From laptops to fridge freezers, it’s estimated that UK electronics & home appliance stores will generate approximately £8.32 billion in 2024.
With 36% of sales taking place in person, customers still appreciate being able to see products before making a purchase.
In order to meet the needs of these customers, electronics and home appliance businesses can use a Point of Sale (POS) system to streamline their sales process. More than simply facilitating payments, a POS offers functionality to manage inventory, staff, loyalty programmes and much more.
But which is the best POS for electronics & home appliance stores?
- Why do Electronics & Home Appliance Stores Need a POS System?
- Best POS for Electronics & Home Appliance Stores: My Verdict
- Comparison of the Best POS for Electronics & Home Appliance Stores
- The Top 6 Best POS Systems for Electronics & Home Appliance Stores
- Key Features of an Electronics & Home Appliance Store POS System
Why do Electronics & Home Appliance Stores Need a POS System?
There are countless reasons why an electronics and home appliance store should have a POS system, including:
- Quick Checkout: Speed up transactions with barcode scanning and integrated payment options for efficient customer service.
- Inventory Management: Track stock levels for various electronics and appliances, ensuring items are always available when needed.
- Product Variants: Manage different models, sizes, and colours of appliances and electronics within the system.
- Promotions and Discounts: Easily apply discounts, promotions, and loyalty programs to incentivise purchases and retain customers.
- Serial Number Tracking: Monitor individual product serial numbers for warranty, service, and product recall purposes.
- Compatibility Checks: Ensure compatibility between various electronics and appliances, reducing returns and customer dissatisfaction.
- Service and Repair Tracking: Keep records of service requests, repairs, and maintenance for appliances and electronics, enhancing after-sales support.
- Integrated Customer Relationship Management: Maintain customer profiles, purchase history, and preferences for personalised service and targeted marketing campaigns.
- Multi-Channel Integration: Seamlessly integrate online and offline sales channels for consistent inventory management and customer experience.
- Vendor Management: Streamline communication with suppliers and manage orders for timely re-stocking.
Best POS for Electronics & Home Appliance Stores: My Verdict
Casual sellers such as market stall traders and pop-up shops will find Square the most cost-effective POS system. With no contract or monthly fee, you only pay a fixed 1.75% transaction rate for each payment you process. Square prioritises ease of adoption, price transparency and cutting-edge software with their entry-level card reader costing just £19.
For larger businesses turning over 10k monthly or more, it will be worth committing to a longer contract with YumaPOS or Takepayments. This will open up a much lower per-transaction charge, plus additional functionality. Both of these brands offer competitive price points combined with great UK-based hardware support.
Finally, large or multi-chain stores should consider Lightspeed and Epos Now. These systems have superb analytics and reporting functionality and can easily integrate with additional software or handle complex API integrations.
Comparison of the Best POS for Electronics & Home Appliance Stores
| Provider | Price | Our Rating | Trustpilot Rating | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lightspeed | £££££ | ★★★★ (4.5) | ★★★★★ (4.5) | Visit Lightspeed |
| Square | £ | ★★★★ (4) | ★★★ (4.3) | Visit Square |
| Epos Now | ££££ | ★★★★ (3.5) | ★★★★ (4.3) | Visit Epos Now |
| YumaPOS | ££ | ★★★★★ (4) | ★★★★★ (4.5) | Visit YumaPOS |
| Takepayments | £££ | ★★★ (2.5) | ★★★★★ (4.8) | Visit Takepayments |
| Shopify | ££ | ★★★ (3) | ★ (1.2) | Visit Shopify |
The Top 6 Best POS Systems for Electronics & Home Appliance Stores
Lightspeed
Lightspeed’s Retail POS is one of the most comprehensive electronics and home appliance store systems available on the UK market. I would recommend it for larger independent electronics stores (£40k per month turnover minimum) or multi-chain retailers.
Used by businesses such as The Drone Factory and YM Camera, Lightspeed’s omnichannel inventory management solution helps you organise stock, file warranties, oversee orders, manage vendors, and monitor your performance.
Transaction rates are competitive and vary based on your circumstances, including annual card turnover. One caveat is that you must use Lightspeed’s payment processor, Lightspeed payments, which ties you into their transaction fees. You’ll want to discuss this carefully with them at the point of signing up.
Once you start using Lightspeed, however, it’s clear this is a great piece of software with a lot of intuitive functionality.
Save valuable time by quickly adding or updating products using Lightspeed’s item import tool. Restock your stores directly from the ePOS with built-in purchase orders, and accept special order requests for products you don’t have in stock, so you never miss a sales opportunity.
