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5 Best Boutique POS Systems For Retail Clothing Stores In 2023

Boutique-specific POS systems offer specialized features to help you create a great shopping experience. All of these budget-friendly options have something worthwhile to offer.

    Nicolette Kier
  • Last updated onUpdated

  • Matt Sherman
  • REVIEWED BY

    Matt Sherman

    Lead Staff Writer

Advertiser Disclosure: Our unbiased reviews and content are supported in part by affiliate partnerships, and we adhere to strict guidelines to preserve editorial integrity.

A boutique POS system helps clothing store owners manage inventory, offer discounts, create loyalty programs for repeat customers, offer online ordering, and make returns and exchanges easier. The best POS systems for clothing stores also offer advanced features like brand management, private shopping by appointment, and multi-store/franchise management.

We evaluated several retail POS systems based on pricing, ease of use, POS hardware availability, payment processor fees, and contract requirements to help you find the best boutique POS system for your clothing store.

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  • Excellent inventory management, private shopping integration, consignment management, good loyalty program
  • $89-$269+/month/location
  • Monthly/custom contracts, early termination fee
  • Excellent inventory management, private shopping integration, consignment management, good loyalty program
  • $89-$269+/month/location
  • Monthly/custom contracts, early termination fee

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  • Free online store, social media sales integrations, affordable POS hardware, unlimited POS device licenses on free plan
  • $0-$60/month/location
  • Monthly contracts, no termination fee
  • Free online store, social media sales integrations, affordable POS hardware, unlimited POS device licenses on free plan
  • $0-$60/month/location
  • Monthly contracts, no termination fee

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  • Custom payment processing rates, sleek POS hardware, very customizable software
  • $14.95-$64.90+/month
  • Contract terms depend on merchant services provider
  • Custom payment processing rates, sleek POS hardware, very customizable software
  • $14.95-$64.90+/month
  • Contract terms depend on merchant services provider

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  • Excellent eCommerce store builder, international sales features, affordable POS hardware, buy-now-pay-later sales
  • $39-$399+/month
  • Monthly/annual contracts, no termination fee
  • Excellent eCommerce store builder, international sales features, affordable POS hardware, buy-now-pay-later sales
  • $39-$399+/month
  • Monthly/annual contracts, no termination fee

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  • Free POS software, interchange-plus payment processing, excellent invoice management, works on any device
  • $0
  • Monthly contracts, no termination fee
  • Free POS software, interchange-plus payment processing, excellent invoice management, works on any device
  • $0
  • Monthly contracts, no termination fee

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Table of Contents

5 Best Boutique POS Systems For Clothing Stores

The best POS systems for a clothing store include:

  • Lightspeed Retail: Best Inventory & Private Shopping Features
  • Square: Best Free Option
  • Clover: Best Payment Processor Options
  • Shopify: Best Online & International Sales Features
  • Helcim: Best For Wholesale & Custom Orders

Lightspeed Retail: Best For Large Inventory & Customer Management

Lightspeed Retail POS


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Pricing

$89-$269/month ($69-$199/month billed annually)

Contract

Monthly, annual, and custom

Equipment Cost

$199-$329

Pros

  • Advanced inventory management
  • Excellent loyalty program and customer management
  • Built-in consignment item management
  • Personal/private shopping integration for high-end clients

Cons

  • Advanced features only available at higher price tiers
  • Must use Lightspeed Payments for payment processing
  • Early termination fee

Lightspeed Retail best POS system loyalty program

Lightspeed Retail loyalty program customer group settings.

Why We Chose Lightspeed Retail POS System For Clothing Stores

We love how detailed retail inventory management is with Lightspeed Retail. Boutique owners can easily upload and categorize items by brand, size, location, and more. You can also create purchase orders and automatically complete them across multiple vendors, which helps midsize to large retailers save time when ordering.

Additionally, Lightspeed Retail is an excellent choice for boutiques that also accept consignments (such as stores that accept vintage items), as Lightspeed is one of the best consignment shop POS systems. The system has basic built-in consignment inventory management.

Lightspeed Retail also supports Booxi, an appointment-setting software built specifically for personal shopping and private appointments, so you can offer a luxury shopping experience for high-end clients.

Lightspeed Loyalty, one of the best loyalty programs, allows you to create customizable loyalty offerings with different customer tiers and specific discounts for specific tiers. Customers can collect and redeem points online and in person at any location by entering their email address or phone number. You may award one-time discounts and allow customers to earn VIP status, which multiplies the number of loyalty points they earn per dollar.

