If you’re a wine store owner, you’re likely familiar with the multiple requirements of a small business — from inventory analysis to employee training to store security. Managing all of these needs can feel impossible, which is why a good point of sale (POS) system is essential to your store’s success.
These days, you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to finding the perfect wine POS system for your store — but we can help you navigate the options.
Read on for a thorough analysis of five highly effective wine POS systems, from fun features to pricing. You’ll learn which wine POS system will best fit the unique needs of your wine shop.
Best Overall: Bottle POS
Best for POS Beginners: Epos Now
Best for Well-Established Stores: Lightspeed
Best to Try for Free: Korona POS
1. Best Overall: BottlePOS
- Ratings: 4.9/5 on Trustpilot
- Pricing: Full solution starting at $69/month
Bottle POS is a cloud-based point of sale system, built by wine store owners, for wine store owners. Their products also span beer and liquor retailers. Bottle POS offers all the essential wine store features, such as employee management options, baked-in customer loyalty programs, store security integrations, and age verification hardware and software. It also offers a top of the line webstore option, BottleZoo, so that your liquor store’s customers can order bottles from the comfort of their couch — boasting an integration with DoorDash, to support front-step delivery.
Bottle POS really distances itself from the competition with its smart inventory management feature. Its in-system intelligence that lets you know which reds are selling and which aren’t: it offers an auto ranking feature, which grades products on a scale from A to D, and color codes your stock based on sales patterns. Using this feature, you can easily identify trends in customer buying patterns and make informed decisions about which products to stock. Its inventory management even incorporates case-breakage methods, and a database of thousands of individual SKUs.
BottlePOS’s package includes the POS system and a comprehensive hardware list: Touch PC, receipt printer, barcode scanner, cash drawer, and PIN pad. It also offers add-ons such as a label printer, wireless PIN pad, customer display, and surveillance camera. Bottle POS may not be the cheapest system on this list, or on the market, but it does offer you the most bang for your buck. Perfect for small and large wine stores alike, this comprehensive and customizable POS system will do right by your shop.
2. Best for POS Beginners: Epos Now
- Ratings: 4.4/5 on Trustpilot
- Pricing: Full solution starting at $99/month
Epos Now is a fully cloud-based POS system known for its intuitive functionality and straightforward features and reporting, perfect for small wine stores new to the industry. Its versatile POS system offers a variety of features, including automated purchase orders, built-in age verification, e-commerce options, and rewards programs, in addition to its stock management software. Epos Now’s package includes the POS system, cash drawer, and receipt printer — a solid set up for any wine store checkout.
Epos Now’s major feature is the cloud-based nature of its system, but a fully-online POS solution, has both pros and cons. While you can access your system from anywhere with Wi-Fi, your wine store will remain dependent upon a strong and stable internet connection — so beware blackouts or router issues. Also, keep in mind that Epos Now was created as a generic retail software, not specific to alcohol vendors, so its support team might lack experience in your unique industry. After-hours support is routed to the UK.
3. Best for Well-Established Stores: Lightspeed
- Ratings: 3.9/5 on Trustpilot
- Pricing: Solution starting at $69/month
Looking for a giant, nationwide name? Lightspeed is a large POS provider that offers a ton of perks, plus great add-ons. Its features are comprehensive — streamlined inventory management, age verification hardware, 24/7 tech support, loyalty programs, e-commerce platforms, and smart sales reports. The system’s integrations include Ikeone, Bluecheck, Drizly, and Quote Machine, all of which are prominent businesses offering significant, wine store-specific perks.
This nationwide option seemingly has everything – so what’s the downside? Lightspeed’s add-ons are extensive, but they may be overwhelming for new wine stores, especially as other POS options offer a similar bang, for way less buck. Further, if you purchase Lightspeed, plus add-ons, and decide to transfer to a different, less expensive option, you may be out of luck. Lightspeed’s contracts are lengthy, and the company doesn’t make it easy for you to cancel.
4. Best to Try for Free: Korona POS
- Ratings: 4.7/5 on Trustpilot
- Pricing: Full solution starting at $49/month
Korona’s POS solution caters to a variety of small businesses, including wineries, liquor stores, and c-stores. Though not technically wine store specific, Korona is highly customizable. It offers a range of features, from overstock warnings to printable, detailed cashier reports to e-commerce platforms – but, instead of paying for a widely comprehensive solution with features that you may not use, you can choose your plan to make sure you’re paying for a POS system that only includes features you will definitely use.
This method, though flexible, does mean that higher level perks – such as time tracking and inventory management – are not included in the basic (core) package and do come with a price tag. Similarly, you will have to pay for each additional terminal, as Korona’s complete package only comes with one. As a unique added benefit, however, Korona offers a 30 day free trial, which is a substantial deal to capitalize on.
Choosing the Best Point of Sale System for Your Wine Store
At the end of the day, only you can decide what the best POS system for your wine store is. Remember that your small business is one-of-a-kind. Your shop’s unique features should be your guiding criteria as you navigate wine POS options – and, let’s face it – there’s a lot of overlap.
Ultimately, you want to choose a solution that is both comprehensive and customizable, so you can boost your business while keeping up with the competition.
If you want a wine POS system designed by real industry experts, Bottle POS is the move. To get started with a POS solution that will meet your wine store’s unique needs, schedule a demo with our team today!