Unlike many POS systems, there are also features designed to help you provide additional services alongside retail. You can quickly provide quotes for electronic repair services, track repair history, manage serial numbers, and deliver consistent experiences across all your locations with multi-store customer profiles.
Although Lightspeed’s eCommerce features aren’t as advanced as other systems, you can integrate them with leading platforms like Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, and Ecwid, meaning they’re ideal to use in conjunction.
Generate detailed reports on product performance, staff productivity, and customer trends to gain actionable insights that drive strategic decisions for your electronics and home appliance store.
To help you make the most of your system, you’ll get one-on-one onboarding sessions, webinars, demos, and unlimited 24/7 customer support.
Lightspeed POS at a Glance
- Accepted Payments: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Maestro, Google Pay and Apple Pay
- Transaction Rate: Based on business type and annual transaction volume
- Key Features: Payments, inventory, supplier management, service notes, staff management, eCommerce, reporting
- Integrations: MailChimp, Xero, Quickbooks, Marsello, Shopify, BigCommerce and more
- Hardware: Bespoke packages, including payment terminals, printers and cash drawers
- Support: Available 24/7 by telephone or web chat.
Price
| Package Type | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Lean Retail POS package | £59 |
| Standard Retail POS package | £79 |
| Advanced Retail POS package | £119 |
| Enterprise Retail POS package | Bespoke |
| Hardware packages | Bespoke |
Pros
✅ Easily add and update products to your inventory, saving time and reducing errors
✅ Identify trends, track popular products and make informed business decisions
✅ Integrate with eCommerce platforms and online marketplaces for omnichannel selling
✅ Provide quotes, store repair history, and maintain records of customer interactions
✅ Personalise your customer’s experience by creating customer profiles
Cons
❌ Small electronics and home appliance stores will be overwhelmed by the features
❌ Must use Lightspeed’s payment processor, which could be more expensive
❌ eCommerce features are not as advanced as other systems
Square
Square for Retail is an excellent entry-level POS system for casual electronics sellers such as market traders and pop-up shops. While they claim it can handle larger businesses, their blended pricing system (every single transaction is charged at a 1.6% fee) means it’s not competitive for larger businesses.
For smaller businesses, however, there’s a lot to recommend it.
Setting up Square is simple and quick, allowing you to start selling in minutes.
From major credit cards to alternative payment methods like Clearpay, you can cater to diverse customer preferences both in-store and online.
The Tap to Pay feature turns your iPhone into a contactless card reader, reducing wait times and improving customer satisfaction.
With intuitive tools, you can easily track stock levels, receive alerts for low inventory, and streamline the reordering process.
Barcode label printing, item bundling, and automatic purchase orders streamline operations and enhance efficiency, allowing you to focus on delivering exceptional customer experiences.
Integrating with Square Online eCommerce lets you build a professional website to showcase your electronics and home appliances and offer convenient features like delivery, in-store pickup, and hassle-free returns and exchanges.
For staff management, Square provides tools for training, role assignment, and time tracking, ensuring smooth operations and security.
Detailed reports offer valuable insights into sales trends, inventory movement, and customer preferences, enabling you to make data-driven decisions and optimise your strategy.
You can seamlessly integrate your favourite 3rd party software, including Easyship, SKU IQ, Magento, DEAR Systems, Xero and QuickBooks.
There are three plans to choose from, depending on your needs.
The Free plan has no monthly subscription fee and operates on a pay-as-you-use basis with an in-person transaction rate of 1.7%.
However, if you want to access advanced inventory management automatic purchase orders and barcode label printing, you’ll need to pay £49 per month per location for the Plus plan.
You’ll also get a discounted in-person transaction rate of 1.6%, although online and manually entered rates remain the same as the Free plan.
Custom rates are available for businesses that process over £200,000 per year on the Premium plan. Using an alternative provider such as Lightspeed or Epos Now would be more cost-effective in this situation.
It’s also worth noting that, unlike systems such as YumaPOS, features such as marketing, gift cards, and advanced eCommerce are add-ons, increasing your monthly costs.
Square for Retail offers flexible hardware, like terminals, registers, card readers, and barcode scanners, to support your expansion as your business grows.
Square POS at a Glance
- Accepted Payments: Visa, Mastercard, Visa Electron, American Express, Maestro, Clearpay, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay and Vpay
- Transaction Rate: Fixed rates for Free and Plus plans, with in-person transaction rates between 1.6% and 1.7%. Custom rates are available for the Premium plan.
