With the emergence of COVID-19, customer demand for food delivery has increased rapidly. In fact, some restaurants have only survived by converting to a delivery model. Third-party delivery services have played an important role by providing independent delivery personnel and an online ordering platform for a fee. This saves restaurants from having to hire new…
8 Ways POS Systems Improve the Customer Shopping Experience
It’s been a long time since retailers were bound to old-school cash registers. Today’s businesses have modern technology to help them run every aspect of the operation—and this includes administering transactions. The modern POS system has replaced the cash register, and it brings tons of added features and benefits for businesses and shoppers alike. Although…
What Is a POS System?
Point-of-sale (POS) systems handle the entire checkout process, from bar code scanning to payment processing. POS systems also include backend management features such as inventory and analytics. Restaurants, retailers, and most other small brick and mortar businesses can manage all aspects of their operations through a POS system. The point of sale (POS) is the…
Ultimate Guide to POS Hardware
A point-of-sale (POS) system combines hardware like touch screen terminals and payment processors with software tailored to accept payments and track sales. Because the hardware you need is dependent on the POS software you are using, it’s critical to select a POS software system before purchasing hardware. If you are just starting out, Square offers…
Alibaba vs AliExpress: Who’s Best for Importing & Dropshipping?
Alibaba and AliExpress are online marketplaces. The main difference between Alibaba vs AliExpress is: Alibaba is exclusively intended for B2B transactions, whereas AliExpress is open to consumers. Alibaba helps businesses purchase large quantities of products directly from manufacturers at wholesale prices. AliExpress offers products at competitive retail prices with no minimum order requirements. When to…
How to Get a Liquor License + Costs
Liquor license costs start at around $300 but can grow into the tens of thousands depending on your location. Processing times range from three to 12 months. State, county, and local licensing requirements vary widely. Business owners in large markets like New York and Los Angeles frequently use license brokers or permit expeditors to navigate…
How to Buy a Restaurant in 5 Steps
Buying a restaurant is a cost-effective way for first-time restaurant owners to enter the hospitality industry. Buying an existing restaurant is ideal for restaurateurs who want to step into a fully functioning operation. Those who want to put their signature on a space, however, can buy a restaurant’s assets—such as the lease, furnishings, and kitchen…
WordPress Ecommerce: How to Sell On WordPress in 8 Steps
Learning how to sell on WordPress starts with setting up a domain, choosing the right ecommerce plugin, listing products to sell, and managing orders and shipments. Then, grow your WordPress ecommerce business with plugins and marketing tools. Expect to spend several hundred dollars upfront on hosting and plugins to get your WordPress store up and…
How to Start an Online Store
Starting an online store to sell products and services is easier than ever with plug-and-play ecommerce platforms and web builders. First, you’ll need to iron out a business concept and choose products to sell. Then, select a software platform, build your website, and choose an order fulfillment strategy. Online stores are visual platforms, so you’ll…
How to Start a Farm-to-Table Restaurant in 15 Steps
Farm-to-table restaurants build their operations around strong relationships with local farms so restaurant operators will need to allow much more time for finding vendors and building strong supply systems. The ability to maintain a constant supply of fresh, local ingredients is what sets farm-to-table restaurants apart from restaurants that rely on a few mainline suppliers….
5 Ways COVID-19 Is Transforming the Shopping Experience
COVID-19 has driven 158 million Americans to stay indoors forcing us to adjust the way we shop—64% of those polled indicate that, where open, they are avoiding shopping locations altogether. On the flip side, ecommerce is booming with supermarkets witnessing a 161% increase in online sales. There are some silver linings out there as you…
ShopKeep by Lightspeed vs Clover: Price, Features & What’s Best in 2020
When comparing ShopKeep by Lightspeed vs Clover, there is a stark difference between a full-bodied POS and a just-the-basics, budget management software. While both systems have similar core features, ShopKeep by Lightspeed’s tools are far more granular, which is a requirement for growing retail and cafe businesses. However, Clover has mobile payment and appointment management…