8 Best POS Systems For A Convenience Store In 2022

Get Started With Square For Retail

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

Pros

EBT-friendly
CBD-friendly
Solid all-in-one sales option
Highly affordable

Cons

No fuel sales
No lottery ticket sales
ID verification not strong

Square For Retail convenience store POS system.

Square For Retail Convenience Store POS Features

The following features are either free or low-cost for Square merchants:

EBT capabilities via third-party app
CBD program with reasonable payment processing fees
ID verification (but no automated sale denial for under-21s)
Customizable inventory management system
Inventory management across several locations
Automated purchase ordering, low-stock alerts, and vendor management
Advanced reporting, such as cost of goods sold and projected profit reports
Customer loyalty program
Custom gift card printing
Time-sensitive discounts and coupons
Employee permissions, clock-in/clock-out, and payroll reporting
Sell items by weight
Barcode label printing
Free website builder (choose a template and quickly edit for your own branded website)
Free Square online checkout links, so customers can order items online or use self-serve ordering to order food/drinks

Square For Retail Pricing

Free: $0/month
Plus: $60/month per location (not per register)
Premium: Custom pricing

Hardware Cost

C-store POS systems range from $49 (Square Contactless + Chip Reader) to $1,329 (Square Register kit.) You will need a Square-compatible barcode scanner, which will cost between $100 and $200 if you buy it new.

Before you buy equipment from Square or a third-party seller, read our guide to Square POS hardware.

Payment Processing

On the Free plan, Square charges a payment processing fee of 2.6% plus $0.10 per card-present transaction. That processing fee reduces to 2.5% plus $0.10 on the Plus plan.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

Square charges merchants on paid plans monthly. It’s free and easy to cancel if you decide to switch from Square to another POS provider.

Square also has a limited-time hardware warranty, during which Square will send you new equipment in exchange for damaged hardware, even if you didn’t purchase directly from Square. You must file a warranty claim and send the old pieces back to Square within 14 days of receiving your new hardware, or your account will be charged.

Where Square For Retail Really Shines For A Convenience Store

Square has made it very inexpensive and easy for small business owners to start selling in a physical location, which is why it’s one of the best retail POS systems providers out there.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money upfront, C-store owners only need to sign up for a free account, and purchase a Square card reader and an iPad/tablet to start selling. The software is free for multiple registers in one location, which is not something that all POS providers offer.

2. Clover: Easiest Setup

Clover POS

Get Started With Clover POS

Pros

RACS compliant
EBT-friendly
Customizable
Strong built-in feature set

Cons

Expensive hardware
Complex payment processing setup
No fuel sales

Clover POS for convenience store POS.

Clover Convenience Store POS Features

Clover is a highly customizable POS system for a variety of small and midsize businesses. Convenience store owners will appreciate the following features:

EBT transaction functionality
Age verification, including automated sale denial with invalid ID/date of birth
Lottery sales reporting app (paid add-on)
Customer loyalty program
Kitchen menu/order management
Schedule and shift management
Tobacco discount program (paid add-on)
Self-service kiosks
Automated sales, promotions, and discounts
Customizable inventory management
Multilocation management

Clover Pricing

Clover Payments: $0/month (not recommended for c-stores)
Clover Essentials: $9.95/month for one device
Clover Register: $39.95/month for one device
Counter Service: $39.95/month for one device
Table Service: $69.95/month for one device

Note: Additional devices are $9.95/month/device.

Hardware Cost

You can buy hardware from Clover or from a number of Clover resellers. Devices sold through Clover range from $49 to $1649.

Payment Processing

If you purchase a device directly from Clover, you can only use Clover’s merchant services, which include payment processing by Fiserv. You can expect to pay a processing fee of 2.3% or 2.6%, plus a $0.10 flat fee per transaction, depending on your Clover software plan.

When you purchase Clover hardware from a reseller, you are subject to that reseller’s payment processing fees. For high-volume sellers, an alternative Clover hardware provider could offer better rates.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

Hardware purchased directly from Clover can be returned up to 60 days after the purchase date. Clover software subscriptions can be canceled at any time without any extra fees.

