It's the question of everyone setting up a business: do I spend the money on good hardware or on a good program?
The short answer: the software. And not by a little.
We'll give you the long one here, with the part no one tells you when they're selling you the screen.
A POS has a body and a brain
The hardware is the screen, the printer, the drawer. What you see and touch. What they show you in the photo.
The software is what decides what all that does. What you don't see in the photo.
The hardware executes. The software commands. And without software, a POS is an expensive cash register with a pretty screen.
Why the software weighs more
Put it this way: two bars buy the same equipment. One puts a professional program on it; the other, a free one that records the payment.
A year on, the first knows which dish leaves it a margin and which eats the profit, what time it really invoices, which waiter sells most and how much stock is slipping out of the storeroom.
The second knows how much it's put in the till. Nothing more.
Same hardware. Different businesses.
With a good program you can:
- Control stock on its own. Every sale deducts stock and warns you before you run out.
- Know your real margins. How many glasses come out of a bottle and what each one leaves you.
- See who sells and how much. With users and permissions per person.
- Spot shortfalls. By hand you don't notice; with reports, you do.
- Decide with data instead of with hunches.
- Comply with the law. And here comes the important bit.
And from 2027, the software isn't optional
This settles the debate. From 1 January 2027 (companies) and 1 July 2027 (other obliged parties), your invoicing system has to comply with Verifactu. The penalty for not complying reaches €50,000 per financial year.
And pay attention to this detail, because it's the one hardly anyone explains: what complies with the regulation is the software, not the screen. The hardware is the support; the verifiable invoicing record is generated by the software.
You can have the most expensive, newest POS on the market. If the software isn't certified, you don't comply. We explain it in full in our POS and Verifactu guide.
So, will any hardware do?
We won't exaggerate either. The hardware matters, but less than they make you believe:
- The screen, 15" and up if you have a busy bar or counter.
- That it holds up. Business equipment withstands splashes, grease and full shifts. An adapted home laptop doesn't.
- That it's compatible with your printer, your drawer and your reader.
And that's it. Once that's met, spending €300 more on inches won't make you a euro. Spending €159 a year on a program that tells you where you're losing money, it will.
How to split the budget
If money's tight, this is the sensible order:
- A program that complies with Verifactu. Non-negotiable.
- Decent equipment, not the most expensive. A screen, printer and drawer that hold up.
- The accessories, later. Order pad and kitchen printer when the business calls for them, not before.
And if you already have a computer with Windows 10 or later, it'll probably do: the program installs there and you save the whole equipment cost.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy the hardware and look for the software later?
You can, but it's back to front. Choose the program that fits you first and then compatible hardware. Otherwise you risk the program you want not working with what you already bought.
Is a second-hand POS any good?
The hardware, yes, if it's in good shape and compatible. The software is another story: make sure it's certified for Verifactu and still receiving updates. A second-hand POS with a dead program is no use.
Will my current computer do?
If it has Windows 10 or later, it usually will. Tell us what you have and we'll confirm before you spend anything.
Does the hardware comply with Verifactu on its own?
No. The software complies. The hardware neither complies nor fails to.
How much does a professional program cost?
Ours, €29/month + VAT, or €159/year + VAT. The market average is between €40 and €80 a month.
In short
The hardware is the body. The software is the brain. And since 2027, it's also the only thing that keeps you within the law.
Choosing a POS with good software isn't an expense: it's the only part of the whole system that will give you money back.
See the POS software with Verifactu · see the complete POS bundles · and a free program?
Unsure about your case? Message us on WhatsApp or call 622 872 311. If what you have does the job, we'll tell you.