QuickBooks POS Review: Is It Right for Your Business?

Intuit QuickBooks Point of Sale is a PC-based stand-alone POS system that lets you manage in-store and ecommerce transactions. Naturally, it integrates with QuickBooks accounting software (the Desktop version). It offers several plans, which start at $1,200 and have 30-day trials that include access to contactless payments, ecommerce integrations, and inventory and customer data management at its core. It is an easy-to-use program that’s best for companies that don’t need mobile access or iPad-compatible software.

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What We Recommend QuickBooks POS for

A good POS system should do more than ring sales up. It must keep track of inventory, provide some customer resource tools—even if just storing information—and help you analyze sales. The best have online and mobile components.

QuickBooks does an excellent job with inventory and has strong customer relationship management tools. Its Pro and Multi-Store versions also include employee management functions. However, you need to pay extra for the ecommerce integration.

Overall, QuickBooks is best for:

• QuickBooks users: QuickBooks POS natively integrates with the QuickBooks ecosystem, making accounting and creating comprehensive financial reports easier.
• Small brick-and-mortar retail stores: This is a stand-alone system that runs on a computer, making it best for small retailers or shops with a single cash register.
• Businesses that prefer a nonsubscription POS software: Because QuickBooks is not a subscription service, you need to pay for the software only once. However, if you want a full-featured free POS with payment services, then we recommend Square.

When QuickBooks POS Would Not Be a Good Fit

• Businesses wanting an online or cloud-based POS solution: QuickBooks POS is a stand-alone software. If you prefer Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), then QuickBooks accounting has partnered with Shopify. Otherwise, check out our top choices for cloud-based POS systems, including Lightspeed and Square.
• Retailers with a busy online store: While QuickBooks does have an ecommerce integration, it’s an additional monthly fee. It’s cheaper and easier to find a POS system that includes ecommerce, such as one of these multi-channel POS systems like Shopify.
• Businesses that sell age-restricted items: Since it lacks tools to alert cashiers to check for ID or track customer ages, we don’t recommend QuickBooks for liquor stores, convenience stores, gas stations, wineries, or similar businesses. POS Nation is one of our recommended alternatives.
• iPad users: QuickBooks POS is a PC-run program. If you prefer to use an iPad, then check out our buyers’ guide on the best iPad POS systems. Our top recommendations include Square, Lightspeed, and Shopify.

Looking for something different? Read our guide to the best POS systems for small businesses to find a software that’s right for your business.

QuickBooks POS Overview

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QuickBooks POS Pricing

As a stand-alone POS system, QuickBooks only requires a one-time payment for the software. The price compares to one or two years’ worth of cloud-based POS systems, and you get free upgrades. You can try the full version of QuickBooks POS with its 30-day free trial.

QuickBooks POS Payments

QuickBooks Payments allows you to process payments of any kind, from ACH bank transfers to credit cards and touchless payments like Apple Pay. Rates differ depending on whether you pay as you go or purchase a monthly plan for lower rates. You can also then download QuickBooks GoPayment for POS on mobile for on-the-go payments and have it sync with your desktop version.

Custom payment plans are also available for businesses that process high-volume transactions.

QuickBooks POS Hardware

• Windows-based system
• Purchase hardware from Intuit, or use recommended third-party hardware

Hardware bundle includes Cash Drawer, Receipt Printer, Wired Barcode Scanner, and PIN Pad* (*requires QuickBooks POS Payments Account) Cost:
$900

mPOP is an integrated cash drawer and receipt printer.
Cost: $449

PIN Pad, which requires QuickBooks Point-of-Sale Payments Account.
Cost: $389

Cash Drawer
Cost: $109

Receipt Printer prints customized marketing coupons directly on the receipt.
Cost: $219

Wired Barcode Scanner Cost:
$199

Wireless Barcode Scanner Cost: $409

Universal Tablet Stand
Cost: $119

Pole Display allows customers to verify price and view custom messages.
Cost: $209

Tag Printer prints inventory tags and barcode labels.
Cost: $329

QuickBooks POS works best with Windows 10 hardware. Intuit recommends Acer Switch, Microsoft Surface Pro, Surface Go, and Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro. Whether you use a tablet, laptop, or desktop, expect to need 1GB of disk space, a 2.8 GHz processor at the minimum, and 4GB of RAM—although 8GB is best.

You can purchase POS hardware from QuickBooks. Alternatively, it has a list of recommended third-party brands that work best with its system. Hardware bundles start at $900 and include a cash drawer, receipt printer, wired barcode scanner, and PIN pad that accepts contactless payments, chip, and swipe. In addition, it offers pole displays and a bar code printer.

QuickBooks POS Features

QuickBooks does not offer setup services. So, you need to input all the information yourself, although you can bulk upload through QuickBooks or a CSV file. It offers an excellent array of retail features, especially in the Pro and Multi-Store programs, and Intuit says it has more features planned for the future.

Click through the sections below for details on each feature:

QuickBooks POS Automatic Updates

QuickBooks POS Sales Processing

Easily ring up items using a barcode scanner or by looking them up in the inventory. You can accept payments from cash and check to credit cards and touchless payments like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay. Some versions of QuickBooks POS allow invoicing, billing, and layaway for customers. You can also email receipts and add coupons to receipts to bring customers back.

The sales screen lacks product images, but it is otherwise intuitive—photos available in the Multi-Store version.

QuickBooks POS Mobile Payments

QuickBooks also offers a mobile payments option with QuickBooks GoPayments. This feature allows you to ring sales using your mobile device, and both your inventory and sales records are updated in real time. It’s an efficient solution for reducing long queues in your store, offering curbside pickup, or making a sale during offsite events like trade shows, pop-up shops, and street market fairs.