If you purchase Clover hardware from a reseller, your contract requirements will depend on them, so read your contract thoroughly before signing off on any long-term commitments with cancellation fees.

Where Clover Really Shines For A Convenience Store

Clover designed their product line as a simple all-in-one solution that requires no extra installation, hardware, or software integrations. Clover accounts, complete with hardware and payment processing, are ready to go as soon as you sign up.

In addition, Clover’s app marketplace offers several add-on functions. The entire POS system is as simple to use as a smartphone. All you have to do is add an app, and it’s already configured into your software and hardware environment.

3. POS Nation: Best Overall

POS Nation

Get Started With POS Nation

Pros

Tobacco, lottery, and alcohol sales supported
Offline mode
Free hardware
Highly customizable
Perishable inventory tracking

Cons

Support and cloud backup cost extra
Can’t use any existing hardware
No native fuel sales solution

POS Nation convenience store POS.

POS Nation Convenience Store POS Features

POS Nation is equipped for convenience stores large and small that sell groceries, tobacco, CBD, and alcohol, which is why the company’s POS system has the following features:

Age verification via ID scanner or manual entry
Offline mode to complete transactions without WiFi
Tobacco inventory tracking by individual pack, cartons, and case-breaks
Alcohol inventory tracking by case, bottle, and case-break
Lottery purchases, payouts, and reports
Mix-and-match deals for food, alcohol, etc.
Cigar label printing and vape kit building
Perishable inventory tracking
Employee shift and break clock-in/clock-out
Payroll reports to be entered into your business’s accounting system
Customizable interface
Self-checkout option
EBT transactions
Discounts, bulk pricing, and time-sensitive sales
Employee permissions
Blind and forced cash till counts
Customizable automated purchase ordering and vendor management

POS Nation Pricing

Flex Monthly: $99/month, charged monthly
Freedom: $999 one-time fee for software license and hardware

Hardware Cost

If you’re paying monthly, the cost of the hardware is included in the monthly fee. If you pay a one-time fee, you own the hardware forever.

Upon signup, you will receive a convenience store POS bundle, which includes a touch PC, receipt printer, scanner, cash drawer, and chip card reader.

Additional POS bundles cost $999. You can also purchase other hardware such as scanners separately.

Payment Processing

POS Nation offers its own in-house payment processing system via its merchant services program. The company has partnered with payment processors such as Mercury Payment Systems, Upserve (previously known as Swipely), Worldpay, Heartland, and Sterling Payment Technologies to meet your payment processing needs.

POS Nation advertises a payment processing fee between 2% and 2.5%, depending on transaction volumes. You have to contact a representative to get a quote.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

There are no returns or refunds on one-time POS hardware/software purchases. Payment in full is due at the time of purchase.

There are no early termination fees and no refunds on monthly subscriptions. You may cancel your monthly plan at any time with a 30-day notice.

Translation: try out the software for a month before committing to a lifetime purchase.

Where POS Nation Really Shines For A Convenience Store

With built-in age verification software, EBT transaction capabilities, tobacco/alcohol inventory management, and foodservice features such as perishable inventory tracking, POS Nation has all the functionalities you need to run a convenience store without using any additional software or hardware.

Merchants are not charged separately for hardware and, if you really like this POS system, you can purchase both the hardware and software for a one-time fee of $999, rather than paying for any subscriptions or rentals.

4. Verifone: Best For Rest Stops

Verifone

Get Started With Verifone

Pros

Fuel site controllers
Foodservice kiosks
Carwash management
Lottery in-store and at the pump

Cons

Pricing not transparent
Dated interface

Verifone convenience store POS and fuel pump controller.

Verifone Convenience Store POS Features

The following features are either built into Verifone or can be easily integrated through one of Verifone’s many partners:

Offline mode, so you can take orders without WiFi
64 pump management via site controller
Self-service food kiosks
Unattended checkouts
Loyalty program
Money order purchases/payouts
Car wash management
Coupon and discount offerings

Verifone Pricing

Verifone POS software pricing is quote-based. You will need to contact a Verifone representative, tell them about your business size, and they will give you an estimate.