Finally, we like that Lightspeed allows you to accept multiple payment types, return items for cash or store credit, and create wish lists online.

Note: Lightspeed Retail offers a 14-day free trial; no credit card is required.

Who Should Use Lightspeed Retail POS

Lightspeed Retail is best for boutiques that:

  • Have large or complex inventory management needs
  • Offer personal/private shopping services
  • Sell vintage/secondhand items in addition to new items
  • Have multiple locations with complex management needs

We do not recommend Lightspeed Retail for clothing store owners looking for a free/lower-cost POS system, a simple inventory setup, or custom payment processing fees.

Lightspeed Retail POS Pricing

Lightspeed Retail POS Plans Price  When To Use
Lean Plan $89/month ($69/month billed annually) For single/multi-location retail business looking for strong inventory management and a customizable POS interface
Standard Plan $149/month ($119/month billed annually) For single/multi-location retail businesses looking for eCommerce and accounting features
Advanced Plan $269/month ($199/month billed annually) For single/multi-location retail businesses looking for a strong loyalty program and advanced business reporting

Since our last update, Lightspeed has updated its retail software pricing to include more information on pricing by register and number of locations.

You get one POS register software license per location. You’ll pay an extra $59/month for each additional register.

As you add locations, you’re essentially paying for another plan package. For example, if you sign up for the Lean plan (on an annual plan) and have two locations, you’ll pay $69/month/location, making your total fees $128/month for one register in each location, and can then add on registers for $59/register/month.

You’ll also pay extra for Lightspeed add-ons such as advanced inventory management and third-party software apps such as Booxi ($20/month – $80/month).

Note: While Lightspeed Loyalty software is only included in the Advanced plan, you can purchase Lightspeed Loyalty as a standalone subscription if you’re on a lower plan level.

Lightspeed Retail Boutique POS System Features

Lightspeed Retail POS Features Availability
Multi-Store Support
Contactless Payments
Multi-Channel Selling Standard plan and up
Gift Cards
Customer Loyalty Advanced plan
Marketing Tools Standard plan and up
Online Ordering Standard plan and up
Inventory Management
Reporting
Menu Management
Delivery Management
EBT Acceptance
Employee Management
Text Messaging

Lightspeed Retail allows you to offer several ways for customers to shop, including purchasing online for in-store pickup at any physical location, layaway purchases, and shopping item bundles for a discount. Shoppers can create wish lists, start returns/exchanges online, and get store credit in exchange for returned items.

Lightspeed’s inventory matrix system makes it simple for retailers to sell by item or brand, create catalogs that customers may request, add inventory tags to items, and create purchase orders with saved vendor information. When you’re running low on something, you get a low-stock alert, and then you can look up a vendor and order several things at once.

The Lightspeed loyalty program is highly customizable with different customer groups, reward types, and the ability to set recurring or one-time rewards. It’s an excellent way to re-engage customers, get information on your most important customers, and determine what reward types are the most lucrative for your business.

The Booxi appointment booking integration offers the following unique features for boutiques that want to elevate the individual shopping experience, especially for high-end clients:

  • Allow customers to request or self-book appointments online
  • Offer in-store try-ons and fittings for customers, including trying on items that they have in their online cart
  • Provide multiple services in addition to shopping (e.g. makeup services in addition to styling)
  • Create events such as group private shopping experiences (e.g. private shopping for wedding parties)
  • Offer 1:1 in-person or video consultations to help clients style themselves or prepare for in-store appointments

Lightspeed Retail POS system for clothing stores

Lightspeed Retail Booxi personal shopping and appointment booking integration.

Note: If you like Lightspeed’s online shopping capabilities but want a more customizable look for your online store, Shopify is an excellent alternative to Lightspeed for your clothing POS system.

Hardware Cost & Options

Lightspeed Retail POS hardware and card reader

Lightspeed Retail card reader, iPad POS device in case, eCommerce site on PC and smartphone device.

You can purchase a Lightspeed Payments-compatible WisePOS E card reader for $299 and an iPad for $329.

Lightspeed offers accessories such as an iPad stand for $199, a cash drawer for $129, a barcode scanner for $199, a label printer for $124, and a receipt printer for $399.

Contact a Lightspeed representative and ask about discounts on retail POS hardware bundles.

Payment Processing Costs

Lightspeed offers in-house processing with Lightspeed Payments at a flat rate of 2.6% + $0.10 on all in-person transactions and 2.9% + $0.30 on online transactions.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

Lightspeed requires you to fill out an order form, which shows your custom pricing. You will pay one-time fees upfront and you may (depending on your billing cycle) pay for your software subscription on a monthly basis or upfront (in the case of annual or long-term plans).

