6 Best POS Systems For A Consignment Shop In 2023

Square Consignment Software Features

Square offers the following consignment POS features:

• Consignment sales tracking (via Rose integration)
• Unlimited consignors/vendors (via Rose integration)
• Split sales by consignor or item (via Rose integration)
• Pass CC fees to consignors (via Rose integration)
• Track stock
• Import/export item library
• Manage modifiers, categories, discounts, taxes, and units
• GTIN and SKU bar codes (auto-generate SKUs)
• Free Square Online store
• Free gift cards
• Basic team management
• Accept numerous forms of payment
• Buy online, pick up in-store/return in-store
• Print barcodes (Square for Retail Plus version only)
• Loyalty program (paid add-on)

Square Pricing

The Square POS app is free, though Square offers various paid add-ons, such as Team Management Plus ($35/month/location and Square for Retail Plus ($60/month/location). To add consignment functionality, you'll need the Rose integration, which starts at $65/month/location.

Hardware Cost

Square offers various hardware options for iOS and Android devices, as well as proprietary POS hardware options, such as Square Terminal and Square Register. Businesses can get one Square mobile credit card reader for free. A typical countertop set up with a Square Register kit includes an all-in-one Square Register (includes tablet and payment acceptance), cash drawer, receipt printer, and paper for $1,389.

Payment Processing

All Square accounts come with built-in payment processing. In-person rates are 2.6% + $0.10 on Square POS and Square for Retail Free plans, or 2.5% + $0.10 on Square for Retail Plus plans.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

Square plans are month-to-month with no contract. Note that Square doesn't come with your own merchant account. Instead, Square uses an aggregate merchant account, also called a payment service provider model, which can lead to account stability issues such as occasional fund holds.

Where Square Really Shines For Consignment Software

Square provides many easy-to-use POS features and is a great value, especially for small consignment shops and any business owner new to cloud POS. Square's only consignment app integration, Rose by Consignor Connect, is similarly affordable and easy to use. The Rose consignment app, designed specifically for use with Square, seamlessly integrates into your Square POS, allowing you to generate consignor contracts, control sales splits and commissions by consignor, and provide a consignor portal so that consignors can see their balances and create their own inventory.

Many retail POS systems provide one or more consignment app integrations, but Square's Rose app seems to be the most seamless consignment app integration available for a cloud POS.

Lightspeed Retail Consignment Software Features

Lightspeed offers the following retail POS features for consignment shops:

• Add consignment items to your inventory (manually or through purchase orders)
• See what you owe consignors
• Integrations with Aravenda Consignment Software and Hyperspace Consignment App
• Create bundles with multiple products
• Upload <10,000 items at once with item import
• Make bulk pricing changes across your inventory
• BOGO discounts
• Generate unlimited barcodes — free barcode tool compatible with all scanners
• Holds and layaway
• Price books
• Basic employee management
• Integrated in-house eCommerce (on higher plans)
• Omnichannel gift cards (on higher plans)
• Social media selling

Lightspeed Retail Pricing

Lightspeed pricing starts at $89/month ($69/month with annual billing).

All Lightspeed plans come with one POS register license. To add extra registers, you'll pay an extra $59/register/month.

Pricing to add a dedicated consignment app integration varies.

Hardware Cost

You can use Lightspeed Retail with an iPad or Mac desktop setup. You can source your hardware yourself or buy a bundle from Lightspeed. Hardware pricing is quote-based.

Note: Lightspeed Retail now requires all new and existing qualified merchants using Lightspeed Retail in the US and Canada to sign up for Lightspeed Payments, Lightspeed's payment processor. If you currently use a card reader from a third-party payment processor, you can't use it anymore. Since you can't use any existing payment terminals (card readers) with Lightspeed Payments, Lightspeed is currently running a free terminal replacement promotion for eligible merchants that includes two free Lightspeed POS terminals (card readers) per qualified merchant.

Eligible merchants include business owners that process a minimum of $100/day in credit card payments, as measured by a monthly average. Apple products are not included in this promotion, so you'll still need to source an iPad to take sales.

Payment Processing

Lightspeed Payments is required for all accounts in the US and Canada, with an in-person processing rate of 2.6% + $0.10.

Note: Lightspeed will buy out payment processing contracts, paying off merchants' early cancellation fees if you process a minimum of $25,000 in card sales and then submit documentation of your previous payment processing contract that states your early termination fee within six months of meeting this minimum processing amount.

It's important to note that the "paying off" comes in the form of discounted payment processing fees, not a chunk of cash that goes towards your termination fees when you decide to switch to Lightspeed Payments.

If you are a current Lightspeed user and don't apply for Lightspeed Payments within 30 days of receiving a notification email, you'll be charged a fee between $200 and $1,120 per month until you do sign up for Lightspeed Payments.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

Lightspeed offers monthly and annual plans. You'll pay a higher monthly price if you opt for the monthly plan. However, you will be charged an early termination fee for canceling your plan, so consider starting with a monthly plan until you're sure Lightspeed is right for you.