Hardware Cost

Verifone has several POS systems, along with payment devices and fuel site controllers. While you must contact Verifone for an estimate, a quick Google search for Verifone systems lists credit card terminals anywhere from $150 to $500. Full-scale POS systems with fuel site controllers are priced for thousands of dollars.

Payment Processing

Verifone partners with First Data, Heartland, National Bankcard Services, and Worldpay to meet your c-store POS payment processing needs.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

If you choose to purchase a Verifone POS or credit card terminal from a third-party seller, Verifone is not responsible for repairing or replacing any damaged devices.

If you purchased a device from an authorized Verifone seller, it is covered under a warranty for either 13 months or 36 months, depending on the device.

Where Verifone Really Shines For A Convenience Store

Verifone shines in the POS hardware department. With its line of dedicated site controllers, self-serve kiosks, and a variety of payment terminals available, Verifone has all the hardware a full-service convenience store needs. The company has also made it easy to scale up your POS solution whenever you decide to expand to more locations.

5. Franpos: Best Local Delivery Option

Franpos

Pros

Postmates and self-delivery options
RACS (Retail Access Control Standards program) compliant
Multilocation management
Payroll features

Cons

API access costs extra
Limited integrations

Franpos convenience store food order.

Franpos Convenience Store POS Features

Franpos is one of the best POS systems to sell vape products legally, as well as several other c-store items, thanks to the following standout features:

Delivery management via Postmates or your own self-delivery option
Multilocation inventory management
Purchase order and vendor management
Automated low-stock alerts
ID scanning
Employee scheduling and punch-in/punch-out monitoring
Set user permissions
Self-ordering kiosk system (extra $25/month)
Hold transactions
Loyalty programs
Royalties management (for franchises)
Growth marketing (paid add-on)

Franpos Pricing

Single Location: $199/month for single terminal
Franchise: $249/month for single terminal

You can operate an unlimited number of terminals for an extra $99/month.

Hardware Cost

Franpos does not list hardware pricing on its website. You must call and get a quote. The software will work on iPads and tablets.

Payment Processing

Franpos partners with Square, Fiserv, TSYS, Heartland, North American Bancard, Elavon, Global East (Global Payments), Vantiv, EVO, WorldPay, and Chase to provide payment processing services to merchants.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

You may cancel your monthly contract at any time.

Where Franpos Really Shines For A Convenience Store

There has been a rise in online ordering from delivery apps like Gopuff, namely for quick-serve orders, snacks, alcohol, health, and tobacco products, especially late at night. Franpos helps you take some of those sales back by offering your own delivery services.

Franpos is also geared towards franchises and multilocation enterprises but can be useful for single locations, too.

If your store is open later than your typical grocery or liquor store, or you’re thinking about franchising, Franpos can be an incredibly worthwhile investment.

Get Started With Franpos

6. KORONA: Best For Alcohol Sales

KORONA POS

Get Started With KORONA POS

Pros

Geared towards alcohol, vape, cannabis, and lottery sales
Affordable
Highly customizable

Cons

Limited integrations
Outdated interface

KORONA POS for convenience store POS liquor sales.

KORONA Convenience Store POS Features

The following KORONA features are particularly useful for convenience store owners:

Mix-and-match pricing for alcohol, food, etc.
ID verification and age restrictions
EBT sales
Lottery ticket scanning
Multilocation management
Price rules, promotions, coupons, discounts
Customer loyalty program
Loss prevention features such as force drawer closing, price change restrictions, and blind balancing
Customizable tax settings
Automated product reordering
Purchase order and vendor management
Low, overstock, and slow-moving stock notifications
Local search marketing via Google Maps integration

KORONA Pricing

Core: $49/month/terminal
Advanced: $59/month/terminal
Plus: $79/month/terminal

If you pay annually, you get one month free.

Hardware Cost

KORONA hardware integrates with most POS hardware. If you’re not sure what to pick, read our post on the best credit card machines and terminals.

Payment Processing

TSYS, First Data, Heartland, Cayan, Clearant, Elavon, EVO, Merchant Warehouse, Merchant Payment Systems, Global Payments, Cost Plus Processing, and Eagle Processing can all be used to process payments on transactions made through KORONA POS.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

KORONA POS offers a free trial, which you may use for as long as you like before buying. However, the free trial does have limitations.