- Key Features: Payments, inventory management, supplier management, order management, eCommerce, customer management, staff management, reporting
- Integrations: WooCommerce, Ecwid, SKU IQ, Magento, DEAR Systems, Xero and more
- Hardware: Sold individually, with prices starting at £19 + VAT
- Support: Customer service is available between Monday and Friday, 9 am to 5 pm.
Price
| Plan | Cost |
|---|---|
| Free | £0 + processing fees |
| Plus | £49 per month, per location + processing fees |
| Premium | Bespoke |
| Hardware | From £19 + VAT |
Pros
✅ Track stock levels, receive alerts for low inventory and streamline the reordering process
✅ Accept a wide range of methods, including major credit cards and alternative options like Clearpay
✅ Expand your reach online through Square Online with an online store and fulfilment options like delivery and in-store pickup
✅ See real-time insights into sales performance, inventory turnover and customer trends
✅ Create targeted email campaigns, promote special offers and encourage engagement with Square Marketing.
Cons
❌ Fixed transaction rates for Free and Plus accounts mean you can’t negotiate better rates
❌ Large businesses will find alternative systems more cost-effective
❌ Marketing and gift cards are add-ons, increasing your costs
❌ Free account only has access to basic features.
Epos Now
Epos Now POS is a highly customisable POS system, ideal for medium to large electronics and home appliance businesses. If you’re turning over at least 20k per month, it’s worth shortlisting.
They are a UK-based POS specialist offering everything from entry-level card machines to complex API configurations. They differ from someone like Lightspeed in that they actually produce their own hardware and can service that as part of their packages.
Epos Now do insist you use their payment processor, however, so this is something to bear in mind.
Overall, I like Epos Now’s offerings and features.
Businesses can access their back office from anywhere, ensuring consistent service and streamlined operations.
Epos Now’s innovative inventory management capabilities simplify product management, making stock alerts and visibility across physical and online locations effortless.
You can streamline stock counts with wireless scanners, letting you retrieve product data 5 times faster and conduct stock takes 80% quicker.
They do have a number of third-party integrations (eg Loyalzoo), though less than someone like Lightspeed. Also, some integrations will incur an additional cost.
Integrations with e-commerce platforms such as Shopify, BigCommerce, and WooCommerce help you reach tech-savvy customers where they prefer to shop.
Features like Click & Collect and delivery services offer added convenience, catering to the evolving needs of modern consumers.
With intuitive reporting tools, businesses can monitor sales performance, accurately forecast, and track employee productivity.
Epos Now POS at a Glance
- Accepted Payments: Mastercard, Visa, American Express, Apple Pay and Google Pay
- Transaction Rate: Custom rates based on industry and transaction volume
- Key Features: Payments, inventory, eCommerce, purchase orders, customer management, loyalty schemes, marketing, staff management, reporting
- Integrations: MailChimp, LoyalZoo, BigCommerce, Shopify, WooCommerce and more
- Hardware: Available individually or as part of a bundle
- Support: Telephone support is available 24/7, or access web chat support between 9 am and 6 pm
Price
| Package | Complete Solution | Software Only |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Cost | £325 | N/A |
| Monthly Cost | From £59 | £25 + VAT |
Pros
✅ Speed up stock takes and reduce errors with wireless scanner support
✅ Increase customer loyalty by integrating your system with Loyalzoo
✅ Track performance metrics, identify trends and make data-decision trends with comprehensive sales reporting tools
✅ Easily add, edit and manage product information from any location and device
✅ Improve customer service by offering click & collect and delivery options
Cons
❌ Integrating with 3rd party software may incur an additional cost
❌ Features too advanced for small electronics and home appliance stores
❌ Long contracts of between 2 to 3 years
YumaPOS
Bundling software and hardware into one affordable package, YumaPOS offers the best value for money that I’ve found in any major POS provider. From just £49.99 per month, you can get up and running with no additional hardware costs.
The system is ideal for small to medium-sized stores and has a decent range of features. However, larger shops may feel restricted and should consider alternative systems such as Lightspeed or Epos Now.
For it’s price point, though, it does a lot right.
The fast and secure checkout supports various payment methods, including contactless payments, debit/credit cards, and mobile payments.
You can also choose your payment processor, letting you find the best market rates. Or if YumaPOS organises this for you, their rates are highly competitive.
Yuma POS offers seamless inventory management, which is crucial for electronics and home appliance stores to track a wide range of products with varying specifications and models. Easily update stock levels across multiple channels, manage new product launches, and prevent pricing errors with Yuma’s intuitive system. Receive automated alerts for low-stock items, preventing out-of-stock situations and maximising sales opportunities.
