Written by Dan Barraclough Updated on 5 May 2021 On this page POS hardware costs POS software costs Lightspeed POS costs TouchBistro POS costs Credit card fees POS system installation costs Compare POS systems Example cost of POS for a small business Example cost of POS for a large business Expert verdict Expand Find out how much your next POS system will set you back with our detailed guide…Finding out how much a POS system costs shouldn’t be tricky. That’s why we’ve spent the last ten years researching all there is to know about POS systems in Australia, helping businesses like yours find the best system at the best price.Your POS system costs will depend on the size of your business, as well as your particular needs. The overall cost is usually broken down into hardware and software costs, credit card fees, and installation fees. Taking all this into consideration, then, you’ll typically end up paying approximately $1,500 upfront, and then around $1,800 per year to use your POS system.This article will discuss those individual costs in more detail, and review some of the best POS suppliers in Australia to help you decide on the right POS system for your business. You can use our free quote tool to compare suppliers and save. Save by Comparing POS System Quotes Do you already own a POS system? Yes No Answer the question to get started...POS hardware costsTo understand how much a POS system costs, you need to consider the different types of hardware your business requires. Below, we’ve outlined what you’d typically need, and what you can expect to pay in terms of POS hardware costs, if you’re running a small, medium, or large business. Size of businessWhat you’ll needOverall costStart-up retail storeTabletCard reader$700Small businessTabletCard readerReceipt printerCash drawer$1,200Medium business2x tablet2x card readerReceipt printerCash drawer$1,800Large business6x tablet6x card reader6x receipt printer6x cash drawer$6,500+POS hardware costs conclusionIn terms of hardware, then, the cost of a POS system for small businesses will end up at approximately $1,200 altogether. However, most POS providers are flexible with their hardware packages, offering you the option to pay up front or on a monthly basis. That’s why it can be hard to nail down an exact price, though.The easiest way to get crystal clear POS pricing for your business is to get free quotes from POS suppliers – and we can help you there. Simply tell us what you need from your POS system using free comparison tool, and we’ll match your business with trusted suppliers that best suit your needs. They’ll then get in touch with more information and no-obligation quotes. It’s free to get started, and only takes a minute. Save by Comparing POS System Quotes Do you already own a POS system? Yes No Answer the question to get started... POS software costsAs well as buying hardware, you’ll need to pay a monthly subscription fee for the software that powers your POS system.The cost of a POS system for small businesses will differ from those for larger corporations. That’s a given. But to make things easier for you, we’ve carried out plenty of research and selected two of the best POS systems in Australia for retail and hospitality, and explained their POS system price plans below.Please note prices are in USD.LightspeedBest for retail storesLightspeed is one of the biggest names in the POS industry, offering ecommerce, physical stock synchronisation, and other excellent features. Lightspeed POS Costs Lightspeed Pricing From $69/month Pricing See more See less Package Price Lean $69 Standard $119 Advanced $199 TouchBistro POS Costs TouchBistro Pricing From $89/month Pricing See more See less Package Price (billed annually)What you'll get Lean $89/month Integrated payments, 24/7 customer support, API access Standard $159/month Accounting, ecommerce, integrated payments, 24/7 customer support, API access POS software costs conclusionWhile most POS suppliers offer set price plans for their software packages, they can also offer bespoke pricing to ensure you only pay for exactly what you need. That said, if you run a small business, you’re likely to end up paying somewhere between $100 per month and $250 per month for POS software.Also, POS providers might base their pricing on different factors. For instance, Lightspeed charges more for the different integrations you’d like to install, while TouchBistro offers the same features on all plans, but charges more for the number of users you’d like to have access to the POS system. With this in mind, it’s always worth looking into what’s on offer for each plan, and deciding which type of pricing format suits your business best.If you want a quick and easy way to get an exact price for your POS software, then all you need to do is use our free comparison tool and tell us what