P.O.S systems can pay back
All businesses are tough challenges these days and so the operator who has the most and best information – and uses it – will win.
P.O.S. systems have been around for years but really started taking root in Montana during the last decade. They've improved in speed and ease of use, as the processors have gotten faster and designers have made them more user-friendly.
But what's really new is how inexpensive they've become. While the big chains all have them, only within the last five years or so have they really become practical and affordable for the Mom 'n' Pop operations.
Back in the day, a top-of-the-line system with all the software, hardware, installation, training and support might run $20,000 or more for a mid-sized establishment.
We also know of several cases where investments of that size were earned back in the first six months.
Like anything, you can get a stripped down economy model that nevertheless gets you to Point B with a minimum outlay, simple operation and real reliability; or you can go with the Rolls Royce versions that have every bell and whistle and will also get you to Point B with luxury and style and speed but which will mean a substantial investment.
Like your choice of vehicles, it will depend on your needs and your means.
But no matter how you look at it, a P.O.S. is not expensive; rather, being without one is often more costly than a business can bear. The old adage applies: you've got to spend money to make money.