In general, the longer your POS subscription is, the less you’ll pay per month. However, Lightspeed charges an early termination fee if you decide to cancel your subscription early, and hardware return windows are short, so consider starting out on a monthly plan until you’re sure Lightspeed is the right POS for your clothing store.

Get Started With Lightspeed Retail POS

Read our in-depth review

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Square For Retail: Best For New & Small Boutiques

Square For Retail


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Pricing

$0-$60/month

Contract

None

Equipment Cost

$0+

Get a free card swiper from Square at no cost when you create a free account. Claim your card reader.

Pros

  • Free in-person sales software and online store builder
  • Social media in-app selling
  • Transparent monthly contracts
  • Affordable card readers

Cons

  • Does not work on Android devices
  • Basic inventory management features

Square for TikTok sales

Square inventory syncing with TikTok social media marketing integration.

Why We Chose Square For Retail POS System For Clothing Stores

Square For Retail is the best free POS system for boutiques with a single location and a very low budget because the software is free, the hardware is very affordable, and every store owner gets a free online store where customers can order for in-store pickup or shipping.

Square is famous for being easy to use, and the company allows you to incorporate an unlimited number of smartphones and tablets on the free plan.

Fashion retailers on the paid plan will also appreciate features such as real-time inventory tracking, unlimited SKUs, bulk importing, and PO management. It's just as simple and easy to use as any other Square product and could be a great upgrade from the free POS plan if you need more inventory features for your boutique.

We also really appreciate Square's social media marketing integrations on popular platforms like Instagram and TikTok. You can advertise your clothing and events on all platforms, which is very useful for businesses focused on curating their brand and creating visual appeal. You can even allow for in-app shopping to increase sales.

Note: The free plan is free forever. The paid plan has a 30-day free trial, and no credit card is required.

Who Should Use Square For Retail POS

Square For Retail is best for boutiques that:

  • Have a small budget and need free POS software
  • Want low-risk monthly contracts and no termination fees
  • Have social media savvy and want to sell on several online platforms
  • Want highly affordable POS hardware
  • Want easy inventory and employee management functions

We do not recommend Square POS for clothing store owners who need more complex inventory management, strong multi-location management, or custom payment processing fees.

Square For Retail POS Pricing

Square For Retail Plans Price  When To Use
Free Plan $0/month (2.6% + $0.10 processing fees) You have a retail store with basic inventory and reporting needs
Pro Plan $60/month (2.5% + $0.10 processing fees) You have a small to mid-sized retail establishment with advanced back-end needs
Premium Plan Custom pricing (2.5% + $0.10 processing fees) You sell more than $250,000 a year

You can have an unlimited number of POS devices on the free plan, while paid plans only come with one POS register software license. Every additional register on the paid plan costs $40/device/month.

Note: All free plans apply to single-location businesses only. If you open up multiple locations, you must upgrade to a Plus plan.

Popular add-ons include Square Loyalty (starting at $45/month), Square Payroll (starting at $35/month), and Square Email Marketing (starting at $15/month).

Square For Retail Boutique POS System Features

Square For Retail Features Availability
Multi-Store Support
Contactless Payments
Multi-Channel Selling
Gift Cards Add-on
Customer Loyalty Add-on
Marketing Tools
Online Ordering
Inventory Management
Reporting
Menu Management
Delivery Management
EBT Acceptance
Employee Management
Text Messaging

Square offers an extensive amount of free POS system features for boutique store owners, including:

  • Free Square online store builder with store branding capabilities
  • Free employee time clock, scheduling, and reporting
  • Unlimited number of POS registers on the free plan
  • TikTok social media selling and Instagram shoppable posts, which are very easy to set up
  • Free invoicing and online appointment setting

Square POS for retail

Square retail POS for clothing store website.

Paid plans offer more inventory features, such as the ability to link vendors to products in your item catalog, which makes reordering items easier. You can also manage inventory and employees in multiple locations on the Square Plus plan. Square’s email/SMS marketing and loyalty programs come as separate paid add-ons.

We have found that Square is flexible enough to work for most smaller single-location businesses that don’t need intensive inventory management functions.

Hardware Cost & Options

Square best POS system hardware

Square POS on iPad, Square Register, and Square contactless card reader.

To use Square in-store or on the go for your clothing business, you need at least a smartphone or tablet and a Square contactless card reader ($49).

