Running a liquor store is a symphony of flavors and transactions, and the backstage conductor is often the point of sale (POS) system. But is it worth the spotlight it demands in your budget?
As a liquor store owner with multiple costs and challenges on your plate, you might be raising an eyebrow at the idea of a liquor store POS system. Can a piece of tech truly elevate your business?
This post will dive into the value a point of sale system can offer your store. Then, we’ll walk through the factors that impact the price of a POS system, giving you everything you need to know to estimate the cost for your store.
Before we dive into the factors that impact how much you can expect to pay for your liquor point of sale system, let’s answer a foundational question: Is a liquor store POS system worth the investment?
A liquor store POS system is an integrated solution that combines transaction processing, inventory management, and customer relationship management into a single platform. Here are some key benefits that make investing in a POS system worthwhile:
With these benefits in mind, we’re ready to dive into the main subject of this post: What is an average liquor store POS system price, and how can you get the greatest value from your POS solution?
The first factor that will influence your liquor store POS system price is the specific features and hardware you need for your store. If you need multiple terminals, advanced software, or add-on hardware features like scales, barcode scanners, or label printers, you may pay more than you would if you needed a simpler package for your store.
Some advanced capabilities liquor store owners may want to consider for their point of sale solution include:
Integrations with other tools or software, like your payment gateways or accounting platforms, can also impact software pricing. On the liquor POS hardware side, the quality and type of components matter. Touchscreen monitors, barcode scanners, receipt printers, and card readers come in various qualities, with more durable and high-performance options typically carrying a higher price tag.
A liquor store POS system’s scalability and customization options may also influence pricing. Supporting multiple stores, scaling to e-commerce options, or expanding inventory options can be complex on the software side of POS systems. This increased complexity tends to come with a higher price.
Additionally, if you're seeking a high degree of customization, such as tailored workflows, branding, and specific third-party software integrations unique to your business, you can expect to pay more. Remember that the more adaptable and tailored the system is to your specific business needs, the more likely it is to be priced at a premium.
Do you want top-tier customer support and maintenance assistance with your POS system? If so, you can expect to pay more for that assistance and reliability.
This factor perfectly exemplifies the saying, “Cheap can be expensive.” When you choose the cheapest solution on the market, you may find yourself paying the difference in price between it and a more robust solution in lost sales and opportunities due to downtime and other technical challenges.
Cloud-based POS systems generally involve monthly subscription fees encompassing ongoing maintenance, while on-premises systems might require an initial investment for hardware and software. When evaluating the costs, consider the level of support you need and the frequency of updates and upgrades your business will require.
How well-known is the vendor you’re considering for your point of sale solution? More established vendors often command higher prices due to their brand recognition, proven reliability, and quality of service.
Additionally, if a POS system is tailored specifically for liquor stores and offers specialized features like age verification and compliance tools, it might be priced higher due to the unique functionality it provides for the industry.
Do you use a lot of third-party systems and services for your various business functions? If so, you may want to estimate a slightly higher price for your point of sale system. Solutions that offer integration with accounting software, payment gateways, or inventory management tools often cost more.
Integrations can be complex for the software provider to manage and update, resulting in a premium. The more intricate the connections between your POS system and other tools, the more you might expect to pay for the system's capabilities to smoothly work together with your existing software ecosystem.
The above factors impact your liquor store POS system price. However, even if you have a solid understanding of the elements that may make your price go up or down, it can be challenging to pinpoint your exact price tag.
Bottle POS, to the rescue!
With our simple build and price tool, you can choose the hardware and software features you need for your store. You’ll then get a completely transparent view of what you can expect to pay, with all the features and functionality you need — and none of the pricey extras you don’t!
Check out our build and price tool to get your perfect price tag today.