When you open a new restaurant, there are so many choices to make which will affect how your business is perceived and run. Everything from the kitchen equipment to the color of the napkins that you choose for your tables makes a difference in how your restaurant is seen by customers. There is, however, one item that few restaurant owners consider when starting up – the point of sale system and supplies. After all, a cash register is a cash register is a cash register, right?

Wrong! Restaurant POS systems have come a very long way in the past couple of decades. Today’s point of sale system is far more than a cash drawer – even more than an inventory control system. In the restaurant business, the point of sale system that you choose can improve everything from prompt service and delivery of food to planning menus and ordering supplies. Some point of sale systems even communicate with a network to track your inventory and enter orders on supplies that need to be re-ordered.

Of course, not every restaurant needs a point of sale system that is that complex and sophisticated. Most restaurants, however, will operate more efficiently with a POS system that is designed especially for use in food service and hospitality rather than by retailers. These are some of the things you should consider when you’re shopping for the point of sale system for your new restaurant.

1. Educate yourself about the point of sale systems available and their capabilities. The most important thing that you can do is get to know what is available on the market. Ask around among other restaurateurs to get recommendations, or ask if you can see the POS system that they use in operation. That will give you a feel for the kind of POS system that will be right for your business.

2. Evaluate your needs. Once you have a good idea of what’s available, sit down and evaluate your needs. Is your business small enough to get buy with a basic guest check and receipt system? Do you need a credit card processing solution? Should you opt for a system that helps maintain inventory and tracks spending or do you just need a system that totals the day’s receipts? Will a system that allows waitstaff to enter their orders from the floor using hand-held mobile units benefit you or is it just icing on the cake?

3. Consult a professional. POS systems for restaurants are an emerging technology. While they have been around for some time, there are frequent innovations. A company which specializes in point of sale systems for the hospitality industry will help you choose the right system for your operation.

4. Don’t let yourself be sold on a system that you don’t need. If you’ve done your homework on what’s available and what you need, it will be much easier to spot it when a gung-ho sales rep tries to sell you on something that’s too complex for your business. Be realistic – allow for expansion, but don’t get sucked into buying a system with features that you’ll never use.

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