What is a Cash Register?
Cash Register is a device that helps keep track of money and sales in your business. It simply keeps track of transactions and the money going in and out. Traditionally, it was a single device with a drawer to store cash, a screen to display calculations, and a keypad to enter the transaction data. Occasionally, a receipt printer would be attached to record customer transactions.
Nowadays, the concept of an isolated cash register is not as popular. A lot of businesses prefer modern POS systems with a wider range of functions, including inventory management, customer relationship management (CRM), and detailed sales reporting. These POS systems already have an in-built cash register that keeps a record of the transactions, in addition to the advanced functions mentioned.
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Types of Cash Register
Different types of cash registers have unique features to offer, which ultimately affects their price ranges.
Electronic Cash Register:
The electronic cash register is the most advanced form of the traditional cash register. You can think of an electronic cash register as a large-scale calculator, which reduces the probability of mistakes and miscalculations if you enter the data manually.
Modern POS Cash Registers:
A POS system is a comprehensive tool for businesses to manage sales transactions, including cash and credit card transactions. The hardware of a POS system consists of a POS terminal (computer, tablet, or smartphone) and a cash drawer, which performs the function of a traditional cash register.
You can expect the following integrated features from a modern POS system.
- Inventory management.
- Customer relationship management (CRM).
- Sales reporting and analytics.
- Integration with third-party applications.
- Employee management.
- Enhanced security features.
Cost of Electronic Cash Register
In the UK, you can expect to pay anywhere between £200 for a basic model to £2,500+ for more advanced models. We have divided the cash registers into three categories: starters, mid-level, and advanced. Let’s take a look at each of their price range with examples.
1. Cash-registers for starters
Price range: £200-£600
These entry-level cash registers are best suited for startups, and new or small businesses because they retail at low prices with all the basic features you need to get started.
Casio SEG1 RED CASH REGISTER TILL
This cash register is small and compact and retails for £200 with the following features:
- 3 payment methods on the machine( cash, charge, check).
- 1000 price lookups.
- Thermal receipt printer.
- Cash drawer.
2. Mid-level cash registers
Price range: £300-£600
These mid-level cash registers are best suited for small businesses with a few staff. Compared to the basic cash registers, you get a few more features and additional hardware with the device.
Sam4s NR520R
This cash register retails for £315 and has the following features:
- More than 6,000 PLUs.
- 99 group totals.
- Table management features
- Mix & match and sales options (for example, buy 1 get 1 free)
- Quick help display function.
- Automatic tax calculation.
- Different payment options with buttons.
- Training mode (for staff).
- Cancel sale function.
3. Advanced cash registers
Price range: £1000-£2500+
These advanced cash registers are best suited for SMEs and large businesses that require a comprehensive system for their checkout. Yes, the price is not cheap but you get all the features that are worth your money.
Sam4s Titan S560 Touch Screen Terminal
This complete cash register retails for only £2700. You get a complete system with a touchscreen terminal, cash drawer, thermal printer, orbit barcode scanner, and magnetic card reader with the NCC Reflection POS Software License.
Features That Impact the Cost of Cash Registers
The cost mainly varies depending on the availability of different features, such as :
Number of departments and PLUs (or SKUs)
The number of departments and SKUs (stock-keeping units) or PLUs (price lookup codes) in an electronic cash register can have a big impact on its price. Basic models that support a limited number of SKUs/PLUs are cheaper, while more advanced ones that can handle more categories and PLUs are expensive.
- What are these ‘departments’?
Departments are the categories for the items you sell. For example, in a grocery store, you have departments like “Fruits,” “Vegetables,” “Dairy,” and “Bakery.” A basic cash register can handle only a few categories, which is fine for small businesses.
However, if you have a larger store with more product categories, you’d need a more advanced model for this, which will be expensive. - What are PLUs (Price Look-Up Units)?
PLUs are the codes given to each product to search for its price in the system.
For example, in a grocery store, each type of mango might have its own PLU code. Basic cash registers can store a limited number of these codes, which is okay for a small business. But if you have a large variety of products, you’ll need a higher-end cash register that can store many more PLU codes.
Additional hardware equipment
The type and number of pieces of hardware make a big difference in the price.
For example, a touch display is more expensive than a basic button display because of the advanced technology. Plus, if you start adding more devices like barcode scanners, receipt printers, customer displays, and payment terminals, your costs will go up quickly.
Advanced features
Then there are the advanced features to consider. Some basic models don’t incorporate these features, hence they are less pricey. But you should expect to pay more if you want these features in your electronic cash register:
- Sales analytics.
- Inventory management.
- Customer relationship management (CRM).
- Employee management.
- Cloud connectivity.
3 Tips to Save on Your Money When Getting a Cash Register:
Here are three ways to save money when getting a cash register.
1. Rent Or Lease
If buying a cash register seems too expensive, you can rent or lease one instead. There are a lot of companies and services that provide POS systems and cash registers for rent. However, keep in mind that renting it has its pros and cons.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
If anything breaks and it’s not your fault, the company you rented from will fix it for free. |
Renting can end up costing more over time than buying outright. |
|
You can rent for as much time as you like, so it’s all up to what you need. |
At the end of the day, your business does not own a cash register. |
2. Buy Used Or Secondhand
Another way to save is to buy a cash register that someone else is selling. This could be from a business that’s upgrading or from a company that fixes up and sells used cash registers or POS systems.
3. Shop Around For Quotes
The market is competitive, so don’t be shy about comparing prices and asking for a better deal. You can also contact ComparedBusiness and we’ll get you a quote for cash registers from top providers. It will just take you 2 minutes.
Cash Registers vs POS Systems
We recommend going for a modern POS cash register instead of an electronic one. Even if you’re just a small business, modern POS can be a long-term investment.
If you want to expand your business in the future, you would have to buy a whole new setup because basic models of electronic cash registers are not scalable.
On the other hand, advanced models of electric cash registers can be costly, instead, going for a POS cash register can be a cost-effective option.
You will get advanced POS options like inventory management, detailed sales reporting, and customer relationship management (CRM) with a modern POS system. Additionally, modern POS systems allow your business to grow without outgrowing your cash register.
While the initial investment might be a bit higher, the long-term benefits make choosing a modern POS system worthwhile for any business, regardless of its size or budget.
Get Top Cash Registers Quotes with ComparedBusiness
We at ComparedBusiness are experts in saving your time and money. Just submit your requirements in less than 2-mins and ComparedBusiness will get back to you with quotes from a list of POS system & cash register providers. You can pick and choose the best option for your business.
FAQs
An electronic cash register performs basic transactions, calculates change and total amount, and holds cash in a drawer. On the other hand, POS systems do much more than keeping track of transactions. POS systems manage sales, inventory, customer data, and much more.
No, modern POS systems include an in-built cash register function. They allow you to handle transactions, store cash, and also process card payments. Plus, you get advanced features like CRM, sales management, and many more that a cash register alone doesn’t have.
Yes, some cash registers allow you to disable the receipt printer function if you don’t need it. If your business doesn’t rely on physical receipts you can always disable it and use digital options for sending receipts to your customers.
Renting can be a great option if you’re just starting or need a cash register for a short time. It allows you to test different models which includes maintenance. However, buying is often more cost-effective in the long run, especially if you plan to use the device for years.
