How to choose a POS for a small food shop in the Philippines

1. What will I really pay?

• Ask about the monthly price, fees per device, a cut of each sale, hardware you must buy, and setup fees.
• Ember POS: Free for 30 days with no card needed, then ₱599 a month or ₱5,990 a year per branch. No fee per device and no cut of your sales. It runs on a normal Android phone or tablet, or any browser.

2. Does it keep selling without internet?

• Brownouts happen. Ask what still works when the connection drops.
• Ember POS: the Android app keeps selling, printing receipts and signing staff in, and syncs when the internet returns.

3. Does it handle GCash and Maya properly?

• Ask whether it records the reference number and helps you find missing e-wallet money.
• Ember POS: yes, and it matches your GCash or Maya statement to your sales.

4. Does stock go down by itself?

• A POS that only counts sales leaves you counting ingredients by hand. Ask whether recipes take stock out as you sell, including sizes and add-ons.
• Ember POS: yes, with costed recipes, delivery counting, waste and a shopping list.

5. Can I control what staff do?

• Ask whether each person has their own sign-in, and whether voids, refunds and discounts are logged with a name.
• Ember POS: yes, with a time clock and payroll that fills SSS, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG.

6. What about the BIR?

• If your shop needs a BIR-accredited POS, ask the provider for its accreditation and check with your accountant.
• Ember POS: Ember POS is not a BIR-accredited cash register or POS. Many small shops use it to run the shop and keep their BIR-registered receipt booklet; ask your accountant what your registration needs. It does work out estimates of your quarterly returns and prints your books of accounts for your accountant.

7. Can I try it first, and who sets it up?

Ember POS: a full live demo at emberpos.net/demo, a free 30-day trial, and we set up your menu for free.

Questions

What is the cheapest way to start with Ember POS?
Use a phone or tablet you already own and the free 30-day trial. No card is needed to start.

Where can I see it working?
At emberpos.net/demo, a sample café with a year of sales, in your own browser.

See it working The live demo is the whole app with a sample café already in it. It runs in your own browser, so you cannot break anything. Get it on Google Play Free for 30 days with no card needed, then ₱599 a month or ₱5,990 a year per branch. No fee per device and no cut of your sales. More guides Cafés, milk tea, restaurants, bakeries, utang, GCash and Maya, stock, payroll, BIR, QR ordering, and how to choose a POS.