Empowering Your Retail Success With Shopify POS Hardware
By Sam Nguyen
Selecting the appropriate hardware is crucial when opening a retail store. This article will help you decide which Shopify POS hardware you’ll need to run your brick-and-mortar business.
Key Takeaways
- Shopify Hardware Store offers every hardware component you need to set up and start selling in-person. All products are designed to enhance the point-of-sale experience and streamline retail operations.
- Retailers can customize their Shopify POS hardware setup based on their business needs, considering budget, store size, location, and mobility requirements.
What Shopify POS Hardware Do Retailers Need To Run Their Physical Stores?
Retail stores typically require a set of essential POS hardware to process transactions effectively. Here are the key Shopify POS hardware components commonly used in a brick-and-mortar store:
A Device with Shopify POS App Installed
The Shopify POS app is compatible with Android and iOS devices, allowing you to use any tablet, smartphone, iPhone, or iPad as a POS terminal. You can install Shopify POS App on these devices to search for products, access customer profiles, process transactions, manage inventory, and more.
Tablets and iPads offer the advantage of a larger screen, making tasks like product lookup, inventory checks, and customer profile management easier. They are particularly well-suited for use in physical retail stores, providing a more sleek and efficient experience.
On the other hand, smartphones and iPhones are smaller and more portable, making them ideal for selling at events or pop-up shops where mobility and quick payment processing are crucial.
Tablet stand
If you choose to use tablets and iPads as your checkout devices, it is essential to have a stand that securely holds them in place. These stands offer stability and convenience for store staff, ensuring that the devices are easily accessible during transactions. Additionally, these stands contribute to maintaining a professional and organized checkout counter.
It is worth mentioning that some States in the US have specific laws that require merchants to have a POS system with a customer-facing display. Specific tablet stands are designed to swivel the screen to face the customer, enabling customers to review their purchases, verify the transaction details, and even sign for their transactions if needed.
Card Reader
As cashless payments continue to gain popularity, credit and debit cards have become the preferred payment method for many customers. In light of this trend, having a card reader is essential for your store. Depending on your setup, it can either be a standalone device or integrated into your POS terminal.
When choosing a card reader, selecting one that supports the necessary payment methods is important. Look for a card reader that can handle chip-and-PIN transactions, contactless payments, and magnetic stripe cards. This ensures that you can accept a wide range of payment options, providing convenience to your customers and maximizing sales opportunities.
Barcode Scanner
A barcode scanner is an essential tool for retail businesses to quickly and accurately scan product barcodes for pricing and inventory count instead of manually searching for products in your POS system and adding them to a customer’s cart.
It significantly streamlines point-of-sale operations, ensures faster transactions, reduces errors, and ultimately contributes to a more efficient and satisfying customer shopping experience.
Receipt Printer
A receipt printer generates printed receipts for customers after a transaction is completed. These receipts provide a record of the purchase and can be essential for returns, exchanges, or accounting purposes. They contain information such as items purchased, product prices, tax amounts, and when and where the transaction took place and can be customized to suit the brand’s identity.
Receipt printers can be thermal or impact-based, with thermal printers being the most common choice due to their cost-effectiveness and ease of use.
Cash Drawer
A cash drawer serves as a secure storage space for cash, coins, and other forms of payment (like vouchers) for merchants who accept cash as a payment method.
Point-of-sale systems like Shopify POS also come with cash tracking sessions, which help you monitor your daily cash transactions and balance your cash drawer faster.
Cash drawers integrated with point-of-sale systems like Shopify POS offer cash tracking sessions, enabling merchants to monitor their daily cash transactions effectively and balance their cash drawers faster.
You may not need every item of POS hardware listed above initially to begin selling in person,
The specific hardware needs may vary depending on the retail store’s size, nature, and complexity. When selecting POS hardware for your retail store, it’s crucial to consider compatibility with your Shopify POS software, scalability, ease of use, and overall cost-effectiveness.
Where To Buy Shopify POS Hardware?
The Shopify Hardware Store is a one-stop destination for Shopify merchants seeking hardware for their brick-and-mortar stores. It offers a comprehensive selection of key hardware accessories necessary to kickstart in-person selling.
All products available at the Shopify Hardware Store are designed by Shopify or sourced from trusted manufacturers worldwide, ensuring full compatibility with Shopify POS. Additionally, these products come with an attractive warranty:
- The 30-day return policy applies to all products
- Shopify’s first-party products include a standard 1-year warranty. Businesses with the POS Pro Subscription get an extended 2-year warranty.
- Products from other manufacturers will have a limited manufacturer warranty.
The Shopify Hardware Store is accessible in various countries, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
If your country is not on the list, you can buy POS hardware from a third-party provider. In this case, refer to the Shopify POS supported hardware page for the specific model numbers of devices that are compatible with the Shopify POS system.
Some third-party hardware can be found in local marketplaces or online stores like Amazon, Staples, or eBay. However, please note that if you buy third-party hardware from outside the Shopify Hardware Store, it will not be covered by Shopify’s warranty and return policy.
For merchants based in the US or Canada who want to sell at pop-up events, there’s an option to rent hardware via Shopify’s hardware rental program. It provides the advantage of paying only for the duration of use, offering a cost-effective solution for temporary selling.
