A POS system costs between $249 and $3,000+ for hardware, plus $0-50/month for software and 2.1-3.5% per transaction for payment processing. The total cost depends on your business type, number of terminals, and the features you need. Here's what to expect for every category.
POS Cost by Business Type
| Business Type | Hardware Cost | Monthly Software | Processing Rates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small cafe / coffee shop | $299-599 | $0-15/mo | 2.1-2.8% |
| Restaurant (single location) | $599-1,499 | $15-50/mo | 2.1-2.8% |
| Bar / nightclub | $599-1,499 | $15-50/mo | 2.1-2.8% |
| Retail store | $299-1,499 | $0-50/mo | 2.1-2.8% |
| Food truck / mobile | $249-499 | $0-15/mo | 2.1-2.8% |
| Multi-location restaurant | $1,499-5,000+ | $50-150/mo | 2.1-2.6% |
| Hotel / hospitality | $1,499-5,000+ | $50-150/mo | 2.1-2.6% |
Hardware Cost Breakdown
Entry Level ($249-499)
- PAX A920 ($249) — handheld smart terminal, receipt printer built-in
- Clover Go ($49-99) — mobile reader that pairs with smartphone
- Clover Mini ($299-499) — compact countertop touchscreen
Best for: Food trucks, market vendors, small cafes, mobile businesses.
Mid-Range ($599-1,499)
- Clover Station Duo ($1,199-1,499) — dual-screen countertop POS with receipt printer
- Clover Flex ($499-599) — handheld POS with touchscreen and printer
- Kwick POS ($599-899) — full POS terminal for restaurants
Best for: Restaurants, bars, retail stores, single-location businesses.
Enterprise ($1,500-5,000+)
- Aloha POS ($1,000-3,000+) — full-service restaurant and hospitality
- Multi-terminal Clover setup ($2,500-5,000+) — multiple stations for large operations
- Korona POS ($1,500-3,000+) — high-SKU retail environments
Best for: Multi-location chains, hotels, large restaurants, supermarkets.
Monthly Software Fees
Most modern POS systems charge a monthly software subscription:
| System | Monthly Fee | What's Included |
|---|---|---|
| Clover Essentials | $0/mo | Basic POS functions |
| Clover Register | $15/mo | Full POS + inventory |
| Clover Counter Service | $50/mo | Restaurant features + KDS |
| Kwick POS | $0-25/mo | Full POS features |
| Aloha POS | $50-150/mo | Enterprise restaurant features |
Payment Processing Fees
Processing is the biggest ongoing cost — and the area where you can save the most money.
Interchange-plus pricing (through Unison): 2.1-2.8% per transaction for in-person payments. You pay the actual card cost plus a small transparent markup.
Flat-rate pricing (through bundled providers): 2.6-2.9% + $0.10-0.30 per transaction. Simple but more expensive, especially on debit card transactions.
On $50,000/month in card sales, the difference between interchange-plus and flat-rate pricing saves $150-350/month — or $1,800-4,200/year.
Hidden Costs to Watch For
- Equipment leasing — some providers offer "free" equipment but lock you into 4-year leases at $50-100/month. Over the lease, you pay $2,400-4,800 for equipment worth $1,000. Always purchase.
- Installation fees — some providers charge $200-500 for setup. Unison includes setup and training.
- PCI compliance fees — $50-100/year from some processors. Unison charges $0.
- Early termination fees — $200-500+ to cancel. Unison has no contracts and no termination fees.
How to Get the Best POS Price
1. Purchase hardware outright — never lease 2. Choose interchange-plus processing — save 20-40% vs flat-rate 3. Right-size your system — don't buy enterprise when a Clover Mini will do 4. Bundle hardware and processing — one provider, better pricing, simpler support
Get a custom POS quote. Contact Unison →
Related resources:
- POS Hardware — explore all systems and pricing
- Best POS for Restaurants — restaurant-specific guide
- Best POS for Retail — retail-specific guide