When setting up your restaurant point of sale equipment, it’s crucial to make sure you have all the restaurant POS hardware and software you need to run an effective system. Here’s a brief overview of the components you’ll be working with:

• Software: Restaurant POS software should meet the needs you currently have as well as any needs you may have in the future. Try to find a restaurant point of sale software package that includes all the functions you’ll need at a single base price so you won’t have to worry about adding or subtracting services later.
• Server Computer: You’ll need to designate a single computer to maintain software and store information for your restaurant point of sale system. This computer is usually located in the back office or a central location and should be fairly strong and fast. Most POS systems will set guidelines for operating systems and hardware necessary to designate a server.
• POS Terminals: Early on, you’ll have to decide how many terminals you need to run an effective business. For each additional terminal you purchase, you’ll have to buy compatible POS software licenses, so decide carefully on a number that’s within your budget. The best terminals come with a computer, a touch screen monitor, a credit card reader, a receipt printer, a cash drawer, and some kind of display screen where customers can view prices. For restaurants, you may also need to invest in kitchen printers to communicate with cooks in the back-of-house area. If you run a delivery service, consider a label printer.
• Uninterrupted Power Supply and Backup Systems: An uninterrupted power supply keeps your systems running up to 20 minutes after a blackout so you won’t lose any sales information and terminals can be shut down properly. You should also invest in a way to back up data from your database, preferably to an offsite or cloud server.

Go into the purchasing process with a clear idea of what you want and your POS provider will be able to help you realize your vision. Get more info here.