For a more professional countertop display, consider either the $149 Square Stand with a built-in card reader (iPad not included). The $579 Square Stand kit includes the Square Stand plus a cash drawer and receipt printer.

The proprietary $799 Square Register comes with a customer-facing screen and a built-in card reader and receipt printer, so no iPad is required. The $1,189 Square Register kit includes the register plus a cash drawer and receipt printer.

Optionally, you can add the handheld Square Terminal ($299) mobile POS to make sales on the floor or at pop-up shops. Also, consider various peripheral equipment, such as barcode scanners and cash registers.

Payment Processing Costs

All Square POS systems come with Square’s flat-fee payment processing at the following per-transaction prices:

  • In-Person Transactions: 2.5%-2.6% + $0.10 (lower fee on the free plan)
  • Online Transactions: 2.6%-2.9% + $0.30 (lower fee on the Plus plan)

Note: If you like the idea of free POS software but find that Square’s flat-rate processing is no longer a good option for your business, Helcim is an excellent alternative option.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

Square is completely free, with month-to-month contracts and no early termination fee if you end up needing more than what Square can provide. However, Square is a payment service provider (PSP), which means the company has an aggregated merchant account model, and you don’t get a dedicated merchant account.

Aggregated merchant accounts have a lower tolerance for risk, which can lead to your account being flagged, suspended, or even terminated unfairly. The larger your business is, the better you will be served by having a dedicated merchant account from a provider like Helcim.

Get Started With Square For Retail

Read our in-depth review

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Clover POS: Best Payment Processor Options

Clover POS


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Pricing

Starts at $0/month

Contract

Depends on merchant services provider

Equipment Cost

$49-$1,799 per device

Pros

  • Several add-on apps available
  • Sleek, sturdy POS hardware
  • Loyalty program available
  • Custom merchant accounts and payment processing rates

Cons

  • Must purchase with a Fiserv merchant account
  • Can’t reuse Clover hardware with different POS
  • Potential for costly merchant contracts

Clover POS systems for clothing store

Employee completes customer order on Clover Station while the customer pays through Clover Mini.

Why We Chose Clover POS System For Clothing Stores

We appreciate that Clover is an all-in-one cloud POS system that combines hardware and software in one sleek package by Fiserv (formerly First Data). This plug-and-play POS system comes preprogrammed with your chosen processing and software package, so it includes everything you need to start selling right out of the box.

Clover is a customizable system that any industry can use, including fashion boutiques, thanks to the substantial number of retail apps and software integrations available from the Clover marketplace.

Some of the best clothing store features offered by Clover include advanced inventory management, mobile gift card functionality, a loyalty program, and discount options. Clover offers several stylish hardware options that you can mix and match for your perfect setup. You can also sell on the go at events using the Clover Go app and card reader.

Clover's Register plan for retailers includes the following bundled apps: Orders, Register, Promos, Rewards, Employees, and Reporting. Keep in mind that adding additional apps can drive up the monthly price.

Who Should Use Clover POS

Clover POS is best for boutiques that want:

  • Own choice of payment processor for the lowest processing fees
  • Several customization and third-party app integration options
  • Sleek proprietary POS hardware

We do not recommend Clover POS for clothing store owners who want a simple payment plan setup or software that does everything they need without any third-party software integrations. We also do not recommend Clover POS for individuals who do not plan on making a large upfront investment in proprietary POS hardware.

Clover POS Pricing

Clover POS Plans Price  When To Use
Clover Payments $0/month If you only need to process payments and don’t need any POS hardware
Clover Essentials $14.95/month If you have a small retail/service-based business and don’t take returns
Clover Register $49.95/month If you have a small to mid-size retail/service-based business and need more POS features
Clover Counter Service Restaurant $54.95/month If you have a quick-serve restaurant, cafeteria, or mobile food service business
Clover Table Service Restaurant $84.95/month If you have a full-service restaurant or bar

While Clover has several software subscription plans, boutique shop owners will benefit most from the Clover Register plan, which costs $44.95/month-$64.90/month if you purchase your Clover hardware upfront.

If you decide to pay for your hardware over time through Clover, you’ll be charged one monthly fee for your hardware/software bundle, which ranges from $135/month to $185/month.

Clover Boutique POS System Features

Clover POS Features Availability
Multi-Store Support
Contactless Payments Depends on hardware choice
Multi-Channel Selling
Gift Cards
Customer Loyalty
Marketing Tools
Online Ordering Depends on software plan
Inventory Management
Reporting
Menu Management
Delivery Management
EBT Acceptance Add-on app
Employee Management
Text Messaging

Clover retail software is a pretty straightforward offering, with an online ordering page for pickup or delivery, in-store discounts and promotions, physical and eGift cards, and an offline payments mode so you can still check out customers even if your store’s Wi-Fi stops working.