Also, if you order hardware from Lightspeed, you must verify that you have received your hardware within five business days of receiving it, or the equipment is not covered under Lightspeed's 30-day warranty (14 days for Apple products).

Where Lightspeed Retail Really Shines For Consignment Software

Lightspeed Retail is one of the few multichannel retail POS systems with built-in consignment functionality.

You can set up your shop for consignments using your Lightspeed dashboard, and once you do that, you can start adding consignment articles and seeing what you owe consignors. These consignment features aren't as advanced as you'd get with dedicated consignment shop software, so it might work well for hybrid stores that only sell some items on consignment.

If you need more advanced consignment features, such as consignor management and bulk consignment item import, not to worry. Lightspeed also integrates with third-party consignment software, such as Hyperspace Consignment App and Aravenda.

Clover Consignment Software Features

Clover includes these consignment POS features:

• Integrates with ConsignAble app by Zoomifi
• Track margins for consignors (with ConsignAble integration)
• Notify consignors when items are sold (with ConsignAble integration)
• Advanced inventory with variants
• Sell by weight
• Easy item exchanges
• Item-level discounts
• Built-in loyalty program
• Customer tracking system
• Generate and print sales reports on built-in receipt printer
• Employee management (permissions and shift tracking)
• Free Ecwid online store or integrate with an existing e-store
• Mobile and traditional gift cards

Clover Pricing

Clover.com plan options include the $0/month Payments plan, $14.95/month Essentials plan, or $44.95/month Register plan. You will likely want the Register plan to get the most out of your system. Additional devices on any plan are +$9.95/month. To add consignment management features, you'll need to add the ConsignAble app, which is $14.95/month or $44.95/month, depending on the subscription level.

Hardware Cost

Clover hardware options include the $499 Clover Flex smart terminal, the $749 Clover Mini countertop POS, or the all-in-one Clover Station. The Clover Station is $1,349 for Station Solo or $1,649 for Station Duo, which has a customer-facing screen. (Hardware prices are MSRP from Clover.com.)

Payment Processing

Plans purchased through Clover.com offer flat-rate processing. Rates for in-person processing are 2.3% + $0.10 on the Register plan or 2.6%. + $0.10 on lower plans.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

Clover.com plans are month-to-month (meaning no contract), and you can cancel anytime. However, contract length and terms may vary if you buy your POS from a different Clover provider. Many merchant services providers sell Clover, and these providers have their own contracts, payment processing models, and unique pricing for hardware, software, and processing. Some providers don't offer very good deals, and some are downright predatory. So make sure you buy your system from Clover.com or another reputable provider.

Where Clover Really Shines For Consignment Software

A major reason why Clover is one of the most popular small business POS options is that it's incredibly easy to learn and start using. So easy, in fact, that you can plug it in and be up and selling within minutes. Accessing consignment selling tools on Clover is also simple and easy.

You can add additional functions to a basic Clover POS setup using apps. The Clover app that lets you add consignment features is called Consignable. To get started with this app, simply open your Clover web dashboard, install Consignable, start configuring settings (such as your margin value) and add your vendors. After initial setup, Consignable will sync your consignment sales data with all your Clover devices. It's as simple as that!

Shopify POS Consignment Software Features

Shopify POS has the following features for consignment stores:

• Integrates with Vendor Consignment by Visceral Apps, Aravenda Consignment Software, and ConsignCloud
• Multichannel consignment sales (via consignment app integration)
• Generate and print barcodes
• Manage inventory across in-person, online, and social media sales
• Create custom sales and discounts at the register
• Accept custom payment methods, partial payments, and deposits
• Sell at events with your smartphone using Shopify Lite (included in all plans)
• Categorize products in almost any way (by category, type, season, sale, etc.)
• Multichannel selling options, such as BOPIS, BORIS, and local delivery
• Domestic and international shipping options

Shopify POS Pricing

Shopify pricing starts at $9/month for a Shopify Lite plan with mobile and social media selling. If you sell at a brick-and-mortar store, you'll want at least the Basic plan for $29/month, which also gives you your own website to sell online. Adding the Shopify POS Pro package for an additional $89/month gives you access to even more features.

Integration with consignment apps, such as Vendor Consignment by Visceral Apps, starts at $24.99/month. Shopify's more advanced multichannel consignment software integration, Aravenda, starts at $159/month.

Hardware Cost

Shopify POS runs on iOS and Android devices, which connect to a $49 Shopify Bluetooth payment reader. For the best Shopify POS app experience, an iPad setup is recommended. On its website, Shopify sells hardware bundles such as a $639 Star Micronics mPOP bundle that includes a tablet stand, cash drawer, receipt printer, and hand scanner (iPad not included).

Payment Processing

Payment processing fees depend on your Shopify plan. Fees for in-person transactions range from 2.4% to 2.7% using Shopify Payments. For example, Shopify Lite and Basic plan users will pay 2.7%, while Shopify plan users will pay 2.5%. If you use a third-party processor such as PayPal, you'll be charged an additional transaction fee ranging from 0.5% to 2%.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

All Shopify plans are month to month with no contract or cancelation fees. However, you will save 10% if you pay annually instead of monthly. Shopify Payments is a PSP like Square or PayPal, which means you will not receive your own merchant account but rather an aggregate merchant account.

