You wouldn’t test drive a car without knowing its price, so why would you go in blind when shopping for a point of sale (POS) system?
Unfortunately, POS software pricing can be mysterious. You have to look out for hidden fees, misleading claims, and sneaky long-term costs — all while searching for the features you need to run your liquor store.
That’s why we’ve created this quick guide to help you find liquor retail POS software that fits your needs and budget. We’ll cover what to look for, the price difference between generic and liquor-specific options, and three software solutions at different price points.
Want to jump straight into our list of providers and their prices? Check them out:
Cheers to a simple, straightforward search for the right liquor retail POS software!
Before we dive into specific providers, let’s cover some liquor POS basics.
You might think of a POS system as a simple tool for processing transactions and tracking sales, but modern POS software can do so much more. This all-in-one solution should save you time, simplify day-to-day processes like inventory counts, and even help you stay compliant with liquor industry laws. Here are some specific features to look for:
Now that you know what liquor retail POS software is, we can start talking about the costs. When evaluating POS vendors, there are three main numbers to consider:
It might be tempting to go with the provider offering the lowest monthly software fee, but make sure to get a quote that includes all of these costs.
Pro tip: We always recommend cloud-based POS software for liquor store owners. Cloud-based software eliminates server setup and maintenance fees, meaning lower upfront and long-term hardware costs. Plus, you can access it from any internet-connected device, letting you run your store from anywhere.
When shopping for POS software, you’ll quickly notice the divide between generic POS systems and liquor-specific solutions.
Generic POS systems usually come with lower upfront price tags. Square, for example, offers a free starter option that gives you access to basic features like creating an item catalog and processing transactions for $0/month.
These generic retail systems might save you money while you launch a new liquor store, but you’ll quickly outgrow them. When you need access to advanced inventory management, age verification functionality, or marketing tools, you’ll have to pay extra.
That’s why liquor-specific POS solutions are often more affordable and suitable in the long run, even though they seem to have higher upfront costs. Instead of paying for dozens of add-on features to make the software work for your liquor store, you’ll have access to everything you need for one transparent price.
Now, let’s look at three POS software providers and how much liquor retailers are actually paying. We’ll provide an overview of their full price ranges, but we’ll focus on how much a medium-sized liquor store with one cash register would pay.
Square is a simple, user-friendly POS solution designed for retailers, restaurants, and service providers.
It may not be the right fit for liquor stores right out of the box, but its free starter option and easy-to-use interface make it a popular choice for new business owners on tight budgets.
As your liquor store grows, you’ll likely need to upgrade to their Plus or Premium tier. The Plus plan ($49/month) includes a customer loyalty program, barcode label printing, and simple inventory reports. The Premium tier ($149/month) includes purchase order and receiving capabilities, full sales reporting and analytics, and technical support.
We recommend the Square Register and Premium tier software subscription, which costs $799 up front and $149/month.
Lightspeed, a versatile solution designed for retailers, restaurants, and golf courses, is at the other end of the spectrum when it comes to POS pricing and functionality.
Their subscription options range from $109 to $339/month, but we recommend their Core plan ($179/month) to most liquor store owners. This option includes a suite of powerful features, including purchase order syncing, customer loyalty, full inventory and sales reporting, and e-commerce functionality.
Note: None of Lightspeed’s software pricing tiers include age verification, so you’ll need to integrate with an age verification app. This may incur additional fees.
Lightspeed recommends using their software on an iPad, so their most popular hardware setup costs $1,574 for an iPad, stand, receipt printer, card reader, and barcode scanner. In all, you’ll pay $1,574 for hardware and $179/month for software.
Looking for a solution with the right features at the right price? Bottle POS is our top choice for liquor stores.
Our software is designed by and for beverage retailers, so you’ll have access to all the features you need to stay compliant, manage complex inventory, and market your business — regardless of your budget.
Each of our flexible pricing tiers includes must-have features like age verification, full inventory and sales reporting, sales-boosting promotions, and integrated purchase orders. As your store grows, you can upgrade to our Growth or Premium plan for access to AI-powered sales insights, automated invoicing, DoorDash integration, and multilocation management features.
Plus, Bottle POS is compatible with most hardware solutions, so you should have minimal upfront costs.
The choice is clear: Bottle POS’ features and pricing options are designed with liquor stores like yours in mind.
Whether you’re a new business owner on a small budget or a veteran liquor retailer looking to upgrade your tech stack, we can meet your needs. You’ll enjoy age verification, marketing tools, powerful reporting and analytics, and e-commerce integration in one, easy-to-use system — along with 24/7 support from liquor industry experts.
Tell us more about your business and get an instant quote using our Build and Price tool.