So let me help on this one. Should you use a cash register or POS system? Well lets get a few things out of the way first. Rather POS or Cash Register the first job of either of these is still security, second is efficiency.

Another big factor in this decision is whether your business will be owner operator or will you rely on managers and other employees? If owner operator a cash register will often make more sense then an expensive POS system. You are there all the time, you are running the cash register so why not use a simple register!

However owner operator or not, if you plan on keeping a real inventory, tracking in and out and what should be on the shelf, do not try and use a cash register. If someone tells you a cash register can do this, well technically they are correct, realistically they are DEAD WRONG! If they are telling you that, it is not real world,  it is theory! How do I know, well it has been our family business for 30+ years! We have seen everything tried! And tried a few ourselves until we got tired of hitting our heads against the same brick wall. So to summarize YES a cash register and software combo is capable of inventory control, but would you choose a hot air balloon to travel across the country or a commercial Jumbo Jet? Both will get there, but only one is efficient!

Be real with yourself about keeping inventory or not. Yes it is possible, yes it is a good practice, yes it takes 10+ hours a week if not more for most small stores! We have had thousands of small stores as customers of the years and we have seen it all. Most of these thousands did not keep a live inventory, and a handful did! We have had successful customers from both schools of thought! Bottom line here is be real with yourself. PC based or Register Based inventory takes time each and every day or week, a computer does not equal magic!

Myself I would do an inventory system if possible but again IF POSSIBLE! If you decide on an inventory control system first buy a computer/software based POS/Inventory control system like Keystroke, or RMS for retail, or Digital Dining if a restaurant. Next step you will need to set aside 20 to 40 hours of your time to plan your work and work your plan. YOU WILL NOT INSTITUTE AN INVENTORY CONTROL PROGRAM DURING THE COURSE OF BUSINESS! Do yourself and your loved one a favor and carve out the time to do it before you are in the trenches of  the retail or restaurant battle!

OK inventory is not for you, you just want to ring up sales by category and have the register compute tax and change and a daily report of what you sold right. Should this be the case with you opt for a commercial grade cash register like those from Sharp or SAM4s. Using a cash register does not mean you can’t have security or good record keeping because you can. Should you decide on going home or heaven forbid go on vacation make sure you are following some basic security principles found in all decent commercial grade cash registers. Please look for some of my other post on how to stay secure using a simple cash register.

So I hope this was of some help to you! Follow this link If you are looking for a Cash Register

So before you go spend a ton of money on a PC based POS system you may want to check out the SAM4s SPS-500 series or the Sharp UP-800 series cash registers. You may find everything you need at a fraction of the cost!

You can click the following to check out the new Hybrid Cash Registers

Microsoft’s RMS is designed for multi-unit retail chains and has an option for a head quarter central control software called RMS HQ.

The MS POS software is a better fit for the small to medium mom and pop retail store with one or more stores but who do not need central control.

Both RMS and POS can have integrated Credit Card and Gift Card operations.

One great feature of the HP Bundles is that they include a 3 year on-site warranty from HP.

Check them out.

Dave

We have also posted the manual and keyboard template for the SER-7000 here

We have also posted the operator manual, and keyboard template for the SAM4s ER-5200M Here

Please note this tax programming is for the tax rate, not the tax table. I don’t know of any people still using tax tables in the US. Also this does not make every sale Taxable or Non-Taxable you must still program your departments and/or PLU’s to be taxable or not.

Steps

• Turn Key to PGM 2
• Enter 2711
• Press the Decimal Key
• Press the @/For key
• Enter 1 for tax rate 1, 2 for 2, 3 for 3, or 4 for 4.
• Press the @/For key
• Enter the tax rate (example 8.8% enter as 88000) the register will place the decimal
• Press the @/For Key
• Enter the lowest amount Taxable (I always enter 1 unless in your area maybe everything under $1.00 is non-taxable) What ever you enter and above will be taxed when entered in a taxable department.
• Press the Cash Key.
• Turn key to Reg and test.
• Thats it!