6 Best Franchise POS Systems

Most business owners will need to call an Erply consultant to get a quote on the franchise plan since it offers franchise-specific features, software launch support, more user accounts, and 900+ POS register licenses.

Erply offers two unique franchise management models: centralized and semi-centralized. With the centralized model, HQ and all franchises share the exact same product catalog, rules, and customer lists. The semi-centralized model allows the franchisee to sell more than the base products the franchisor offers, create store-specific rules, and build a private customer list.

Erply’s best product creation, warehousing, and distribution management features include:

• Creation of multiple brands with custom units of measurement
• Locked or variable pricing depending on the franchisee’s available user permissions
• Mobile warehouse management app for picking and packing orders
• Inventory delivery monitoring across multiple locations

Erply also offers excellent invoicing software features that allow you and franchisees the ability to create quotes, estimates, invoices, and custom payment terms. You and franchisees can offer store credit as well as line item discounts.

We also like that franchisors can create, launch, and monitor marketing campaigns across specific or all franchise locations. Plus, the built-in booking app can be used for scheduling consultations and training franchisees.

Erply is very flexible with POS hardware options. You may use just about any device as a touchscreen POS. You may purchase accessories such as barcode scanners and card readers from several hardware providers.

Erply does not have its own payment processor but works with third-party payment processors such as Shift4, Cayan, Adyen, and Pax for integrated payments in the US. You can also connect Erply to an external credit card machine or payment terminal and use any merchant services provider you want.

With an external card reader, you can take payments even when Erply is offline. Sales and inventory information will sync up when you can get online again.

Our main concern about Erply is that the system can get pretty complex depending on your customer and inventory management needs. Since the system itself is complex, there’s bound to be a learning curve and a time commitment required to set the system up.

However, the franchise plan does offer implementation services and a customer support representative, so hopefully, franchisors will have an easier time configuring their franchise management software.

Revel’s pricing is quote-based and will vary depending on the number of establishments and POS registers added to your subscription plan.

Revel’s franchise management-specific features include:

• Extensive location-based reporting, including establishment payment reports that help you collect the correct amount of payments from franchisees
• Establishment hierarchy settings so you can restrict the amount of customization franchisees are allowed to make (e.g. pricing and menu changes, other employee permissions)
• Changes to products, ingredients, modifiers, and marking campaigns can be pushed to all establishments or select locations

Revel’s excellent in-store management features such as its easy-to-use POS interface and kitchen display system, plus features like delivery driver monitoring and third-party delivery services integrations, make Revel a great option for a pizza shop POS, coffee shop POS, or any other quick-serve establishment.

Revel works on iPads, which you can buy independently or from Revel. You’ll have to contact Revel for a quote on hardware like card readers, printers, and cash drawers.

Alternatively, with Revel’s written permission, you may purchase Revel-compatible hardware on your own. The company asks for written permission to ensure that you are spending your money on hardware that will work and can avoid having to return any equipment to third-party providers.

Revel offers its own in-house payment processing solution, Revel Advantage. Revel no longer advertises a definitive flat-rate fee, meaning that you’ll get a custom quoted fee based on order volume, average transaction size, and mix of payment methods.

If you choose to work with a third-party payment processor (which you cannot do on the three-year plan), you will likely pay a higher monthly subscription fee.

The biggest issue with Revel can be its cost, although the company can likely give you a good deal with the more locations you have. It’s made with larger establishments in mind and is probably best for business owners with at least some previous POS experience as its overall interface can be a little complex.

Most franchisors will require a quote on an enterprise POS system setup. Your custom quote will depend on the number of locations, POS registers, and Toast add-ons you choose to add to your plan.

Toast’s best franchise-specific features include:

• Extensive User Roles: Specific roles and permissions for franchise owners, single-location franchisees, franchisees that own multiple locations, managers, and servers. Roles can include menu editing, employee editing, and viewing financial data.
• Staff Scheduling & Payroll: Toast’s scheduling and payroll software gives location owners and managers the ability to create their own schedules and manage payroll. Franchisors can also set uniform pay rates, HR onboarding practices, and monitor payroll.
• Enterprise Reports: Users may view reports on product mix, labor cost, tipping, cash drawer activity, etc. based on their access permissions to help franchisees make important business decisions. Franchisors can view all locations and offer assistance to specific locations when necessary.
• Multi-Location Marketing: Toast users can implement Toast’s loyalty, gift card, and email marketing features across all locations.
• Enterprise-Level Support: Franchisors will have access to Toast’s team of enterprise support consultants, who will help you set up your software initially, open new locations, and troubleshoot any issues.

In general, we believe that Toast has one of the best loyalty programs, handheld POS systems for restaurants, and online ordering features that make Toast an excellent POS option for any restaurant.

Toast is one of the best Android POS systems, and the software is compatible only with Toast’s proprietary line of Android POS hardware. Android-based POS systems are generally more durable than iPad-based systems. Toast hardware is very spill-proof and heat-resistant.

Available Toast hardware includes:

• Toast Go 2 Handheld POS
• Countertop POS
• Outdoor Wi-Fi Access Point
• Kitchen Printer:
• Cash Drawer
• KDS
• Self-Serve Kiosk Terminal

Custom-level plans will include a custom hardware quote. Ask a representative about a per-device discount on a bulk hardware purchase.