With built-in loyalty apps and points-based rewards, Yuma POS enables electronics and home appliance retailers to create personalised loyalty programs based on customer preferences and purchase history. Engage customers with targeted marketing campaigns and instant notifications, driving repeat business and brand loyalty.
Simplify staff management with Yuma POS by accurately recording employee activities and delegating responsibilities. You can also incentivise staff with loyalty points to improve productivity during peak periods, such as busy shopping seasons.
Stay ahead of the competition with Yuma POS’s real-time inventory insights and over 100 reports, letting you track stock levels, identify popular products, and forecast demand accurately.
Unlike most POS systems, you can’t integrate any 3rd party retail software, which could be inconvenient if you want to manage your business from a centralised location.
With round-the-clock technical support, Yuma POS will assist whenever needed.
Whether troubleshooting technical issues or implementing system updates, businesses can rely on Yuma’s dedicated support team to keep operations running smoothly.
YumaPOS at a Glance
- Accepted Payments: Mastercard, Visa, American Express, Google Pay, Apple Pay
- Transaction Rate: Varies depending on industry and transaction volume
- Key Features: Payments, inventory, purchase orders, marketing, customer management, staff management, reporting
- Integrations: No retail 3rd party integrations
- Hardware: Software and hardware bundles including till, printer and cash drawer for £49.99 per month, with no upfront cost
- Support: Onboarding assistance, 24/7 technical support and ongoing training
Price
- Bundles combining a till, printer, cash drawer and payment system are available from £49.99 per month.
Pros
✅ Track a wide range of products with varying specifications and models
✅ Built-in customer loyalty programme based on customer preferences and purchasing history
✅ Access over 100 data reports to make more informed decisions
✅ 24/7 technical support
✅ Incentivise staff with loyalty points to improve the working environment
✅ Can choose your payment processor
Cons
❌ Limited customisation options for large electronics and home appliance businesses
❌ No 3rd party retail integrations
❌ Requires commitment to an ongoing contract unsuitable for casual sellers.
Takepayments
Takepayments POS (tPOS) is another great mid-level POS system with a lot to recommend it.
With helpful onboarding, and attentive ongoing customer service, I consider this one of the best POS systems for small to medium retailers who need a helpful blend of hardware, software and support.
Whilst there is support for multi-location stores, large businesses may find the features too basic and should look at alternative systems such as Epos Now and Lightspeed.
As a good all-round system, there’s a lot I like about it.
Payment processing is integrated, enabling seamless transactions for customers purchasing high-value electronics or appliances.
Inventory management features let you easily create and update product listings, including detailed descriptions and specifications for electronics and appliances.
tPOS offers flexible pricing options, such as promotional discounts or split payments for large purchases, to give you greater flexibility in providing your customers with convenient and enticing options.
Track sales trends for popular products, monitor stock levels for fast-moving items and evaluate employee performance in real-time to make informed decisions and meet customer demand effectively.
In terms of hardware, you can choose from the tablet-sized tPOS Counter for £45 + VAT per month or the more comprehensive tPOS system for £55 per month + VAT.
Each plan also includes a portable card reader, and you must make an upfront payment of £250.
tPOS at a Glance
- Accepted Payments: Mastercard, Visa, Maestro, American Express, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and Google Pay
- Transaction Rate: Depends on the industry and your transaction volume
- Key Features: Payments, inventory, cash management, supplier management, employee management, customer management, data insights
- Integrations: No 3rd party retail integrations
- Hardware: Choice of countertop and portable devices, plus accessories
- Support: Available seven days a week by phone.
Price
| Initial Setup | Monthly Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| tPOS Counter | £250 + VAT | £45 + VAT |
| tPOS Complete | £250 + VAT | £55 + VAT |
Pros
✅ Supports flexible payment strategies, including promotional discounts and split payments
✅ Track sales trends, monitor stock levels and evaluate employee performances in real time
✅ No long-term commitment, with contracts starting from 30 days
✅ Cash management features, including end-of-day reconciliation
✅ Access your funds quickly with the next working day settlement
Cons
❌ No 3rd party integrations
❌ Must use Takepayment’s payment processor
❌ Too basic for large electronics and home appliance shops
❌ No inbuilt marketing tools
Shopify POS
Shopify is expanding rapidly into the POS market with the goal of bringing its customer-centric software experience into the payments sector. They offer a range of smart integrated POS terminals and card readers which are easily linked with existing Shopify stores and can bring a more omnichannel experience to an existing online seller.
You’d need to be on their £69 a month retail package to even consider this as the £5 per month charges a huge 5% transaction fee on each sale! At the £69 per month package this comes down to 2% + 25p GBP online or 1.7% + 0p GBP in person which still makes it more expensive than many solutions.