Where Shopify POS Really Shines For Consignment Software

Shopify is a multichannel retail system that allows stores to sell online, in-person, or some combination of the two. Affordable and completely scalable, Shopify is the ideal POS for consignment stores of any size that want in-person and online selling features. Being the premier eCommerce solution, Shopify also integrates with a ton of apps, including multiple consignment apps.

Shopify's consignment app integrations are all built for multichannel commerce, allowing you to provide consignors with a mobile-friendly vendor portal (ConsignCloud) and pay your consignors directly from PayPal (Visercal). Shopify's Aravenda app is the priciest option but is especially handy for a consignment store that wants to start selling online. This software will take your existing brick-and-mortar consignment store inventory and post it for sale across multiple online channels.

talech Consignment Software Features

talech includes the following features:

• Consignment reports to determine amounts owed to and revenue collected from consignors
• Consignment supplier tracking
• Appointment booking
• Sell items by weight
• Barcode label printing
• Clock-in/out and timesheets
• Multiple roles per employee
• Automatic discounts
• Exchanges
• Store credit
• Customer-facing display
• Online ordering
• Gift cards
• Loyalty
• Layaway
• Inventory alerts
• Purchase orders
• Inventory log
• Stocktake
• BOGO discounts

talech Pricing

talech plans range from $0/month for mobile selling only (limited to 100 products) to $99/month for the "'Premium" plan that includes all features, including gift cards, online ordering, purchase orders, and more.

Hardware Cost

talech can operate on iPads and Android hardware, including Ingenico MOBY tablet POS solutions, ELO PayPoint Plus, and Poynt Smart Terminals. You can source the hardware on your own or purchase it directly from talech -- you'll need to call talech for ordering information.

Payment Processing

talech partners with numerous banks and payment processing companies, including Elavon, Global Payments, Bank of America Merchant Services, Vantiv, Chase, and others. talech's USAePay gateway expands your processing options even further, allowing talech customers to connect to all major credit card processors in the US.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

talech plans are month-to-month with no contract.

Where talech Really Shines For Consignment Software

talech is a flexible, feature-packed budget POS for retail, restaurants, and other industries. talech provides an excellent value for smaller businesses that want a lot of features at a lower price point -- it's not too common for a POS company to offer every single feature for just $99/month.

When it comes to consignment, talech's feature set is somewhat basic, as it allows tracking of and reporting on consignment sales from your web dashboard but doesn't display real-time consignment info on your talech register. So it's best for a business that only needs basic consignment functionality and/or businesses where consignment sales only make up a portion of their total sales. talech does include a lot of general retail features and the ability to take appointments, which can be a useful feature for consignment shops.

Ricochet Consignment Software Features

The Ricochet consignment store POS system includes the following features:

• Consignor accounts and logins
• Consignor payout management
• Detailed consignment reporting
• Online consignment sales
• Consignor credit
• Unlimited devices and users
• Integrated label printing
• Advanced inventory management
• Custom categories and variants
• Auto discounts and expiration
• Employee roles and access restrictions
• Loyalty rewards
• Gift cards
• Integrations with QuickBooks and Mailchimp

Ricochet Pricing

Ricochet software pricing is $129/month for all consignment features, regardless of how many devices/registers you use. If you want to pay ahead for a full year of service, you'll save $350. The only optional feature you'll pay extra for is an eCommerce store, which is another $59/month (or save $109/year by paying annually).

Hardware Cost

You can use Ricochet on almost any hardware setup, including iPad, Macs, Windows PCs, and more. Ricochet recommends most businesses use an iPad as the main register and an iPhone for mobile or floor sales. On its website, Ricochet sells iPad hardware kits for $1,168 (includes 10.2" iPad) and PC/Mac kits (does not include computer) for $506.

Payment Processing

Ricochet uses Gravity Payments as its processor. Gravity is a decent processor that we rate 4/5 stars on Merchant Maverick. Specific rates and terms are not stated on Ricochet's website, but Gravity uses an interchange-plus processing model. Ricochet eCommerce stores also use Gravity Payments in combination with PayPal.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

Ricochet consignment POS plans are month-to-month with no contract. You can save a little by paying annually, but there are no cancelation fees should you stop using the service before the year is through.

Where Ricochet Really Shines For Consignment Software

Ricochet has the distinction of being the first consignment POS for iPad. You can now use Ricochet on other devices  (even Android phones!), but it has maintained its user-friendly iPad aesthetic and affordable SaaS pricing model. Ricochet includes a full suite of consignment features with POS features, as it is a dedicated consignment POS -- rather than a general retail POS with just a few consignment features or a POS that requires a paid integration with third-party consignment software.

All that said, Ricochet is a great choice for any size or type of consignment store -- clothing, furniture, children's, luxury, etc. -- that conducts most or all of its sales on a consignment basis. Perhaps the only downside of this software is that you are locked into using Gravity Payments as your processor.