Quick service restaurants (QSRs) are popular, budget-friendly options for people who enjoy great food in a more casual atmosphere.
However, as anyone who runs one knows, managing them isn’t always easy. That’s because many general point of sale (POS) systems aren’t built to manage menus, order modifications, and other specifics that QSRs need.
If you’re starting a quick service restaurant or looking for a better system, we’re here to help. In this article, we’ll cover the must-have features a POS system for quick service restaurants should have along with five top providers.
Must-Have Features in a Quick Service POS System
Whether you run a food truck, a grocerant, or have a standalone quick service restaurant, your POS system needs these features at a minimum.
- Menu management: Easily update and modify the menu to reflect daily specials, seasonal items, price changes, and more.
- Order modifiers: Accommodate special requests and dietary preferences directly from your POS system.
- Kitchen printing: Take orders from a mobile device or tablet and have them print directly onto kitchen displays or printers.
- Flexible payments: Process various payment methods including credit cards, debit cards, cash, and contactless payments.
- Employee management: Manage employee schedules, time tracking, and performance.
- Inventory management: Know exactly what ingredients you have in stock and when you’re running low by tracking inventory levels in real time.
Pro Tip: Every QSR is different and has different needs. Before scheduling demos with POS providers, make a list of the features that matter most to your business.
Optional (But Nice-To-Have) Features
While these features aren’t essential to run a QSR, they can help you make smarter business decisions and improve the customer experience.
- Customer loyalty: Build a customer loyalty program so customers can earn points with repeat visits.
- Marketing support: Send customers tailored offers, combo deals, and discounts directly from your POS system.
- Integrations: Depending on your needs, some systems are better at connecting with accounting software, inventory management systems, delivery services, and other tools.
- Online ordering: Allow customers to order online as easily as they would in person with integrated e-commerce support.
- Reporting and analytics: Understand performance metrics and sales data to make informed business decisions and identify trends.
- Grocerant support: If your QSR is part of a grocery or food market, a fully integrated system is ideal for gaining a complete view of your inventory and financial performance.
5 Top POS Systems for Quick Service Restaurants
Every quick service restaurant is a little different. Do you have dedicated seating areas? Are you attached to a larger food market or grocery store? Do you need to take orders from anywhere?
Similarly, different POS systems will fit very different needs. Here are our top five picks for POS systems for quick service restaurants.
1. Markt POS
Markt POS (spelled without the “E”) is specifically designed to provide powerful tools to small grocers and food markets. Our robust POS system includes grocery store management, kitchen printing, order management, and other essential QSR features.
Best for: Quick service restaurants attached to a grocery store (grocerants).
Standout Features
- Dual pricing: Encourage customers to pay in cash by giving a cash discount at checkout with the tap of a button.
- Full grocery store support: Combine your QSR inventory and sales data with an attached grocery store or supermarket for maximum visibility and operational flexibility.
- Kitchen receipt printing: Take orders with your POS system and print them (along with modifications) directly to the kitchen.
- Robust reporting: Gain actionable insights into store performance and customer preferences thanks to pre-built reports and analytics features.
- Spanish language support: Markt POS’ features can be used in English and Spanish, making it ideal for Hispanic grocers and markets.
For a full list of features, visit our website.
Pricing
We offer customers a variety of pricing tiers based on your business size, hardware requirements, and other unique needs. Our lowest tier starts at just $49/month.
2. Square POS
Square is a popular all-in-one solution for restaurants and retailers. With easy-to-use software and a flexible app store, it’s a good beginner-friendly option.
Best for: QSRs that want a highly customizable and scalable option.
Standout Features
- Modular features: Square’s app store allows you to add and pay for features as you add them, letting you pick and choose exactly what you need.
- Beginner-friendly: Square offers user-friendly software and the ability to pay for hardware in installments, making it a solid choice for new restaurants.
- Free plans: Square has several free plans (with limited support and features) which include an online ordering page.
- Compatible with iOS: Square’s POS software and card readers are compatible with most iOS devices, including iPhones and iPads.
Pricing
Square’s Plus plan starts at $69/month.
3. Toast
Toast is used by many full-service restaurants and includes industry-specific features, making it a good choice for restaurants that offer both quick service and full service.
Best for: QSRs that need robust hand-held hardware, restaurant-specific features, and delivery options.
Standout Features
- Restaurant-specific features: Toast’s mid-tier plans include support for online ordering, takeout, and in-house delivery.
- 24/7 chat support: Get support when things go wrong on Toast’s website via messaging.
- Spill-proof hardware: Toast uses their own proprietary hardware, which is designed to withstand the rigors (and mess) of the restaurant industry.
- Flexible menu management: Update your menu from your Android smartphone or any connected device.
Pricing
Toast’s POS plan starts at $69/month. Plans that include online ordering and Toast Delivery services start at $165/month.
4. Lightspeed
Based in Canada, Lightspeed POS is used by many retail and service industries worldwide. While pricier than other options on this list, its robust customer relationship management (CRM) tools and multi-location management make it a good fit for established restaurant chains.
Best for: QSRs that want to focus on customer personalization and loyalty tools
Standout Features
- Franchise and chain support: Lightspeed has robust support for multi-location chains, allowing you to manage menus and inventory at any location from anywhere.
- Advanced CRM: Lightspeed can track a customer’s order history across locations, allowing you to create detailed and timely offers for individual patrons.
- Order anywhere features: Lightspeed supports various ordering features, including online orders, payment via QR code, and more.
- Cost/profit analysis: Lightspeed has unique ways to analyze the cost/profit of individual menu items, helping you optimize pricing.
Pricing
Lightspeed Restaurant starts at $189/month, with hotel and custom API support starting at $399/month.
5. Clover
Clover is another widely-used option for restaurants and general retail. With various hardware and user-friendly features, Clover is a good fit for basic QSR operations.
Best for: QSR businesses looking for a no-nonsense, no-frills POS system
Standout Features
- Marketing integrations: Clover supports integrations with MailChimp and other marketing platforms to help expand your customer reach.
- Wide variety of hardware: Clover’s sleek hardware includes mobile tablets, countertop screens, and kitchen display hardware, making it easy to take orders on the go.
- Included online ordering: Clover comes with built-in support for online ordering.
- iOS and Android compatible: Clover’s card readers are compatible with both iOS and Android.
Pricing
Clover’s software plans for QSR start at $80/month but must be used with their hardware.
Simplify Grocerant and Deli Operations With Markt POS
Having the right system for your grocerant can ensure you stay stocked with ingredients and delight your customers.
However, if you run a grocerant or a deli within a grocery store, having a standalone system for that side of the business can add complexity to your processes and finances. Instead, invest in a system that can handle both the grocery and the restaurant side of the business.
Small food markets around the country trust Markt POS to streamline their daily tasks and give them the tools they need to succeed. With flexible grocerant features and robust grocery store management capabilities, Markt helps small food markets stay competitive.
Schedule a custom demo today to learn how your QSR can find success with Markt POS.