Automatic sync of your Go Payments transactions make sure that your sales and inventory records are always up to date

Learn more about mobile payments in our roundup of the best mobile credit card processors.

QuickBooks POS Customer Management

Add customer information to track buying habits, run loyalty programs, offer promotions (such as a birthday discount), and more. You can sync with Constant Contact for email campaigns.

You can add customer information at the time of sale to use for promotions or programs.

QuickBooks POS Inventory

Create an inventory with multiple modifiers to get an accurate picture of your inventory; get alerts on low items, create purchase orders, manage vendors, and more. You can also use reports to discover what items are selling well, as well as sync with online sales and sales made through GoPayment. The multi-store program lets you track the transfer of items between stores.

From managing seasonal products to tracking multi-store inventory, QuickBooks offers many inventory management tools for businesses of all sizes.

QuickBooks POS Employee Management

Employee management is found in the POS Pro and Multi-Store versions. You can set permissions and track commissions for your employees. It also has a time clock for tracking hours, so you can make sure you’re paying employees for time worked.

Depending on your software plan, QuickBooks allows you to manage employee access with predefined or customizable permission and roles.

QuickBooks POS Ecommerce

QuickBooks POS ecommerce integration is an add-on that will sync your online store with QuickBooks POS Desktop, so you can manage inventory, sales, and customer information from either source. Powered by Webgility, the integration works with many popular marketplaces and shopping cart programs, from Amazon to WooCommerce (ecommerce integration starts at $39 per month). If you need a mobile app, download the QuickBooks GoPayment app and sync it through Intuit’s payment program.

QuickBooks POS offers integrations with many online marketplaces such as Amazon and Etsy.

QuickBooks POS Ease of Use

• The interface is overall intuitive, but the lack of product photos in the cheaper versions detracts from ease of use.
• Bulk import of data is available.
• Administrative functions are easy to use.
• General support consists of how-to guides, webinars, chat, and an online forum.
• Phone support costs extra.

QuickBooks is easy to set up, but you will have to do it yourself. You can find the user guide online to walk you through the process of adding items, customers, taxes, and more. You can import much of the data from QuickBooks Desktop or import it from an Excel spreadsheet or text file.

Unless you have the multi-store version, QuickBooks POS does not have photo menus of items. Rather, you can use a barcode scanner or key an item description into the search bar. Unfortunately, this makes the interface more dated and less intuitive than many POS systems. It’s easy to process payments, however, and everything integrates with your QuickBooks accounting software.

Tabs at the top of the screen make it easy to manage customers, inventory, employees, and more.

You can easily access everything from the top tabs of the program. It suggests purchase orders for low-stock items and tracks back-ordered and damaged goods. There are reports to show sales, profit margins, and more. There’s also an end-of-day function to remind employees to reconcile their registers, back up data, and integrate with QuickBooks accounting.

The administrative section uses icons and workflow to make finding functions easy.

QuickBooks offers a wide range of support options. Online, you can access the support portal to find how-to articles, view instructional videos (for QuickBooks accounting), attend webinars, or ask questions via the forum. Even though there is a separate page for QuickBooks POS, clicking or searching nonetheless results in articles that apply to other products as well. We, at times, found it easier to use Google and follow the results to the QuickBooks help page. Further, several times, links to additional information were circular or led to Page Not Found.

Support resources for QuickBooks POS covers everything from FAQs to finding local experts for assistance.

You can access chat support Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific time. To get phone support, you need to purchase a plan. The support plans come with online backup of your data, however, so factor that in when deciding whether it’s worth the price. The expert assistance is only available Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pacific time.

QuickBooks POS Alternatives

Best for: Small retailers, restaurants, and service providers wanting an all-in-one solution	Best for: Businesses needing free mobile and in-store POS	Best for: Convenience stores or stores with food or age-restricted products
Monthly fee from: $9.95	Base monthly fee: $0	Monthly fee from: $99
Hardware from: $99	Hardware from: $49	Hardware from: $79
Visit Clover	Visit Square for Retail	Visit POS Nation

If you’re not sure QuickBooks POS is right for you, check out our reviews of other popular retail POS systems.

What Users Think of QuickBooks POS

At the time of publication, QuickBooks POS earned the following scores on popular review sites:

• Software Advice: 3.9 out of 5 based on 159 reviews.
• G2: 4.1 out of 5 based on 71 reviews.

These scores are lower than many of the top POS software systems we review but still strong enough to make the software worth considering. Finances Online also has a Customer Satisfaction Algorithm that gathers reviews, comments, and opinions from QuickBooks POS users across the internet. According to it, QuickBooks POS has an 88% user satisfaction rating.

Users generally praised the simplicity and back-end features. Naturally, integration with QuickBooks was a hit, and users also like the inventory and vendor functions, as well as layaway. Some, however, noted that the software is best suited for retail and that the mobile function (GoPayment) was not good. While some users complained about a dated-looking interface, most said it was easy to navigate and well-organized.

Customer support was either very good or very bad. Those with good experiences said the staff was quick and friendly. Meanwhile, those with negative experiences talked about long hold times, not getting called back, and dealing with customer support reps who did not speak fluent English.

Bottom Line

For QuickBooks users who have Desktop for Windows and need a basic but full-featured POS software for retail, the QuickBooks POS system is worth considering. The programs are standalone but well-priced and come with free updates.

It handles the most important sales, inventory, and customer service functions and can work for multiple stores, employee management, promotions, and more. The system looks a little dated and lacks some advanced features for restaurants or convenience stores but is overall a strong software. Get a free trial and see for yourself.

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