How much does a point of sale cost?

How much does a point of sale cost a business? The figure is not one number. It depends on the industry, what the business needs, and which choices you make.

At the small end, a system can cost a few tens of euros a month. A wider setup can run to hundreds of euros a month.

This guide covers where the cost comes from, how to size the system, and what example prices look like. It also walks through a few Solmio packages, why an Android-based system changes the hardware cost, and the traps that show up when the advertised price is only the starting point.

What the price is made of

The total is several pieces: software, hardware, the payment terminal, support and training, and integrations. Seeing those pieces makes it easier to judge what the system costs in your own use.

Software

The till software is the core. Most modern systems are sold as a subscription, so the licence is a monthly or yearly fee.

Basic selling, reporting and stock are usually in every system. Loyalty, an online-store connection or order handling can cost more. Many suppliers also scale the licence by company size or by the number of tills.

At Solmio, software, reporting and support for the first till cost €59 a month, and each additional till at the same location €39 a month. The basic functions are included. Updates are part of that fee, not a later add-on.

Hardware and the operating system

The till itself is a large part of the price: a touchscreen terminal or a tablet, a receipt printer, a cash drawer, a customer display, and barcode scanners if you need them.

You can buy the hardware, rent or lease it, or start on a device you already have, such as a tablet.

More tills now run on Android. Android devices are often cheaper than a traditional cash register, and the same system can run on an ordinary Android tablet or phone. Compatible accessories and all-in-one units are easy to add, so a new point of sale does not mean replacing the whole setup. Solmio runs on current Android devices, so the hardware can follow the budget.

A cheap consumer tablet is not always the cheaper choice over a season of daily use. Hardware built for continuous work costs more up front and usually less in repairs and replacements.

The payment terminal

Most businesses need a card reader with the till. It can come in the same delivery or from a separate payments provider. Some all-in-one devices already include it.

Buying the terminal with the till, from the same supplier, is usually the clearer setup. The monthly figure can be a few euros higher, and the practical difference is this:

• The devices are tested together, so there is no separate integration to keep alive.
• Support is one place. You do not have to decide whether the fault is the till or the terminal.
• The devices arrive configured.
• One supplier, one monthly invoice, no overlapping fees.

Payment technology moves quickly. Contactless limits change, software updates are frequent, and account-to-account payments and a digital euro are on the way. A multi-year commitment to one device is a poor fit for that. A rental keeps a current terminal in use, spreads the cost, and avoids a large purchase when the device needs to change.

Terminal cost still splits in two: the device (a purchase or a monthly rent) and card-payment fees, typically 0.5–2% of the sale plus a possible fixed fee per transaction.

In Solmio the terminal is part of the package. Card, mobile and cash go through the same system, and the same channel handles support.

Support, maintenance and training

Support and training decide whether the system is usable on a busy day. Many suppliers include basic setup: installing devices, creating products, adding users, connecting integrations. A larger rollout can be a paid project, so ask before you sign.

Solmio delivers the system turnkey. Devices arrive installed, configured and tested, so selling can start without a technical project. A changeover can be done in a day.

Training is part of the same question. Clear instructions and a short session, remote or on site, pay for themselves when staff make fewer mistakes. With some suppliers training is included. With others it is billed separately.

Everyday support matters because the till is where the sale happens. Solmio support is available around the clock and is included in the price. The person who answers is in Finland and knows the system, whether the question is the device, payments or a report.

A lower monthly fee with thin support is a common trap. A few euros saved can cost a weekend when nobody answers.

Integrations and extras

A till rarely sits alone. A link to accounting, an online store, stock or a restaurant ordering system removes manual copying. Some suppliers include those links. Others charge for them, or reserve them for a higher package.

Extras such as richer reports, Solmio-Ailo, a customer display or a self-service checkout can change the price. Map what you need now and what you are likely to add. Solmio includes an open interface and ready links to common accounting and online-store systems, so those are not a surprise invoice later.

Example Solmio packages

These are starting points. A quote is still built for the business.

Prices exclude VAT and are for one till, including a Viva.com payment terminal built into the till (€9/month). On Solmio One the built-in terminal can also be Verifone. Each additional till's software is €39/month. The setup fee is €100 + €50 per till. You can work out your own setup on the pricing page.

A smaller setup with your own device stays near €70 a month. A heavier setup or a wider system is more, often in the €80–200 range. An all-in-one device cuts the number of units you buy, which suits event sellers and businesses that move.

Traps when you buy a till

• Costs that are not in the headline. Check what the price includes. Reporting, device updates, transactions and integrations are common extras. Open pricing is the useful signal.
• Locked contracts. A low price can require a long fixed term. A monthly model, or a reasonable notice period, is safer until you know the system fits. Solmio can also cover seasonal use, so a quiet month is not billed as a full year.
• Thin support. If the till fails on a weekend and nobody answers, sales stop. Confirm the support hours before you choose, and read what other users say about getting help.
• A closed set of devices. Some systems only work with that supplier's hardware and terminal. An Android-based system lets you replace one part without replacing the package.

What to do next

The price is the software, the hardware, the terminal, and the services around them: support, training and integrations. The useful question is which of those your business actually needs.

Contact us for a quote built for your setup, or to book a demo and see the till in use.