Whatever advanced or specialized features you want will come in the form of a Clover app. There are 450+ apps available in Clover’s app store for things like advanced inventory management, dropshipping functions, email newsletter management, and a loyalty program builder.

Clover boutique POS system

Boutique store loyalty program app integration from Clover App Market.

Clover is also special because you can get a merchant account with one of several Clover hardware/software resellers, meaning that you can find great payment processing fees and contract terms (so long as you get your Clover setup from one of these best Clover merchant account providers).

Hardware Cost & Options

Clover POS hardware

Clover countertop POS system, handheld POS system, barcode scanner, cash drawer, and card reader.

Clover hardware starts at $49 for the Clover Go, a simple mobile card reader that connects to your phone via Bluetooth. The company also offers the $599 Clover Flex handheld POS terminal, the $799 Clover Mini countertop POS terminal, and the $1,699 Clover Station POS.

The Clover Station includes the proprietary Clover register interface, a cash drawer, and a receipt printer. These prices are from Clover.com. Your pricing may vary depending on your hardware and merchant services provider.

You cannot reuse your Clover hardware with a different POS system if you want to change POS software providers.

Note: If you want your own merchant account but want more affordable POS hardware, we think you should consider Helcim. Helcim offers merchant accounts and custom payment processing fees for all business owners, and you can install the free Helcim POS app on just about any device.

Payment Processing Costs

Clover.com offers the following flat-rate payment processing rates:

  • Card-Present Transactions: 2.3% + $0.10 per transaction (Clover Register plan); 2.6% + $0.10 (Clover Essentials plan)
  • Card-Not-Present Transactions: 3.5% + $0.10 per transaction (all Clover plans)

Card-not-present transactions include online and phone orders, invoice payments, third-party ordering platform payments, manually keyed-in card payments, and any other payment type besides swipe/chip/tap card payments, cash, or check.

If you purchase your Clover POS from another provider, your account may have a different processing model.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

Clover offers 36-month and 48-month contracts with early termination fees. Also, you can’t repurpose your Clover hardware if you stop using Clover POS software.

You can get a better merchant contract with one of the best Clover resellers, but make sure Clover is the right POS system for your boutique before you sign any agreements. Also, watch out for potential Clover scams from resellers.

Get Started With Clover POS

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Shopify POS: Best Online & International Sales Features

Shopify POS


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Pricing

Starts at $29/month

Contract

None

Equipment Cost

$0-$500+

Pros

  • Beautiful online store builder
  • Good shipping and pickup tools
  • Sell internationally with global markets
  • Buy-now-pay-later app integrations

Cons

  • Limited offline functionality
  • Most advanced POS features cost extra

Shopify boutique POS system

Online boutique store built using Shopify eCommerce store builder.

Why We Chose Shopify POS System For Clothing Stores

Shopify is an excellent multichannel solution for retailers wanting to sell at one (or several) physical locations, on a website, on an individual seller platform such as Etsy or Amazon, and/or on social media. Shopify templates are professional, unique, and easy to style. With a Shopify online store, customers have several ways to purchase and receive items, plus the ability to start returns online and complete them at any store location.

The platform offers great international sales features, such as the ability to define different regions and alter the language, currency, pricing, and product availability depending on which region a user is in when visiting your online boutique. Users can also manually change the language of the web pages they're viewing.

If you find that Shopify’s built-in POS features do not provide all the functionalities your business needs, you can add free or paid apps from the huge Shopify app store to complete your POS system setup.

Note: Shopify offers a three-day free trial, no credit card is required.

Who Should Use Shopify POS

Shopify POS is best for boutiques that:

  • Sell on an international level
  • Have a strong focus on eCommerce sales
  • Want to blend the online and in-person shopping experience

We do not recommend Shopify POS for clothing store owners who have no interest in selling online. We also do not recommend this POS provider for individuals who are set on using their own payment processor.

Shopify POS Pricing

Shopify POS Plans Price  When To Use
Basic $39/month ($29/month billed annually) If you have a growing eCommerce business with occasional in-person sales
Shopify $105/month ($79/month billed annually) If you want additional reporting and reduced payment processing fees
Advanced $399/month ($299/month billed annually) If you want advanced reporting and additional discounts on processing fees
Shopify Plus $2,000+/month If your high-volume or large business needs an enterprise-level solution

Shopify’s eCommerce pricing plans range from $39/month to $399/month ($29/month to $299/month with annual pricing.) Each eCommerce plan (that comes with a full store) offers the “Shopify POS Lite” app for free.

