Takeaway EPOS system in the UK: what to check before you buy
An EPOS system is where orders, payments and reports come together. A good one speeds up the kitchen and shows you what sells. A poor one locks you into a contract and a screen your staff hate. Use this checklist before you sign.
The must-haves
- Fast order entry: big category buttons and quick-tap top sellers, so a phone order takes seconds
- Phone, collection, delivery and online orders in one place
- Kitchen printing or a kitchen screen with clear modifiers
- Daily and weekly reports: sales by item, by order type and by hour
- Offline resilience: what happens when the internet drops?
Ask these questions
- Is there a minimum contract term, and what does it cost to leave?
- Who owns the hardware, and can you use it if you leave?
- Which delivery apps, if any, can send orders into the system? Ask for a demo, not a promise.
- Can you export your own menu and customer data?
- Who do you call when it breaks on a Friday night, and how fast do they answer?
- Are card payment fees separate?
Why customer data matters
Your EPOS and ordering website can hold the details of customers who order direct. Used properly, with consent, that list is the basis for texts and offers. See our guide to takeaway SMS marketing and the rules.
What it costs
Prices vary widely, especially once hardware and card terminals are involved. Our EPOS starts from £10 a week, and the EPOS plus ordering website bundle is £30 a week. You can see a touch-screen layout from our Lalas work in the examples. All prices are on the pricing page.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an EPOS if I use delivery apps?
Apps send orders to their own tablet. An EPOS brings phone, collection and direct orders together and gives you reports, which is useful if you take orders from more than one place.
Can an EPOS take phone orders from a call answering service?
The call handler sends the order to you, and you or your staff enter it, or it can be matched to how you work. Ask us how it would run for your shop.
What is the difference between EPOS and a till?
A till records sales. An EPOS also manages orders by type, prints to the kitchen, and produces reports.