POS stands for 'point of sale' — the place and the kit where you take payment and record a sale. But the term covers everything from a £19 pocket reader to a full restaurant system, so let's untangle it.
Card reader vs. full POS system
A card reader just takes payments — tap, chip, done. A full POS system does that and also rings up items, tracks stock, manages tables or appointments, and reports on sales.
Most sole traders and market sellers only need a reader. Cafés, shops and restaurants usually want a fuller POS.
What a modern POS can do
Beyond taking a card, a POS system might include:
- Item/menu management and quick-sale buttons
- Inventory and stock tracking
- Table plans, tabs and tipping (hospitality)
- Appointments (salons) and customer records
- Online store and click-and-collect
- Sales reporting and staff management
Do you need one?
If you sell a few things and just need to take a card, a simple reader (SumUp, Square, Zettle) is plenty. If you carry stock, run tables, or want online and in-person to talk to each other, step up to a full POS like Square, Lightspeed or Epos Now.
FAQs
Does 'POS' mean the card machine or the software?
Both, loosely. 'Point of sale' refers to where you take payment — which can mean just a card reader, or a full till system with software, hardware and payments combined.
The POS editorial team
Independent UK payments research. We test, read the small print and write it up in plain English.