For more retail features, such as in-store pickup and unlimited staff accounts, you’ll need the $89/month/location Shopify Pro subscription, which is added to your monthly eCommerce plan. Additionally, while there are many free Shopify apps on the company’s app market, some require you to sign up for a paid subscription.

Your payment processing rates decrease on higher-level plans, which is why we believe that boutiques with larger transaction volumes should strongly consider upgrading to save money in the long run.

Shopify Boutique POS System Features

Shopify POS Features Availability
Multi-Store Support Supports multiple inventory locations
Contactless Payments
Multi-Channel Selling
Gift Cards
Customer Loyalty
Marketing Tools
Online Ordering
Inventory Management
Reporting
Menu Management
Delivery Management
EBT Acceptance
Employee Management
Text Messaging

Shopify’s free POS Lite app provides basic in-store order and inventory management, but unlike providers such as Square and Lightspeed, you get to manage multiple stores/locations on any Shopify plan for no extra charge. The Pro app does charge by location.

In general, Shopify’s best features are related to eCommerce sales, including a comprehensive shipping suite that helps you manage all inventory sales from all locations, including in-store, web store, and social media sales. Like Square, you can use Shopify to sell on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Shopify’s unique international online sales features include the ability to:

  • Create and manage unique geographical regions with custom shipping and tax rules within one Shopify admin account
  • Direct customers to region-specific domains with recommended languages and currencies based on their geographical location
  • Create custom pricing, item availability, and website content for each geographical market segment
  • Offer duty and import tax estimations at checkout
  • Purchase discounted international sales labels

Shopify international boutique POS system

Shopify Shipping set up international shipping zones and rules.

All Shopify store owners who use Shopify’s in-house payment processor to take payments also have access to the Shop Pay app. This popular app allows users to pay quickly, track their items from anywhere on the globe, and store their personal information (such as contact info and shipping) so they don’t have to enter it again during future purchases.

Shop Pay at Shopify store checkout

Shop Pay at checkout example.

A lot of Shopify’s best features will come in the form of an app from Shopify’s app market. The market has over 8,000 apps, with more being added every day. Using a Shopify add-on app, you can create your product catalogs, start email marketing campaigns, and allow customers to create online accounts. You can also install a buy-now-pay-later app such as Klarna or PayPal Pay In 4 so customers can take their purchases home today and pay their full balance over time.

Hardware Cost & Options

Shopify POS hardware

Shopify POS register to stand with a card reader.

The Shopify app itself runs on most phones and tablets.

Like Square, Shopify offers a range of affordable POS hardware for sellers to take payments in-store and on the go.

The Shopify Chip & Swipe Reader, which is the bare minimum requirement for taking card and mobile phone payments, costs $29. The Shopify Retail Kit costs $219. It includes an iPad or Android tablet stand and a Shopify card reader.

Cash drawers start at $129, barcode scanners start at $229, and receipt printers start at $289.

Not sure what equipment you need for your retail POS system? Read our post on Shopify hardware choices, which includes pricing and where to source your hardware.

Payment Processing Costs

Shopify integrates with its in-house payment processor, Shopify Payments. Retailers that use Shopify Payments do not need to pay transaction fees. Shopify charges the following payment processing fees:

  • In-Person Payments: 2.4%-2.7%
  • Online Payments: 2.4%-2.9% + $0.30

Your percentage fees will vary depending on your pricing plan.

If you prefer to use a different processor or do not qualify for Shopify’s in-house payment processor, you have several options, but you will have to pay Shopify transaction fees ranging from 0.5% to 2%, depending on your Shopify plan.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

Most Shopify requirements are about payment processing. To use Shopify Payments, you must purchase a card reader directly from Shopify. To use a Shopify-approved third-party payment processor, you must use a card reader sold by that payment processor and pay an extra transaction fee to Shopify on top of the payment processing fees you’d pay to a third-party processor.

Get Started With Shopify POS

Read our in-depth review

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Helcim POS: Best For Wholesale & Custom Orders

Helcim POS Review


Visit Site

Pricing

$0

Contract

Monthly

Equipment Cost

$99 - $329

Pros

  • Affordable interchange-plus payment processing
  • Free in-person POS and online store software
  • Excellent quote/invoice software
  • Good B2B customer management

Cons

  • Not many third-party integrations available
  • No dedicated multilocation management features
  • Average inventory management

Helcim boutique POS system

Helcim clothing store sales POS terminal with a barcode scanner, receipt printer, and Helcim card reader.

