Cafe point-of-sale (POS) systems help small coffee shops and eateries efficiently manage counter, seated, take-out, and delivery orders, and organize general business needs. We evaluated a variety of cafe POS systems and compared them based on price, customer service tools, order-taking, and ticket-tracking features to determine the top six, including the best overall. Best Cafe…
About the Author
Meaghan Brophy
Meaghan Brophy is a staff writer for Fit Small Business specializing in retail. She has provided content and guidance for indie retailers for years as the editor for Independent Retailer, a RetailWire BrainTrust panelist, and speaker at trade shows such as the Independent Retailer Conference , UpperDeck, and NY NOW. She has an M.S. in Publishing from Pace University.
She is frequently quoted as a retail expert in top publications like The Washington Post, Forbes, NBC News, Business Insider, Reader’s Digest, and Retail Dive.
When not talking retail, Meaghan can be found watching dog videos and practicing her tap dancing skills.
SKU Numbers: What They Are & How to Set Them Up
A stock keeping unit (SKU) is an alphanumeric code that identifies a product and helps you track inventory for your retail business. You can create SKU numbers manually or using inventory management or point-of-sale (POS) software. SKU numbers print on your product label along with the product’s universal product code (UPC) and other product information….
8 Best POS Systems for Small Business
A point-of-sale (POS) system lets small business owners accept payments and helps manage a business with various features. The best POS software lets you track inventory and sales, manage employees, grow customer relationships, and analyze data. You can find POS systems that range in price from free to $100 or so per month. Top 8…
6 Best Retail Management Software 2020
Managing a retail business is an enormous task. Retail management software helps businesses track inventory and customer orders across sales channels, manage customer relationships, and coordinate vendor orders. The best retail management software integrates seamlessly with point-of-sale (POS) software and ecommerce platforms, and has starting costs around $100 per month for small businesses. Top 6…
8 Best Restaurant POS Systems 2019
Restaurant POS systems go beyond processing payments for food service businesses by providing features to manage front- and back-of-house operations. POS systems for restaurants are tablet and cloud-based, making them more affordable than traditional countertop POS with proprietary hardware and software. Expect costs for these newer systems to be around $50 to $200 per month….
6 Best Mobile Credit Card Processing Options 2020
Mobile credit card processing lets you sell products and accept payments on-the-go with a smartphone or tablet. Mobile credit card processors should be reliable, have affordable transaction fees, come with a free business management app, and function offline. The best mobile credit card processing services have no startup or monthly fees. Top 6 Mobile Credit…
How to Accept Credit Card Payments Online for Small Businesses
If you own a small business, setting up your website to accept credit cards online is a crucial step in growing your sales and customer bases. Learning how to accept credit card payments online involves choosing a payment processor that has competitive pricing and is compatible with your website or ecommerce platform. Businesses can accept…
6 Best Shopify Alternatives for 2020
Shopify is the top name in ecommerce. However, that doesn’t mean it’s the best option for your business. Depending on the size of your business, how much you sell, your monthly budget, and other factors, you may want to consider one of these six best Shopify alternatives. Top 6 Shopify Alternatives for 2020 How We…
6 Best Appointment Scheduling Apps 2020
Appointment scheduling apps are used by service businesses such as spas, salons, fitness centers, consultants, sales professionals, and repair shops to coordinate time slots for customers to receive services. The best appointment scheduling apps are easy to use and have features to allow customers to book and manage their own appointments. Top 6 Appointment Scheduling…
6 Best Ecommerce Platforms of 2020
Businesses use ecommerce platforms to create online stores with products and shopping carts. In addition to creating digital storefronts, ecommerce software also has inventory and order management tools to fulfill customer orders. The best ecommerce platforms integrate with POS systems for in-person sales and online marketplaces like Amazon, with starting prices under $100 per month….
8 Best Credit Card Readers 2020
Credit card readers are devices that accept and process payments through a smartphone or tablet, along with point-of-sale (POS) software. Many processors offer free or low-cost readers, and charge a monthly fee and transaction fees. The best credit card readers have low processing fees and come with POS apps to process sales and view reports….
Types of Appointment Scheduling For Every Business
Scheduling appointments effectively is critical for managing patient or customer flow and ensuring profitability. How appointments are scheduled can vary greatly by industry. For example, medical providers often need to see many patients in a small window of time, whereas spa appointments are lengthier and have a dedicated service provider for every client. Why Use…
