Think of your liquor store as a delicious cocktail. For success, you need the right balance of ingredients, like a carefully curated selection of spirits, a well-trained team, and an effective marketing strategy.
But there’s one often overlooked ingredient for liquor store success: your point of sale (POS) system.
This tool can make or break your store. The right one will simplify your everyday processes, save you time, and keep the sales flowing — but the wrong one will lead to costly errors, inventory mistakes, and frustrated customers.
That’s why we’ve created this quick guide to help you find the best liquor store POS systems. We’ll outline five essential features and how they can help you manage your store, and share our curated liquor store POS system recommendations.
Want to skip straight to the good stuff? Here are the four liquor store POS system providers we recommend:
- Square
- KORONA POS
- Bottle POS
- POS Nation
5 Must-Have Liquor Store POS System Features
Before we dive into the details of liquor store POS systems, let’s start with the basics. What is a POS system, and why do you need one?
A top-shelf liquor store POS system is much more than a simple cash register. This powerful tool ensures your operations are as smooth as your spirits by handling essential tasks like processing sales transactions, monitoring inventory levels, keeping tabs on your customers, and more.
Let’s explore these essential liquor store POS features and functions.
1. Integrated Payment Processing
Your liquor store POS system should have built-in technology for processing payments quickly and securely.
While you can opt for separate POS and payment processing services, we recommend relying on a single provider for all your technology needs. You’ll often get better pricing options — and you’ll only have to work with one familiar team.
Look for a liquor store POS system that accepts cash, card, and mobile or contactless transactions. To save on payment processing fees, opt for a provider that offers dual pricing.
2. Liquor Inventory Management
Your liquor store POS system also plays a critical role in the inventory management process, helping you keep your shelves stocked with the right spirits in the right amounts.
Here are some essential liquor inventory features to look for:
- Real-time inventory tracking: Check your store’s stock levels at any time, from anywhere.
- Case breaking: Track and sell your inventory by the case or individual bottle.
- Low stock alerts: Take action before stockouts impact your bottom line.
These tools will eliminate time-consuming manual processes and take the guesswork out of stocking your store.
3. Age Verification
Selling alcohol to underage customers can lead to hefty fines at best and the loss of your liquor license at worst.
That’s why your liquor store POS system should help you comply with the law.
Built-in age verification prompts cashiers to scan customers’ IDs at the checkout counter and lets your POS system do the hard work of verifying ages.
4. Marketing
Your liquor store POS system is an essential ingredient for smooth day-to-day operations, but that’s not all. It should help you attract and retain customers through marketing.
Look for software that includes promotion options like bundle creation and mix and match deals, plus a customer loyalty program.
These features give your shoppers exciting opportunities to save and a reason to choose your store over the competition.
5. Automation
Want to take your liquor store to the next level? Then you need a POS system with innovative automation features.
Automation saves you time and eliminates tedious, everyday tasks — giving you more time to focus on growing your business.
For example, some liquor store POS systems fully automate the restocking and receiving processes. They detect when your stock levels drop below a certain threshold, generate a purchase order to replenish them, and automatically add new stock to your inventory records when it arrives at your store.
4 Liquor Store POS Systems To Check Out
Now that you know what you’re shopping for, you can evaluate liquor store POS systems with confidence.
To get you started, we’ve curated a list of the top four liquor POS providers on the market. Keep reading to learn which one is the right fit for your small business.
1. Square
First on our list is Square, a popular POS provider catering to retailers in all industries.
We’ve included Square because it’s a great starter option if you’re opening a liquor store, have limited experience using POS systems, or are on a tight budget.
Square offers sleek hardware and user-friendly software that can handle the everyday demands of running a store, including processing transactions, tracking inventory levels, and recording sales history.
Square’s standard plan costs $29/month.
2. KORONA POS
Looking for something more powerful than Square? KORONA POS is the next step up.
This provider offers POS software to retailers and quick-service restaurants looking to grow their customer bases.
With KORONA POS, you can launch marketing campaigns, keep tabs on customers, and offer exclusive discounts and coupons — along with standard features like age verification and inventory management.
KORONA POS’ most popular pricing option starts at $59/month.
3. POS Nation
POS Nation is another one of our favorite providers. POS Nation’s POS system is built specifically for retailers in the liquor, tobacco, and grocery industries.
Along with must-have features like built-in age verification, inventory tracking, sales reporting, and customer loyalty, POS Nation offers 24/7 support at no additional cost.
If you’re looking for a feature-rich yet user-friendly POS system for your liquor store, POS Nation might be the perfect fit.
Use POS Nation’s pricing tool to explore their flexible options.
4. Bottle POS
The final option on our list of the best liquor store POS systems is Bottle POS. Instead of offering generic POS software and hardware for all types of retailers, we focus exclusively on liquor stores like yours.
With Bottle POS, you’ll have everything you need to open and run an efficient and profitable liquor store — including scanner-powered age verification, liquor inventory management, advanced reporting, time-saving automation tools, and a customer loyalty program.
Plus, our team of liquor industry experts is available 24/7 to help you accomplish your liquor store goals.
Get an instant quote for your business by using our build and price tool.
Crush Your Liquor Store Goals With Bottle POS
Now you’re ready to invest in a liquor store POS system! Let’s recap.
Your POS system should include key features like:
- Integrated payment processing
- Liquor-specific inventory management tools
- Built-in age verification
- Marketing options like promotions and customer loyalty
- Time-saving automation tools
While Square, KORONA POS, and POS Nation are solid options, Bottle POS is the only liquor-specific POS software that checks all the right boxes.
See Bottle POS in action by scheduling your live, personalized demo with one of our liquor industry experts today.