Why We Chose Helcim POS System For Clothing Stores

We believe that Helcim is an excellent choice for boutiques that sell wholesale, take custom orders, and/or offer services such as bridal party consultations or clothing alterations. This is because Helcim has great quote/invoicing software built into the POS. Businesses can also use Helcim's inventory functions to enter brand data, create collections and lookbooks, and send catalogs to interested buyers.

Like Square, Helcim offers completely free in-person POS software and an online store builder. You can install the Helcim POS app on just about any device and you have the option to purchase the affordable Helcim Smart Terminal handheld POS system.

Most importantly, we appreciate that Helcim uniquely offers interchange-plus payment processing to all business owners, ensuring that every Helcim user gets the lowest payment processing rates available. This is an excellent feature for boutiques selling high-ticket items and processing a larger amount of money per month.

Who Should Use Helcim POS

Helcim POS is best for boutiques that:

  • Offer custom orders or services, such as bridal shops
  • Sell wholesale to other businesses
  • Sell high-ticket items or process over $5,000/month and want transparent interchange-plus payment processing fees

We do not recommend Helcim for clothing store owners who have very complex inventory management requirements or several in-person locations. We also do not recommend Helcim for individuals who want a very well-designed website or those looking to add third-party software integrations to their POS software.

Note: If you're looking for a POS that has a lot of high-quality software integrations, consider Lightspeed Retail or Clover as an alternative option.

Helcim POS Pricing

Helcim POS Review Plans Price  When To Use
Free Plan $0 If you need free in-person POS software, an online store builder, subscription manager, and/or customer account manager

Helcim’s POS software is completely free to use. You only pay Helcim’s payment processing fees, which are transparent and fair.

Helcim’s free features and transparent interchange-plus payment processing are what make this POS provider one of our choices for the best credit card processing companies.

Helcim Boutique POS System Features

Helcim POS Review Features Availability
Multi-Store Support
Contactless Payments
Multi-Channel Selling
Gift Cards
Customer Loyalty
Marketing Tools
Online Ordering
Inventory Management
Reporting
Menu Management
Delivery Management
EBT Acceptance
Employee Management
Text Messaging

Helcim’s free POS register features include the ability to search inventory on the register, accept all payment types, issue store credit, and complete returns/exchanges. You can also take payments on existing invoices at the POS.

The software’s best software features for a boutique clothing store include its invoicing features, catalog builder, customer account creator, and custom order builder.

With Helcim’s invoice builder, you can:

  • Generate and send quotes and invoices that customers can pay for at home using the Helcim virtual terminal
  • Create custom branded invoice templates so all you have to do in the future is enter customer information
  • Accept deposits and payments towards invoices online and at the register
  • Add line items such as services (e.g. dress alterations, dress preservation), accessories, or fees for things like at-home try-ons
  • Send B2B invoices to new and established customers

Helcim POS system for clothing store

Boutique bridal dress and alteration invoice using Helcim POS invoice manager.

You can generate a catalog of your brands and collections for B2B clients as well as end consumers who may be trying to put together looks. B2B and B2C customers may create their own accounts which will generate their account portal.

Helcim does not offer a visual eCommerce store builder like Square and Shopify. Instead, the online store builder has you choose the wording on your website, brand colors, images, and functionalities you want. Then, the website is generated for you. The result is a sleek online boutique that is easy to maintain and looks professional.

Helcim clothing store POS

Boutique website created using Helcim online store builder.

Hardware Cost & Options

Helcim POS hardware

Helcim POS on smartphone, tablet, and desktop, plus Helcim card reader.

The Helcim app is compatible with just about all smartphone, tablet, and desktop devices. To take chip-and-tap card payments, as well as digital wallet payments, you’ll need at least the $109 Helcim card reader.

Since our last update, Helcim has released a new mobile POS device. The all-in-one handheld POS system, which includes the built-in POS app, integrated card reader, and terminal receipt printer, costs $349. It allows you to create orders and invoices, and add retail items to an order on the spot. It’s similar to the Square Terminal and Clover Flex in terms of shape and functionality.

There are also a few compatible receipt printers available.

Payment Processing Costs

Helcim offers interchange-plus payment processing for all businesses, small or large. There are no minimum sales volumes or transaction numbers. This is highly uncommon among POS providers.

