How to choose restaurant POS software

Picking a POS is easier when you compare the same few things across every option. Use this checklist.

1. Can your staff learn it in a day?

If a new waiter needs a week of training, the software is too complicated. Ask for a demo and take a real order yourself.

2. Does it cover every order type?

Most restaurants take dine-in, takeaway and online orders. Check they all go through one list, so nothing is copied by hand.

3. Does it send tickets to the kitchen?

A clear kitchen ticket prevents wrong or missed orders. See our guide to the kitchen order ticket system.

4. Is billing flexible?

Look for tax, service charge, discounts and receipts in the language your customers read. If you serve Urdu speakers, check Urdu printing. See restaurant billing software.

5. Can you control staff access?

Owners, managers and waiters should see different things. Big discounts should need a manager's PIN.

6. Does it work on the devices you own?

A browser-based POS runs on a PC, tablet or phone, so you may not need new hardware.

7. Can you try it first?

Sign up or book a demo before you commit, and test it during a real service.

Questions to ask before you buy

Ask every vendor the same questions so the answers are easy to compare. How long does setup take? What happens if the internet drops? Who can see sales reports? Can you export your data if you leave? Write the answers down side by side, because they are easy to forget after the third demo.

Look beyond the counter screen

Taking orders is only half the job. Good software also helps you see where money goes. Check whether it shows sales by hour, best-selling and slow-moving dishes, and profit per dish once you enter what each plate costs. Reports like these tell you what to promote, what to drop and when to schedule more staff.

Protect your cash and stock

Small leaks add up in a busy restaurant. Look for shift closing, where you count the drawer and the software shows what should be there. Look for a log of voids, discounts, price changes and orders cleared without a bill. Table Ticket includes an audit page for exactly this, so an owner who is not always on site can still see what happened.

Think about credit and online orders

Many Pakistani restaurants sell on credit to regular customers, and many also take orders from delivery platforms. Check that the software can record credit sales, show each customer's balance, and log online orders next to your dine-in tables. If it cannot, you will end up keeping a second notebook.

Count the real cost

Compare more than the monthly price. Add hardware you would need to buy, setup and training time, printer costs and any fee to move your data. Browser-based software usually costs less to start because it runs on a PC, tablet or phone you already own.

Run a real trial

Before you commit, run the software through one full service. Take real orders, print real bills, close a shift and read the report the next morning. If your busiest waiter can use it without help, it is a good fit.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to set up a restaurant POS?

With a browser-based system you can add your menu and take a first order the same day. Adding staff, roles and reports can follow when you need them.

Do I need to buy new hardware?

Usually not. A browser-based POS runs on a PC, tablet or phone, and prints to any printer your browser can use.

What should I check first?

Whether your staff can learn it in a day and whether it handles every order type you take. The other checks matter, but these two decide if it gets used.

Ready to try it?

Table Ticket runs in your browser with tables, kitchen tickets, bills and QR menus in one app.