Anyone starting a retail business whether they plan for one shop for their first shop to be a prototype for a business they plan to scale there is the question: What's the best POS system for their retail start-up?

There are software companies that will say they have the best POS system for a retail start-up.

They can't know that. No one can.

The best POS system for your retail start up is the POS system that best serves your needs.

Start there, with your needs. Be clear about them. Be sure you know the software facilities you will need to run the business you want today and into the future.

Here are some questions to ask yourself as you consider the best POS system for your retail start up:

1. What depth of inventory management do you need?
2. Do you want flexibility as to the payment platform you choose for card payments? Flexibility can save you money.
3. Do you need a loyalty solution and if do are you focussed on points or a cash discount as a means of encouraging loyalty?
4. Do you need to be able to sell products y fractions?
5. Do you need a solution for selling outside the shop?
6. Do you want to include product care information on receipts?
7. Do you do special orders for customers?
8. Do you bundle products together?
9. Do you put products aside for customers?
10. Do you want to suspend a sale while a customer considers another item?
11. Do your suppliers provide invoices in an easily readable form?
12. Do you want to link to an online e-commerce platform?
13. What reporting matters to you?
14. When you want support, do you want easy access to talk with a human?
15. What's your ideal monthly cost for POS software?

It's likely the best software will be flexible in terms of the facilities it offers, cost-effective as you add devices and locations, transparent as to the total cost of ownership and easily understood if you plan an evolving and flexible workforce.

A startup retail business can have needs in the early days that are different to once it is established.

If you find yourself asking What's the best POS system for their retail start-up?, take a moment to start with you and your plans for your business. Consider the list of questions we suggest. You need to find a POS software solution that serves you, if what you are creating has its own value based on its own intellectual property.

Now, more broadly and beyond the list of questions, there is the cost of ownership. This can be deceptive as some companies have a low cost to which you add and add to a point where it does become expensive. Be used to understand the total cost of ownership and this is a factor when considering the best POS system for their retail start-up.

On price, consider these points:

1. One low monthly cost for as many terminals as you want or need in your shop.
2. An annual cost that is lower than 12 monthly costs.
3. No lock-in contract.
4. No extra cost for additional terminals.
5. Facilities included for no extra cost like loyalty tools, Shopify, Big Commerce and Woo Commerce integration, Xero integration, gift card support, embedded AI tools and more.
6. No extra cost for easy access to human delivered support.
7. Free access to a huge library of training videos.
8. Free access to 24/7 AI facilitated software support.
9. Getting to vote of software enhancement suggestions.

What's the best POS system for their retail start-up? While the answer is yours to determine, we think Tower Systems is a good answer to consider and research. We serve a variety of retail channels in Australia and New Zealand. This means our software is flexible, deep with functionality, and proven with capabilities that help retail businesses grow.

Best of all for startup retail businesses is the retail experience we have within the business. Engagement with us can go beyond technology. We love talking retail and we love helping local retailers thrive.

Selecting the right POS system is about choosing a technology partner that can support your today, and tomorrow. For a start-up, the journey from opening day to becoming an established business requires a system that can scale to the extend you see your needs being. Look for a provider with a proven track record in the local Australian and New Zealand markets, one that understands the unique challenges and opportunities retailers face here. A partner who invests in continuous development and offers robust, accessible local support will be invaluable as your business evolves, ensuring your POS system remains an asset, not a limitation.

If you'd like to find out whether our Tower Systems POS software is the right software for your business and good and useful affordable POS software. Call 1300 662 957 from Australia or 0800 444 367 from New Zealand. Or, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Take your time. Do your research. We will never pressure you. We will always say if we think our software is not a good fit for you.

Which POS software is the most affordable in Australia? We think Tower Systems is a contender. It's up to you to decide for yourself.