses with basic needs
2.2.6. Pros and cons
2.3. Shift4 Systems: Best POS for small convenience multi-location stores
Score | 3.7/5⭐ |
Pricing | Starts at $99/month |
Hardware price | Not disclosed |
Key features | ✔️ Unified customer relationship management across all stores ✔️ Consistent operations and data accuracy of the entire chain in one platform |
Shift4 (formerly Revel Systems) is the best multi-location POS systems, especially for those small convenience multi-location stores looking for an affordable and reliable system for their chains.
2.3.1. Pricing
Although their website does not reveal the exact cost, you should consider these following specific charges before selecting the Shift4 POS system:
- Pricing: To obtain a precise price, you must speak with their sales team, as it is quote-based
- Hardware costs: devices such as printers, tablets, barcode readers, and so on can raise the starting price
- Monthly fees usually associated with processing payments and software licenses
2.3.2. Features
- Easy to sell on omnichannel, at the same time across multiple stores including online orders, in-store POS, and third-party marketplaces
- A single platform for data management, store management, and chain-wide uniform operations
- Oversee employee performance, permissions, and schedules across several stores
- Monitoring stock levels in real time at every store location to prevent overstocking and stockouts and guarantee customer satisfaction
2.3.3. Hardware
Shift4 provides a large selection of top-notch hardware to guarantee the security and operation of your company. The hardware is divided into different regions, including:
- Additional Peripherals
- Barcode Scanners
- Cash Drawer & Till
- iPad Stands
- iPads
- Networking
- Payment Devices
- Printers
- Revel Premium Stands
- Scales
2.3.4. Payment method
The Shift4 multi-store POS solution accepts a number of payment options, such as digital wallets, gift cards, cash, checks, contactless payments, debit cards, and QR codes.
Nevertheless, you must verify before buying the system because some particular payments are only accessible in particular places.
2.3.5. Suitable and Not suitable for
- Suitable for chains of business with high-volume transactions like retail chains, restaurant groups, hotels, and resorts
- Not suitable for very small businesses or those with very basic needs, as you can save money by finding a more economical system
2.3.6. Pros and cons
2.4. Shopify POS: Best for selling on omnichannel
Score | 4.6/5⭐ |
Pricing | Not disclosed |
Hardware price | Not disclosed |
Key features | ✔️ Seamless operation and sale across all channels: online stores, instore POS, and marketplaces ✔️ Centralized management system to track stock across all locations in real-time |
In general, the Shopify POS system is the best POS system for multiple stores looking for a solution allowing them to sell in multichannel, both online and in person.
2.4.1. Pricing
There are currently 4 plans available for Shopify POS, all of which are paid for each month, with the exception of the Plus plan, which is only available for terms of one to three years.
Basic (for solo entrepreneurs) | Shopify (for small teams) | Advanced | Plus (for more complex business) |
|---|---|---|---|
$39/month | $105/month | $399/month | $2,300/month |
2.4.2. Features
- One-platform inventory management for your chain’s several locations, with real-time stock tracking to avoid stockouts and overstockings
- Powerful features for selling across multiple stores on multiple platforms and channels, including online stores, physical stores, and marketplaces
- Consistent customer relationship tools for managing and tracking customer profiles and purchase history across all channels for marketing campaigns
- Reliable analytics and reports help gain insights into sales trends, inventory performance, and customer behavior across all locations
2.4.3. Hardware
You can customize your Shopify point-of-sale system by selecting from a variety of intriguing hardware options. The Shopify POS list of hardware includes cash drawers, receipt printers, barcode scanners, and tablet stands for stores.
2.4.4. Payment method
The system accepts a variety of payment methods, making it easier for your clients to use credit cards or cash. They can use debit cards, contactless payment methods like Apple Pay and Google Pay, and credit cards such as Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, and others.
Interested in learning more about the Shopify POS system? Don’t overlook this blog, where we provide details of the Shopify POS Reviews, with every piece of information you need to know.
2.4.5. Suitable and Not suitable for
- Suitable for medium-sized retail chains, limited budgets business as Shopify offers a free version, and e-commerce-focused businesses as they integrate seamlessly with the Shopify platform
- Not suitable for very high-volume businesses, the ones with advanced reporting needs or complex inventory management feature needs
2.4.6. Pros and cons
2.5. Square: Best POS for small to medium-sized businesses with multiple locations
Score | 4.6/5⭐ |
Pricing | Starts at $0 |
Hardware price | Not disclosed |
Key features | ✔️ Managing all store locations in one single dashboard ✔️ Smoothly managing sales across all channels |
All in all, we believe that the Square POS system is the best POS system for multiple stores of small to medium-sized businesses and those looking for an efficient multichannel solution to sell.
2.5.1. Pricing
Three plans are available for grocery businesses using Square Grocery store POS software, depending on their size and rate of expansion.
Free | Plus | Premium | |
|---|---|---|---|
Pricing | $0 | $89/ month, per location | Not disclosed |
Transaction fee | 2.6% + 10 cents (in person) 2.9% + 30 cents (online) | 2.5% + 10 cents (in person) 2.9% + 30 cents (online) | Not disclosed |
For more information, you will need to speak with the salesperson, as the Premium plan’s price has not been revealed.
2.5.2. Features
- A centralized dashboard that lets you handle sales, inventory, and customer information for every store in every location
- Real-time inventory tracking across different stores, avoiding stockouts and over-stocking at every store in your whole chain
- Utilize a single, unified platform to manage employees’ schedules, permissions, and performance across multiple stores, making work easier and more efficient and save you time and effort
- Using a single CRM platform for all of your stores allows you to create and manage customer profiles and purchase histories in one location, which will be very useful for future customer-focused promotions
2.5.3. Hardware
Square, the best retail POS for multi store, offers a range of hardware solutions, such as terminals, registers, card readers, and store stands. To determine which is best for your multiple stores, visit their website for more information and you’ll know what to pick out for your stores.
2.5.4. Payment method
Like other point-of-sale systems, Square takes several payment methods, such as cash, gift cards, invoices, app pay, check-out, and credit, debit, and contactless card payments.
2.5.5. Suitable and Not suitable for
- Suitable for small to medium-sized enterprises, including food trucks, pop-up shops, restaurants, retail establishments, and service-oriented businesses
- Not suitable for big chains or companies with extremely intricate inventory management feature needs
2.5.6. Pros and cons
3. What should I look for in a multi-store POS provider before making a decision?
- Functionality and Features: Verify that the system meets your particular needs for inventory management, staff management, reporting, and customer relationship management
- Customer Support: Pick a company that provides trustworthy training resources and customer service
- Integration Capabilities: Look for a system that can be connected to other business tools you use, such as accounting software and e-commerce platforms
- Scalability: As you grow your business and open more locations or process more transactions, the system should grow with you
- Cost: Take software, hardware, and ongoing maintenance expenses into account when analyzing the total cost of ownership
4. Final Thoughts: What is the best POS system for a multi-location business?
We hope that our blog today has helped you gain a better understanding of what is the best POS system for multiple stores, as well as tips for selecting the best POS system for your business.
All in all, it takes a lot of time and effort to pick out the most suitable POS system for your multiple stores. But if you’re still not sure what POS system is the best, we suggest you try with options that work well with the majority of multi-stores and offer a free plan like Square.
Don’t hesitate to share with us your thoughts, feelings, or any ideas on our work. Interested in learning more about POS systems or e-commerce in general? Follow us at eComstart.io now for more informative blogs.