you need. We’ll match your business to POS suppliers that best suit your requirements, who’ll then contact you with more information and no-obligation quotes for you to compare. It’s quick, easy, and free to get started. Save by Comparing POS System Quotes Do you already own a POS system? Yes No Answer the question to get started... Credit card feesCredit card fees are some of the most important considerations for your business when looking at how much a POS system costs. That’s to say that most POS providers will charge you these transaction fees on top of the hardware and software costs.Using our experience and industry knowledge, we’ve selected some of the most popular POS suppliers and explained their credit card fees below. Please note these prices are in USD.Toast offers some of the lowest transaction fees around, with Upserve in close second. On the other hand, Vend and TouchBistro impose higher transaction fees, but for a reason: they’re some of the most popular POS systems in Australia.Toast offers some of the lowest transaction fees around, with Upserve in close second. On the other hand, Vend and TouchBistro impose higher transaction fees, but for a reason: they’re some of the most popular POS systems in Australia.Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward PackageVendPackageTouchBistroPackageUpservePackageSquarePackageLightspeedPackageToastSwiped rate transaction fee2.90% + $0.30Swiped rate transaction fee2.99% + $0.15Swiped rate transaction fee2.49% + $0.15Swiped rate transaction fee2.60% + $0.10Swiped rate transaction fee2.60% + $0.10Swiped rate transaction fee1.8% + $0.15Keyed in rate transaction fee3.30% +$0.30Keyed in rate transaction fee2.90% + $0.25Keyed in rate transaction fee2.49% + $0.15Keyed in rate transaction fee3.50% + $0.15Keyed in rate transaction fee2.60% + $0.30Keyed in rate transaction fee1.8% + $0.15 POS system installation costsIt’s worth mentioning that there might also be a POS system installation cost attached to your overall fee. Most businesses will end up paying around $1,500 and $2,000 to set up the hardware, depending on how much equipment you need. Some POS suppliers might charge a flat-fee for installation, typically ranging from $500 to $700. Compare POS systemsThe easiest way to compare POS systems is to get free quotes from trusted suppliers that best suit your needs. If that sounds of interest, then simply tell us what you need (it only takes a minute) and we’ll match you with the right POS suppliers. They’ll then get in touch with you, offering more information and no-obligation quotes for you to compare.To give you an idea of how much different POS suppliers might charge your business, check out our examples below.Example cost of POS for a small businessYou’re currently running one or two small stores, and you want to synchronise your brick-and-mortar inventory with an ecommerce store. You employ a small number of employees, but you want to start growing. You also want to view your sales performance with regular reports, in order to make it easier for you to grow your small business.Your POS system costs are likely to be around:POS software cost: $150 per monthPOS hardware cost: $1,200 upfrontPOS installation costs: $600Plus transaction fees Example cost of POS for a large businessYou run multiple stores or business locations, selling across multiple channels. This means you need a retail management system to help you stay on top of your sales figures, your inventory levels, and your employees’ performance. You need more advanced features, such as gift cards, advanced reporting, customer relationship management (CRM) to help retain customers, and much more.Your POS system costs are likely to be around:POS software cost: $300+ per monthPOS hardware cost: $6,500+ upfrontPOS installation costs: $600Plus transaction fees Save by Comparing POS System Quotes Do you already own a POS system? Yes No Answer the question to get started... Expert verdictUsing our years of experience in the POS field, we’ve shown you exactly how much a POS system costs in Australia. The overall cost will depend on the size of your business and the features you need, but you’ll likely end up paying around $1,500 upfront, and then $1,800 or so per year to use your POS system.The best way to find a clear price that’s tailored to your business is to compare POS system quotes from trusted providers. If that sounds good to you, then use our free comparison tool and tell us what you need from your POS system.We’ll then match your business with POS companies that best cater to your needs, who’ll then contact you with more information and non-obligation quotes. It’s quick, easy, and free to get started. Dan Barraclough Dan’s a Senior Writer at Expert Market, specialising in digital marketing, web design, and photocopiers, amongst other topics.