How Much Does A Cash Register Cost?

How much a cash register costs depends on the model you opt for, the range of features that come with it, plus the terms and conditions of your payment plan.

Some cash registers can be purchased for nothing so long as you sell at higher transaction fees, while others with base functionality can be purchased outright for as little as $129.

More sophisticated touchscreen registers, such as the best cash registers for small businesses, come packaged with all the accessories for your POS (point of sale) system like a cash drawer, receipt printer, and barcode scanner. However, they can cost more than $2,000 with certain POS providers.

Read on and we’ll show you exactly what you can expect to pay with examples of real-world cash register prices from the top-rated POS providers in the US.

Entry Level Cash Register Prices

Price range: $0 to $600 per cash register

At entry-level price points, a modern cash register from a POS supplier will often consist of a sleek cash drawer, a simple receipt printer, and POS software to make transactions with.

For instance, the Shopify-sold Star Micronics 16 Cash Drawer (selling for $129), shown below. It can be opened manually using keys or wirelessly via the Shopify app on an iPad, iPhone, or Android tablet. The cash drawer itself connects to a receipt printer (sold separately) and opens automatically after each sale run through the Shopify POS app (subscription required).

Depending on the cash register you purchase, it may have a display and/or keypad to run transactions on the register itself, rather than an external tablet or computer. While these integrated systems are increasingly rare at this price range, according to our research, there are still some options to keep costs to a minimum.

One of the cheapest integrated hardware packages we’ve found is Epos Now’s Hospitality POS system from $299. It bundles Epos Now’s custom Pro-C15W touchscreen (and waterproof) terminal with an 80mm Epos Now GX receipt printer and an all-metal cash drawer. It also includes a license for Epos Now’s Hospitality software and installation, configuration and training come as standard.

Either of these basic setups is most suitable for small businesses with little staff. Meanwhile, most retailers and POS suppliers offer entry-level register systems so you shouldn’t find it hard to shop around. Hardware features are often similar at this price point, so you’re likely to be more concerned about whether the hardware is compatible with your chosen POS software system.

Read about our favorite retail POS systems should you want to learn about our top POS software picks.

Mid-level Cash Register Prices

Price range: $600 to $1,200 per cash register

If you’re willing to spend a bit more, you can get a model with better features and functionality. They tend to work more smoothly, have improved usability compared to lower cost options.

Cash registers in this tier also often feature additional extras, such as customer-facing displays and laser barcode scanners to cut down on transaction time.

Square offers a solid-performing hardware package at this price point in the form of its Stand Kit. It consists of a Square Stand (2nd generation), a cash drawer, and a USB receipt printer for $579 upfront (or $53 per month via financing). 

To be used, the Stand Kit requires an iPad meaning you’ll either need to buy your own or purchase one via Square. It currently sells a 10th-generation model (with 64GB) for an additional $349, taking the total up to $928 for a usable system.

Several plans in this price bracket only offer hardware as part of a bundled subscription with software.

SumUp’s Point of Sale Pro is a solid example, which begins its cost at $99 per month. Per year, that would amount to around $1,118. It offers receipt printers, cash drawers, KDS screens, barcode scanners, scales, and kiosks, although prices will go above the mid-tier range should you have all of them and more at $289 per month.

High End Cash Register Prices

Price range: $1500+ per cash register

Many topline cash registers provide all the bells and whistles you could desire for your selling needs – albeit, for a more expensive price tag.

For instance, Clover – our favorite POS provider for quality hardware – sells its Station Solo Register for $1,699 (or $125 per month for 36 months) which includes: a 14in HD display, a thermal dot receipt printer, payment processing for both chip and pin, a 5mp camera with scanning software for QR codes, and a cash drawer. The whole system has WiFi, ethernet, and 4G/LTE connectivity and is encrypted to keep your data safe.

Alternative Payment Methods: Financing, Bundling and Variable Transaction Fees

While the above discussion centered on upfront costs, you can often pay in other ways. Namely, monthly financing, bundling, or leveraging transaction fee costs.

The following options can be better choices for any small businesses that are struggling to afford the upfront costs associated with setting up a POS system. Here are some details about each.

Monthly financing

Many POS retailers will sell their hardware for a fee per month. This tends to work by the user paying until a certain price point is reached. This overall figure is often more than paying upfront, but for cash-strapped businesses who prefer this kind of financing, it is a solid option.

For instance, with Square, you can purchase its Square Register over 3, 6, 12, or 24 payments. And each payment is a flat fee, starting from $39 per month.

Bundling

As already discussed in some degree above, you’ll often see hardware bundled together. While this will inevitably see you spending more than buying a few pieces of equipment, you will save compared to buying each piece of equipment separately.

POS software can often be bundled into an ongoing cost of specific hardware, too. However, this does vary by POS provider so it’s worth checking the details with a brand directly.

Transaction fees

Something that is a growing trend among POS providers is variable transaction fees. Typically, we have seen this regarding different plans of a specific POS software, however, we have increasingly seen it with hardware financing packages, too.

For instance, Toast offers its Countertop and Handheld starter kits – which cost $1,024 upfront at the time of writing – to be purchased for nothing ($0; including no monthly fees for software) when you agree to a 3.09% + 15¢ processing fee. 

By comparison, paying the $1,024 upfront cost – and a further $69 per month for the software – will have a lower transaction fee rate of 2.49% + 15¢.

Should I Buy or Rent a Cash Register?

When considering whether to buy or rent a cash register, both options have their benefits.

If you have an established business with ongoing needs, buying a cash register outright is often better value. Namely, if you plan to use it for more than two years, we think it is a safe bet for a purchase.

In this scenario, you’ll own the hardware and continue using it for as long as it works without any ongoing payments. And since you will own the product, you can choose exactly the features and options you need, and can even customize it with your company logo and pre-programmed items and prices.

However, if your needs are variable, or if you’re testing the waters with a cash register, renting a cash register may be the more flexible and cost-effective option. It requires little upfront investment; instead, you pay monthly fees.

And rather than being stuck with your hardware/software package as it arrived, the rental company will be responsible for fixing any issues that arise as well as upgrading you to newer hardware or software when the time comes.

Renting is also a great option for operations that only need a cash register temporarily, such as for events or pop-up shops, and businesses that need to scale up or down the registers they use fairly regularly.

Which Cash Register is Best for Your Business?

Cash register costs vary from model to model depending on their feature set. You should invest in one that’s equipped to handle all of your point-of-sale needs.

Smaller businesses like independent bookshops or food service vehicles might not need laser scanners or thousands of PLUs. For these kinds of businesses, a basic machine is probably a better bet.

Others, such as grocery stores, clubs, and bars, may need fast machines that can power through lots of sales quickly. For these businesses, a more expensive register may prove a better buy.

Cash Registers vs POS Systems

Most cash registers today are embedded with POS (Point of Sale) systems, as we’ve highlighted across this page.

They still record sales, handle cash, and all the essential functions from calculating totals to storing cash securely. However, the advanced smarts of POS systems allow for much more, including inventory management, sales reporting, and features to improve customer relationships.

They’re typically available on a software-as-a-subscription (SaaS) model, which means you pay a supplier a monthly fee for access to their software. Although, as explained above, they can be bundled into hardware packages, too.

Questions to ask before you buy:

 

If you answered ‘Yes’ more than ‘No’:

A POS solution will help your company pull in more profits!

Here’s our guide to POS system prices

 

 

If you answered ‘No’ more than ‘Yes’:

A cash register can probably cater to your needs!

Best cash registers for small businesses