How much does a cash register cost?
An automatic cash register is undoubtedly the most essential piece of equipment for anyone selling their products in a store. However, the great paradox is that very few retailers have even a rough idea of the price of cash registers.
The great diversity of models, and even types of model, available indicates from the outset that cash register prices can be wide-ranging.
It is also true that the price of a cash register alone is insufficient to fully determine the total cost of purchasing a cash register given the number of accessories and peripherals that must be added to create a full cash register solution.
So, what are the prices of cash registers by type today? What budget will you need to cover the various accessories and what are the prices of the various packages available for a complete point of sale terminal?
Cash register prices by type
Much more modern and with many more features, digital or alphanumeric cash registers are a more attractive choice than "traditional" cash registers. But naturally, these benefits do not come for free and the price difference may be significant.
The cost of digital and alphanumeric cash registers
Digital and alphanumeric cash registers are models that are now considered "traditional".
They are basic models that function without software and do not provide commercial management functions.
Remember that the second differs from the first in the number of its features, buttons and programming possibilities including the number of item prices that can be stored and the automatic calculation of various taxes.
The purchase price of cash registers in these two categories is very accessible even for new machines:
- from 85 GBP for the most basic digital models,
- around 600 GBP for the most advanced alphanumeric models.
The second-hand market offers fully operational models for half these amounts and sometimes even less.
Solutions exist in cash register rental for a monthly cost that is higher for shorter commitment periods.
The cost of touch screen cash registers
Touch screen cash registers provide greater convenience than digital models and several features that depend on the software installed.
They are the first point of sale solutions whose operation is based on software, which means commercial management functions can be added, from simple payment collection to a daily statement.
Purchasing this type of cash register logically costs quite a bit more.
It is difficult to find a model for less than 650 GBP and most fall into a price bracket of 850 to 1,300 GBP and up to 2,500 GBP for the most advanced models.
On the second-hand market, prices are more affordable, starting at around 250 GBP.
Given the price of the equipment, rental solutions, even from 50 GBP per month, may begin to look very attractive.
The cost of complete point of sale terminals
While many merchants may feel that these rates are within their budget, they are far from realising the total cost represented by a full point of sale terminal.
Indeed, many accessories must be added to the cash register itself, according to requirements. So-called modular cash registers or (more or less) "all-inclusive" packs allow some savings on the total cost of the cash register solution to be made.
Essential and recommended accessories
A cash register alone is rarely a complete checkout system, especially which it comes to modern points of sale that are generally sold as kits. The price of the various accessories must, therefore, be added to the overall checkout solution budget.
Some accessories are essential if they are not integrated into the cash register:
- A receipt printer, which rarely costs less than 120 GBP,
- A cash drawer, for more than 50 GBP,
- A fixed or handheld barcode reader, costing at least 65 GBP.
Other peripherals are highly recommended or even essential depending on the retailer's activity:
- An electronic point of sale for accepting card payments costing at least 345 GBP but often leased by the merchant's bank,
- Cash register scales, which usually cost around 170 GBP,
- Cash register software updated with the 2018 legal provisions for the most recent models, for which the price varies between 170 and 500 GBP.
Modular and integrated solutions
"Modular" or "integrated" cash registers bring together some of the elements of a modern point of sale terminal but not all.
In reality, a modular solution is a bit like an "all-in-one" personal computer with a keyboard and a CPU with an integrated screen, considered the first building block for a customised "kit".
The most basic models rarely cost less than 500 GBP but have no other peripherals.
You will, therefore, have to add various key peripherals such as the printer, barcode reader, drawer, bank card reader and even the software.
Some complete solutions are available from 1,700 GBP.
All-inclusive packs
All-inclusive packs are complete points of sale terminals that are not necessarily based on a modular solution and do not always have a CPU integrated into the screen.
The first packs that can more or less legitimately claim to be "all-inclusive" (including at least a CPU, screen, software programme, barcode scanner and printer) can be purchased for a little over 850 GBP.
Rental, therefore, seems to be the best solution, especially for the equipment offered by newcomers to the market that transforms a simple tablet device into a cash register.
Renting traditional equipment generally costs more than 60 GBP per month compared to less than 17 GBP per month for software-based solutions with a bank card reader connected to an iPad.
The prices given in this article are for information purposes only to give you an idea of the average budget required for a cash register terminal. You can request several personalised quotes from our specialist service providers.