However, if you’re prepared to live with those numbers, it has some great features, as you’d expect
Fulfilment options, including local pickup, “buy in-store, deliver to the customer”, “buy online, exchange and return in-store”, and local delivery, give customers greater flexibility and convenience.
Shopify’s smart inventory management system includes real-time updates for every sales channel to reduce the risk of overstocking or running out of high-demand items.
Turn your iOS device into a barcode scanner to speed up stock counts and minimise additional hardware purchases.
Add variants of products and create collections to organise your stock by type, promotions or compatibility.
You can also create purchase orders and see suggestions on which items you should put on discount to release cash.
Another key feature helps you improve customer experience by creating profiles based on contact information, purchase history, and marketing preferences.
Increase your business’s reach by sending your customers email newsletters or reminders to review your electronics and home appliance store on Google,
Access one of the many reporting and analytics features available for more informed decisions, including product, cash flow and discount reports.
Shopify offers a range of plans, starting at £5 per month for the Starter plan and increasing up to £344 per month for the Advanced Plan. As expected, the more you pay for your plan, the better your transaction rates and benefits.
Unlike other POS systems, even the Advanced plan, aimed at large businesses, has a fixed transaction rate, which stops you from negotiating better rates based on your transaction volume.
In comparison, Lightspeed and Epos Now’s Advanced plans have a lower monthly fee yet offer more comprehensive features for large, multi-location businesses.
Shopify POS at a Glance
- Accepted Payments: Mastercard, Visa, American Express, Apple Pay and Google Pay
- Transaction Rate: Fixed rate that varies depending on the plan.
- Key Features: Payments, inventory, purchase orders, order notes, eCommerce, customer management, marketing, staff management, and data insights.
- Integrations: Marsello, Zapiet, Mailchimp, Zapier, Klaviyo, DHL eCommerce, QuickBooks, Xero and more.
- Hardware: A range of options, including POS devices, card readers and barcode scanners
- Support: 24/7 assistance by e-mail, telephone and live web chat.
Price
| Plan | Monthly Cost | POS Location Cost | In-Person Credit Cards | Online Credit Cards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | £5 | Included (1 POS Lite) | 5% | 5% + £0.25 |
| Basic | £25 | £69 per POS Pro | 1.7% | 2% + £0.25 |
| Shopify | £65 | £69 per POS Pro | 1.6% | 1.7% + £0.25 |
| Retail | £69 | Included (1 POS Pro) | 1.7% | 2% + £0.25 |
| Advanced | £344 | £69 per POS Pro | 1.5% | 1.5% + £0.25 |
Pros
✅ Manage inventory across multiple sales channels in real-time
✅ Generate reports to give you insight into cash flow, discounts, products and retail sales
✅ Use your iOS device as a barcode scanner to speed up stock counts
✅ Reward customer loyalty with exclusive benefits and discounts
✅ Remind your customers to leave product reviews to expand your reach
Cons
❌ Need a POS Pro account to access more advanced features
❌ Fixed transaction rate for even the Advanced plan
❌ Features are too limited for large electronics and home appliance stores
❌ Previous customers have rated Shopify 1.5 out of 5 on Trustpilot
Key Features of an Electronics & Home Appliance Store POS System
Feel overwhelmed by the endless number of features POS systems seem to have?
The table below shows some of the key features to look for in your electronics & home appliance store POS system:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Inventory Management | Track stock levels, variations, and product specifications. |
| Serial Number Tracking | Monitor individual product serial numbers for warranty and service purposes. |
| Sales Reporting | Generate reports on sales performance, top-selling items, and trends. |
| Integrated CRM | Manage customer profiles, purchase history, and preferences for personalised service. |
| Multi-Channel Integration | Seamlessly synchronises online and offline sales channels for consistent inventory management. |
| Barcode Scanning | Speed up checkout processes and improve accuracy with barcode scanning capabilities. |
| Promotions and Discounts | Apply discounts, promotions, and loyalty programs to incentivise purchases. |
| Vendor Management | Streamline communication with suppliers and manage orders for timely replenishment. |
| Employee Management | Assign roles, track performance, and manage schedules efficiently. |
| Service and Repair Tracking | Record service requests, repairs, and maintenance for after-sales support. |
| Compatibility Checks | Ensure compatibility between products to reduce returns and customer dissatisfaction. |
| Integration with Accounting Software | Seamlessly synchronises sales data with accounting systems for accurate financial reporting. |
| Return and Exchange Management | Streamline handling returns, exchanges, and refunds while maintaining accurate records. |