The company offers a sample “find your custom rate” tool on its website. As an example, if a clothing store makes less than $50,000 per month and has an average transaction size of $250, with an even split between in-person and online payments, the business can expect to pay a processing fee of 2.24% plus $0.08 for in-person payments and 2.73% plus $0.25 for online transactions.

Note: B2B business owners may choose to enter Level 3 card data into orders for added security and to decrease payment processing fees. Read more about PCI compliance and how it relates to payment processing fees.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

Helcim offers very flexible month-to-month contracts with no early termination fees, much like Square does.

Helcim POS hardware has a one-year limited warranty.

Get Started With Helcim POS Review

Read our in-depth review

Jump back to comparison chart

Our Methodology For Choosing The Best Boutique POS System

To find the best POS systems for a boutique clothing store, we evaluated 14 different retail POS software based on pricing, ease of use, inventory and customer management features, online shopping capabilities, shipping and return management, POS hardware availability, and contract requirements.

We read recent, unincentivized reviews on software review sites, including G2, GetApp, Capterra, and Software Advice. We also used free trials to test features such as clothing inventory management and international shipping.

Finally, we considered the niche needs of retail clothing stores, such as consignment capabilities, private shopping availability, international sales abilities, and alternative payment methods, such as store credit and buy-now-pay-later availability, when making our choices.

Read more about how we rate POS systems at Merchant Maverick.

Why We Don’t Recommend These POS Systems For Clothing Stores

ShopKeep By Lightspeed

ShopKeep is an affordable, easy-to-use retail POS system that works on iPads, Androids, and Clover hardware. However, since ShopKeep’s acquisition by Lightspeed, the POS is no longer onboarding new customers (though Lightspeed continues to maintain and support ShopKeep POS for existing customers). Businesses interested in ShopKeep are instead directed to try a free trial of Lightspeed.

Which Boutique POS System Is Right For Your Business?

A boutique POS system should have everything you need to manage your inventory, take sales, and sell online. An advanced POS system for clothing stores will also allow you to charge for services such as outfit consultations, start a loyalty program, and create custom orders for things like clothing alterations.

If you want more options for in-person retail sales, read up on the best retail POS systems. If you want to focus more on online sales, check out our top eCommerce-friendly POS systems.

FAQs: Boutique POS System

How much is a boutique POS system?

A boutique POS system can cost as little as $0/month for a basic feature set and payment processing to as much as $299/month for businesses that need advanced features. There are also middle-of-the-road options that can offer two registers for under $100/month.

How do I keep track of boutique inventory?

With a cloud POS, most inventory operations are automated. Your inventory adjusts in real time as items are sold. Uploading new inventory is easy, too, with features such as bulk importing and barcode scanning with your iPhone or iPad camera. Your POS system’s dashboard and automated inventory reports will allow you to check your current inventory levels and gain insights into inventory trends.

What’s the best POS system for a clothing store?

The best POS for a clothing store depends on your specific needs and budget. For example, a newer business might need basic payment processing or an inexpensive POS with a simple online store; established businesses may need a POS that integrates with a specific merchant account or their existing eCommerce store. Generally, cloud POS systems, such as Square, Lightspeed, Shopify, or Clover, can meet most boutique business needs and budgets.

In Summary: 5 Best Boutique POS Systems For Clothing Stores

  • Lightspeed Retail POS:
    • Excellent inventory management, private shopping integration, consignment management, good loyalty program
    • $89-$269+/month/location
    • Monthly/custom contracts, early termination fee
  • Square For Retail:
    • Free online store, social media sales integrations, affordable POS hardware, unlimited POS device licenses on free plan
    • $0-$60/month/location
    • Monthly contracts, no termination fee
  • Clover POS:
    • Custom payment processing rates, sleek POS hardware, very customizable software
    • $14.95-$64.90+/month
    • Contract terms depend on merchant services provider
  • Shopify POS:
    • Excellent eCommerce store builder, international sales features, affordable POS hardware, buy-now-pay-later sales
    • $39-$399+/month
    • Monthly/annual contracts, no termination fee
  • Helcim POS Review:
    • Free POS software, interchange-plus payment processing, excellent invoice management, works on any device
    • $0
    • Monthly contracts, no termination fee
Nicolette Kier

Nicolette Kier

Senior Staff Writer
Nicolette began writing on small business topics in 2020. After hundreds of hours researching, testing, and assisting small business owners with web building and point of sale software, she is now an expert on all things eCommerce and point of sale. She has a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Pittsburgh and resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Nicolette Kier
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