What is a point-of-sale (POS) system for a restaurant?
POS stands for point of sale: the place where a table is opened, an order is recorded and the bill is settled. Here is what a POS covers, and where an application such as 4restaurants.net fits.
Short answer
- A restaurant POS system is the point where staff open a table and record what guests order.
- Table orders can go straight to the kitchen.
- The bill is settled through a payment terminal, which is usually separate equipment.
- Each dish can carry a recipe card with ingredient weights.
- 4restaurants.net covers the floor plan, table orders to the kitchen, recipe cards, stock and reports. It does not take payments.
What a restaurant POS is made of
The components of a POS setup in a restaurant with a kitchen
| Component | What it does | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Table order | Records the dishes and sends the order to the kitchen | On the device your team uses |
| Kitchen | Receives orders from the tables | In the kitchen |
| Payment terminal | Takes the guest's payment | With your payment provider |
| Reports | Sales by day, by dish and by waiter | In the reporting panel |
What the rules say
- Keep sales records for at least six years, as the CRA requires, whichever software or till you use.
- Quebec has its own rules for electronic sales-recording systems. Check with your accountant before you choose a system.
Practical example
Example: table 12 orders two pasta dishes and a glass of wine. The server sends the order, and the kitchen receives the dishes with the order time.
At payment, the bill is settled through your terminal. The daily report shows sales by dish and by waiter.
Common mistakes
- Choosing a system that does not match your payment set-up, so bills are keyed in twice, with errors.
- Not noting each order clearly with its table and time, so you cannot tell what has left the kitchen.
How 4restaurants.net helps
- The order taken at the table is sent to the kitchen from the same application.
- Payments stay with your payment terminal and point-of-sale process. The application does not take them.