My husband, Justin, is gearing up to launch his brewery in northern Michigan, and I took on the task of selecting a POS system to support the business. After careful deliberation and discussions with sales reps, I decided on Square. While there have been a few bumps along the way, I am confident in my choice thus far.
If you’re in the process of starting a new business and are in the market for a POS system, my thought process may offer some guidance in making the right decision.
Why Square?
As a writer specializing in small businesses, I began my search by diving into research on pricing, features, and integrations for various POS systems. I also factored in a few other considerations. Here’s why Square stood out for Nocturnal Bloom Brewing:
Cost
I’m new to managing a business and making decisions for it, so committing a large sum of money upfront for a POS system without certainty didn’t sit well with me. Square’s software plans and hardware costs are more budget-friendly compared to many competitors, making it a sensible choice.
Trust
Square’s transparent pricing and no-contract policy instilled trust in me. The absence of pushy sales tactics during our interactions further solidified my confidence in the brand.
Industry-Specific Features
We required a POS system tailored to our brewery’s needs, particularly with menu-building capabilities. Square’s restaurant-specific offering struck the right balance for us without unnecessary complexities.
Simplicity
While other POS systems like Toast may offer advanced features, Square’s straightforward approach with its Plus plan for restaurants seemed more suitable for our operation, which doesn’t involve food service.
Integrations
During my discussions with various POS system representatives, I discovered that some integrations come at an extra cost. Square’s inclusive approach, without additional charges for essential integrations like QuickBooks Online, was a significant advantage.
Familiarity
Having been a Square customer myself, the brand’s familiarity played a part in my decision-making process. I believe this familiarity will make the transition smoother for our staff as well.
My One Reservation with Square
Despite my confidence in Square, I have some reservations based on feedback from Reddit users who experienced sudden account closures and fund holds with payment service providers like Square. To mitigate this risk, we opted to avoid selling CBD beverages at the brewery and will monitor customer demand before proceeding.
Other POS Systems I Considered
While Clover was a contender due to its local payment processing capabilities, Square’s competitive rates and user-friendly approach ultimately won me over. Clover’s interchange-plus pricing structure and higher hardware costs didn’t offer significant long-term savings for our business.
What I’ve Learned So Far Using Square
Transitioning from researching POS systems to implementing one in a real-world setting highlighted a few key points for me:
- Creating a menu from scratch: It’s more convenient to build a menu through the Square Dashboard via the mobile app or web browser than on the Square Register.
- Saving menu changes: Ensure your internet connection is stable, as issues with saving changes may occur.
- Categorization errors: To prevent errors when categorizing items, create a small portion of the menu, save your progress, and then continue.
Despite these minor challenges, setting up Square has been relatively smooth. Our focus now shifts to ensuring the system can withstand the demands of our brewery’s opening day.
