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Bars and breweries have unique POS needs. Find out which systems and features can keep your business compliant and running smoothly.
WRITTEN & RESEARCHED BY
Editor & Senior Staff Writer
Last updated onUpdated
REVIEWED BY
Expert Contributor
The best POS systems for small businesses offer tools to streamline operations, reduce turnover, and enhance the customer experience. But as a bar owner, your POS needs are unique.
To find the right fit, focus on features built for hospitality and high-volume service, and compare systems designed specifically for bars and nightlife businesses.
Table of Contents
While many POS systems can handle bar operations, the best options are built specifically for bars, breweries, and nightclubs.
The best bar POS systems include industry-focused features like age verification, tab management, and happy hour pricing, making them ideal for everything from cozy taprooms to high-volume nightclubs.
When comparing POS systems, focus on three key factors: cost, features, and real-world performance.
POS systems can quickly become expensive once you factor in monthly subscriptions, processing fees, and add-ons. The goal is to find a system that offers the features you actually need without paying extra for tools you’ll never use.
Avoid rushing into a contract based on flashy marketing or “exclusive” perks. Many POS systems offer similar functionality at different price points, so take time to compare plans and understand what a fair monthly cost looks like before committing.
Not every POS is built for a bar’s fast-paced environment. The right system should handle busy nights, manage staff efficiently, and help you stay on top of inventory.
Some POS systems even offer pour tracking integrations to monitor drink accuracy, though many bar owners find nightly inventory reports just as effective.
At a minimum, you should look for these essential features:
Make sure your POS can also grow with your business, connect with your existing tools, and provide reliable support when issues come up.
Websites and sales reps can make any POS sound perfect, but real insights come from other business owners who use the software daily.
If you can, talk to local bar or restaurant owners about what works for them. Otherwise, check review platforms like G2, Software Advice, Trustpilot, and the BBB for firsthand user experiences.
Focus on recent, detailed, and unbiased reviews to get a realistic sense of reliability, support, and usability.
Your ideal POS depends on your setup. A busy nightclub needs a system that can handle multiple registers and simultaneous food and drink orders, while a small brewery or neighborhood bar might do just fine with one terminal and a mobile device.
Take the time to compare costs, features, and real-world feedback before committing to a system. The right POS will keep your operations flowing — and your customers happy.
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The vendors that appear on this list were chosen by subject matter experts on the basis of product quality, wide usage and availability, and positive reputation.
Merchant Maverick’s ratings are editorial in nature, and are not aggregated from user reviews. Each staff reviewer at Merchant Maverick is a subject matter expert with experience researching, testing, and evaluating small business software and services. The rating of this company or service is based on the author’s expert opinion and analysis of the product, and assessed and seconded by another subject matter expert on staff before publication. Merchant Maverick’s ratings are not influenced by affiliate partnerships.
Our unbiased reviews and content are supported in part by affiliate partnerships, and we adhere to strict guidelines to preserve editorial integrity. The editorial content on this page is not provided by any of the companies mentioned and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone.
Square POS is an intuitive and simple point of sale platform. It offers customizable tools and a variety of add-ons to fit your business needs and reach your goals.
Get Started
