Grocery POS Systems That Accept EBT: 5 Best Solutions
Are you a grocery store owner who wants to reach a new group of customers and increase your sales? If so, accepting EBT payments may be a game-changer. Accepting EBT allows you to expand your customer base and boost your bottom line instantly.
I know what you're thinking: "EBT payments are a hassle." But they don't have to be! With the right point of sale (POS) system, accepting EBT payments is quick and easy. Many POS systems are now EBT-enabled, so you can start accepting EBT payments immediately without additional headaches
In this article, you'll learn about the benefits of accepting EBT payments, choosing the right POS system for your needs, and getting started accepting EBT payments today. By the end, you'll be well on your way to reaching a new group of customers and increasing your sales.
Grocery POS Systems That Accept EBT: What Do You Need To Know?
Electronic Benefits Transfer, or EBT, is a government program that provides food assistance to low-income individuals and families. EBT cards are similar to debit cards; customers can purchase food at authorized retailers.
Note: To be eligible for EBT, you must meet certain income and asset requirements. Find out more on the USDA website.
To accept EBT, you need a POS system that’s EBT-enabled, and then you’ll need to apply for an EBT merchant account. Your POS provider or a third-party provider can help you get an EBT merchant account.
By looking and functioning like any other debit or credit card, EBT cards help reduce the stigma associated with government assistance. EBT is also more secure and efficient than traditional paper-based methods, making it a win-win for retailers and recipients.
Your grocery store can reach out to people from different socioeconomic backgrounds by accepting EBT payments. You’ll boost your sales and establish your store as an inclusive business sensitive to the needs of the communities you serve.
You’ll also play a role in promoting financial inclusion. With more accessible payment options, you can break down barriers preventing people from obtaining nutritious food for themselves and their families.
We’ll cover 5 top grocery store providers in this post:
- Clover POS
- IT Retail
- Totilpay
- POS Nation
- Markt POS
1. Clover
Clover is a cloud-based POS system fully equipped to handle EBT payments. Clover POS can process EBT cash benefits, so customers can spend their EBT cards on eligible non-food items, like personal care products and household supplies. With Clover, you can also accept SNAP food benefits.
While Clover makes EBT processing easy, you must verify that items purchased with EBT benefits are eligible.
Key Features for Grocery Stores:
- Real-time insights into sales, inventory, and customer data
- Accepts multiple forms of payment
Pricing: Clover offers a variety of pricing models. The standard option costs $1,799 upfront and an additional $49.95 monthly.
2. IT Retail
IT Retail is a robust, cloud-based POS system with features like inventory management, customer engagement, sales tracking, and reporting. With lightning-fast payment processing and the latest in payment technology, IT Retail can set you up to accept EBT cards, EBT SNAP, and EBT cash.
IT Retail even helps to get your store authorized. They’ll implement the new EBT standards so you can get authorized and start making EBT sales.
Key Features for Grocery Stores:
- Grocery-focused checkout, including scanner scales, customer displays, and signature capture PIN pads
- Easy to train employees — it takes around 10 minutes to learn how to use IT Retail
- Powerful inventory management
Pricing: Explore standard monthly plans or upfront hardware and software “Freedom” solutions in either standard or premium packages. You can explore IT Retail's full pricing and build and price your own custom solution on their website.
3. TotilPay
Another cloud-based POS system, TotilPay is an all-in-one payment solution. Its versatility lies in its ability to process multiple payment types, including debit, credit, EBT, SNAP, WIC, and even loyalty programs. It automates recordkeeping and eliminates the need for manual processes.
Best for grocery, convenience, and bodegas, the TotilPay Register is user-friendly and feature-rich. You can even offer your customers the option to receive their receipts via email, text, or print.
Key Features for Grocery Stores:
- Fast and efficient checkout for EBT payments
- Flexible pricing
- The TotilPay mobile app integrates with Square, InComm OTC, and 53 OTC
Pricing: Starts at $49.95/month or $479.40/year. Prices will vary depending on the equipment you choose.
4. POS Nation
POS Nation offers an all-in-one point of sale solution with improved checkout and powerful customer support. Integrated hardware, software, training, and payment processing are included, along with 24/7 customer support.
With POS Nation, you can easily accept EBT payments and handle EBT and non-EBT items within a single transaction. The system then automatically applies taxes to applicable items. You can also easily create custom reports and view EBT-only sales.
Key Features for Grocery Stores:
- Integrated scanner scales, standalone scales, and deli scales
- Hotkeys with photos
- Unlimited database of items
Pricing: Their Flex Monthly option starts at $149/month. You can custom-build your POS system using their custom pricing tool.
5. Markt POS
Markt POS, an all-in-one, cloud-based POS system, was designed by multi-generational grocers who understand the problems local market owners face. With control over inventory, reporting, customer communications, and marketing, you can manage every aspect of your grocery store.
Payment processing is a breeze with Markt POS. With PCI certification, you can ensure security. You can offer contactless payment options, including Apple Pay, Google Pay, and NFC-enabled cards. Finally, you can easily accept all standard grocery payments, including EMV, debit, credit, EBT Food, EBT Cash, gift cards, and checks.
Key Features for Grocery Stores:
- Efficient self-checkout
- State-of-the-art POS hardware
- Easy to use for everyone and dedicated 24/7 support
Pricing: Use our build and price tool to create your perfect grocery store POS system.
Implementing a Grocery POS System That Accepts EBT
If your grocery store accepts EBT payments, ensure you consider these requirements:
- Report all EBT transactions to the state. This reporting tracks the use of EBT funds and ensures they are being used for eligible purchases.
- Grocery store employees authorized to process EBT transactions must be trained on the EBT program and the rules for using EBT cards.
- Take steps to protect EBT cardholder information. This includes using secure POS systems and following security protocols to prevent fraud.
- You must comply with all applicable laws and regulations governing the use of EBT cards.
Accepting EBT can be a great way to grow your grocery store business and strengthen your community. By following the tips in this post, you can choose the right POS system for your needs and start accepting EBT payments today.
We may be biased, but with a POS solution dedicated to small and mid-sized grocery stores, Markt POS has everything you need to run your store with big-box efficiency, but with local owners in mind.
Want to see how? Schedule a demo with our grocery point of sale experts today.