You may cancel a monthly KORONA account at any time.

Where KORONA Really Shines For A Convenience Store

KORONA has developed POS features specifically for convenience stores selling regulated items, especially alcohol, at a great price, so you won’t need to combine several add-ons to create a holistic c-store POS system.

The provider has also taken into account the high employee turnover rates and theft that can plague a convenience store, and has built features into its POS to mitigate these issues.

7. CStore Essentials: Best Back Office Software

PDI CStore Essentials

Get Started With PDI CStore Essentials

Pros

Excellent tobacco-specific features/discounts
Check cashing, money orders, bill payment
Fuel management
Strong loyalty program

Cons

Not a full POS system
Must buy Verifone or Gilbarco hardware
Poor customer service ratings

CStore Essentials c-store POS system dashboard.

CStore Essentials Convenience Store POS Features

CStore Essentials was made by and for convenience store owners, which is why the following standout features are included in the provider’s POS ecosystem:

Automated tobacco sale rebates (under specific rebate programs)
Tobacco loyalty program setup
Fuel management, such as fuel delivery receiving and tank reports
Lottery sales and balancing reports
Check cashing and bill pay functions
Full payroll system
Employee roles, permissions, and task management
Product promotions and discounts
Automated invoicing
Price book creation via mobile app

CStore Essentials Pricing

Store Operations Standard: $69/month, or $59/month when billed annually
Tobacco Loyalty Plus: $89/month

CStore Essentials also has a basic plan for $19/month, but that is only for tobacco rebates, not any POS functions.

Hardware Cost

You must purchase either Verifone or Gilbarco Passport hardware to take sales at your convenience store. CStore Essentials office management software is cloud-based, so it can be used on a computer or your phone.

Payment Processing

Since you do not actually take payments with CStore Essentials, there is no payment processing involved. Your hardware provider will probably also serve as your payment processor.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

You may sign up for CStore Essentials on a monthly or yearly basis and must cancel your account before the next billing period to avoid another billing charge if you decide against this back-office software.

There are no refunds, so tread lightly and decide whether this software will really help you streamline organizational tasks before committing long-term.

Where CStore Essentials Really Shines For A Convenience Store

CStore Essentials is not, in itself, a complete POS system, but rather an excellent inventory and employee management software that will help you run your store from behind the scenes. The company also provides excellent tobacco sales features, such as tobacco rebates and tobacco loyalty programs for your customers.

8. LS Retail: Best For Large Gas Stations

LS Retail

Get Started With LS Retail

Pros

Extensive fuel management functions
Full food-service capabilities
ID scanner

Cons

No lottery sales
Must use Microsoft to run POS software

LS Retail POS for c-store POS system.

LS Retail Convenience Store POS Features

LS retail for gas stations and c-stores features:

Automated and manual pump control
Pre-pay, post-pay, and pay-at-pump POS options
Fuel pricing variations
Fuel tank monitoring
Automated fuel tank refilling based on sales history and current stock levels
Staff scheduling
Menu planning
Discounts, promotions, menu specials, and meal deals
Loyalty program
Perishable and nonperishable inventory management
Franchise management

LS Retail Pricing

LS Retail pricing is quote-based. You will need to contact LS Retail or an LS Retail authorized partner for pricing.

Hardware Cost

LS Retail software runs on devices that support Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.

You may purchase hardware from an LS Retail partner such as Verifone.

Payment Processing

LS Retail has partnered with several payment service providers around the globe. US-facing businesses will most likely use Worldpay, Verifone, or PayEx for their payment processing.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

Your LS Retail subscription will renew automatically unless you contact LS Retail to cancel it within 10 days of your subscription renewal date.

Where LS Retail Really Shines For A Convenience Store

With multiple fuel management functions such as manual and automatic pump control, refills, and reporting, LS Retail has cornered the market on gas station-oriented convenience store POS systems.

Add in the POS provider’s quick food service devices and management, and you have an (almost) complete POS solution.