Two Things To Consider Before Choosing Shopify POS Hardware
Before we jump into the cost of the Shopify POS Hardware, it’s important to ask yourself basic questions to choose the right hardware for your business:
- Where are you selling?
If you’re selling in-store and prefer a traditional cash wrap counter setup, you will need the following hardware and accessories: a tablet, tablet stand, card reader, cash drawer, as well as receipt and barcode printer. These components provide a comprehensive point-of-sale solution for your brick-and-mortar store, enabling efficient transactions and organized cash management.
If you run a pop-up shop or a small booth at a craft fair, a smartphone or tablet, and a card reader will be fine. This setup allows you to accept payments on the go and provide a seamless checkout experience for your customers.
- How big is your store and how many locations do you have?
If you have a small store or a single location, a checkout booth includes a tablet, tablet stand, card reader, receipt printer, barcode scanner, barcode printer, and a cash drawer will typically suffice. As your business expands and your needs grow, consider adding mobile checkout devices.
If you have multiple permanent locations or registers within the same place, you will need to replicate the same set of equipment mentioned above for each checkout station.
Once you have determined the hardware needed to make transactions in person, you can better understand the total cost involved.
How Much Does Shopify POS Hardware Cost?
Mobile Devices
The cost of mobile devices varies based on several factors such as the operating system (iOS or Android), the type of device (tablet or smartphone), and the specific model you choose.
For iPads, prices typically range from $429 to $1,599, while Android tablets can vary from $80 to over $2,000. On the other hand, iPhones can have a price of between $429 and $999, and Android smartphones can range from $49 to $1,000.
Tablet Stands
To accommodate your tablet, you will need a tablet stand compatible with its size. On the Shopify Hardware Store, Shopify offers iPad stands designed explicitly for their tablets, priced at $219.
Card Readers
Card readers are among the most budget-friendly POS hardware accessories available at Shopify’s Hardware Store, with prices are $39 and $49 for two different types.
Barcode Readers
Barcode scanners at Shopify’s Hardware Store are available at prices ranging from $229 to $329, depending on whether you opt for a 1D or 2D scanner.
Receipt Printers
Receipt printers at Shopify’s Hardware Store come in various options, including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or wired connectivity. The prices for receipt printers range from $299 to $369, allowing you to choose the printer that best fits your connectivity preferences and requirements.
Cash Drawers
When purchasing a cash drawer from Shopify’s Hardware Store, you can expect prices ranging from $139 to $159.
Five Tips To Save Your Shopify POS Hardware Cost
Rent instead of Buy
Consider renting the necessary hardware instead of purchasing it outright. Shopify offers a hardware rental program that allows you to pay for a card reader, an iPad, or an entire POS hardware bundle only for the duration you need it, starting at $9 /day. This option can be cost-effective, especially for temporary or seasonal selling events.
There’s a considerable upfront charge for using their products for just one day; the costs only increase slightly when adding more days to the rental period. If you plan on renting Shopify’s hardware, taking advantage of the cheaper extended time is recommended to get more value for your money.
Take Advantage Of The Mobile POS’s Flexibility
By adopting a mobile POS system, you can eliminate the need for a traditional cash wrap counter and avoid the expenses of purchasing additional hardware such as a cash drawer, tablet stand, and barcode scanner. With Shopify POS, you can leverage your smartphone’s camera to scan products at checkout or conveniently do inventory counts.
Despite eliminating these extra components, you can still effortlessly accept payments. With mobile payment capabilities, you can take various contactless payments, such as tap-to-pay or mobile wallet transactions, providing a faster and more convenient payment process and ensuring a seamless customer checkout experience.
Look For An All-in-one Solution Like Shopify POS Go
This comprehensive system combines the functionality of multiple hardware components into a single device, including a mobile device, a barcode scanner, and a card reader, reducing your setup’s overall cost and complexity.
By choosing Shopify POS Go as your point-of-sale device, you can save hundreds of dollars while still having access to the full suite of Shopify POS features. It can benefit small businesses or entrepreneurs looking to keep costs low while offering a professional and streamlined checkout experience.
However, it’s worth noting that the Shopify POS Go is only available (for sale and rent) to merchants who have subscribed to Shopify POS Pro based in the US and Canada.
Leverage Online Receipt
Instead of relying solely on printed receipts, it’s recommended to encourage customers to opt for digital or email receipts. This eliminates the need for additional receipt printing hardware and reduces paper waste.
Shopify POS offers the option to send receipts electronically, providing a convenient and cost-effective alternative to traditional receipts. Additionally, by sending email receipts, store owners can collect customer emails for future promotions.
Encourage Cashless Payment
Another tip to save costs when selecting Shopify POS hardware is to adopt cashless payment. By encouraging customers to pay using credit cards, mobile payment apps, or contactless payment options, you can streamline your checkout process and minimize the need for cash-related hardware, such as cash drawers.
Every transaction will be recorded electronically, providing accurate and detailed sales data. This data can be easily integrated into your financial systems, allowing efficient finance control.
Shopify POS Hardware: FAQs
Bottom Line
Prioritizing your unique business needs is crucial when choosing the right Shopify POS hardware setup. Taking the time to evaluate your requirements and preferences carefully will ensure that you select the hardware components that best align with your operations and goals.