Franchise owners will receive a custom payment processing quote based on factors like your time in business, the number of locations you currently have, sales performance, and card mix.

Toast requires a long-term contract that includes an early termination fee, which is why we recommend getting a demo of the software, talking to customer service representatives, and showing the software to employees/franchisees before signing on with Toast.

KORONA offers two monthly plans as well as the following add-ons

Other features, such as self-serve kiosk hardware and software, require a custom quote.

KORONA’s franchise-specific features include:

• Automatic royalty payments from franchisees to your account over set periods
• Franchise-wide promotions and discounts
• Gift cards work across any franchise location
• Set minimum inventory levels for different locations based on each store’s sales metrics
• Unique user roles that include self-governed store (account controlled mostly by on-location employees) or managed store (store controlled mostly by franchisor)
• Designated purchase/selling prices for inventory for each location

KORONA’s high-risk business features include loss prevention features such as cash drawer management to prevent employee theft and RFID tagging to prevent customer theft. There are also features like ID scanning for age verification, which is great for places like vape, cannabis, liquor, and smoke shops.

KORONA integrates with POS terminals by PartnerTech and AURES Group. Both are durable proprietary countertop POS terminals with large screens. The company also offers self-checkout hardware for a custom price.

You may also purchase compatible card readers from Genius, PAX, Dejavoo, and eConduit. You’ll likely get a credit card reader from your merchant services provider that you can connect to KORONA.

Epson is the most common provider of receipt printers and cash drawers, but you can connect any USB printer and cash drawer to KORONA. You can also connect any USB barcode scanner.

KORONA does not offer in-house payment processing but does integrate with several payment processors, including Merchant Warehouse and Merchant Payment Systems.

You can also integrate KORONA with several merchant service providers through Pax and Dejavoo payment devices.

KORONA offers month-to-month contracts with no early termination fees. You can pay for an annual contract and get one month free.

You do have to be careful about your merchant agreement and make sure the terms are fair for your business. High-risk business owners should expect to pay a little more for payment processing than other lower-risk business owners.

With Odoo, you get one app for free, so you can get your POS app without spending any money.

With paid plans, you get access to all Odoo apps.

The Custom plan also includes an on-premise local installation option for offline sales, multi-company management, the Odoo Studio for creating your own Odoo apps, and an external API for even more developer customizations.

While Odoo doesn’t have specific franchise management features, you can set up multiple locations, companies, and brands. You can view sales data across franchisees and use Odoo to send royalty fee invoices. We recommend contacting an Odoo representative to help you configure your franchise settings.

Our favorite features for service and rental franchises include:

• Rental app to invoice clients for services, late fees, maintenance fees, etc., and set custom repayment terms
• Field services scheduling app for franchisees or franchisor customer service representatives to schedule services in a certain geographical area
• Fleet app to register vehicles, schedule maintenance, and monitor vehicle drivers/locations
• Referral app to award current franchisees who bring in new leads
• Timesheet app for crews to clock in and out, with the option to designate a timesheet approver

We also appreciate that you can optimize supply inventory, schedule meetings with potential and current franchisees, create educational materials within Odoo, and create custom contracts with the Odoo signature app.

Odoo works on all desktop and tablet-based devices. You can purchase a Stripe Terminal card reader to take in-person payments.

The software is compatible with several industry-standard barcode scanners, receipt printers, and RFID tag/key fob readers.

Odoo users most often use Stripe to process online and in-person payments, so you’ll be subject to Stripe fees. There are no additional fees to take payments through Odoo. You will have to set up the Stripe connection, and while it isn’t straightforward, there are tutorials to help you.

You also have the option to integrate Odoo with one of several payment providers such as Chase, Authorize.Net, and PayPal.

Odoo is an extremely flexible software provider with no early termination fees. Stripe is also a very secure payment processor, so the only warning we can give is that it will take a little while to set up and appreciate all that Odoo fully has to offer.

Zenoti requires every business owner to get a custom quote on software which will vary depending on the number of locations, users, and features you add to your plan.

Zenoti’s top franchise management features include:

• Automated royalty payment processing on a weekly or monthly basis across all locations
• A centralized employee database that managers can use to schedule service providers in more than one location
• Unified service menus, with the option to mix up offerings depending on location
• Memberships, credits, and gift purchases that customers can use at any location
• Google, Facebook, and Instagram booking button integrations for each store
• Marketing features like a loyalty program, email/SMS text campaigns, and post-appointment review requests you can use to build your brand reputation

For individual locations, we like that salons and spas can accept bookings online and offer self-check-in kiosks, effectively manage supplies and room availability, run scheduling and payroll, and customize services/commission rates. We also like that medspas can store EMR (electronic medical records) securely in compliance with HIPAA standards, offer in-person and online consultations, and create custom therapeutic plans for clients.

Zenoti is a cloud-based software and is most commonly used on desktop devices. The company offers mobile apps, but they do not come with the full functionality of Zenoti’s web dashboard.

Zenoti supports Verifone and Castle card readers.

Zenoti offers its own in-house payment processor, Zenoti Payments. You are required to get a custom quote on a payment processing rate.

Zenoti requires you to fill out an order form that specifies your pricing and your initial term length. The company automatically renews your contract annually and, depending on the circumstances, may charge you an early termination fee for canceling your agreement.

Also, the company specifies that it may increase fees “no more than 20%” upon renewals. Make sure to get exact details on how much your plan may cost long-term.