Guide
Updated 13 November 2026
POS system for restaurants in the UK: what it is, what it costs, what to buy
By Arslan Munir
Updated 13 Nov 2026.
In short: a restaurant POS (point of sale) system is the till your staff use to ring up orders, take payment, print kitchen tickets and total the day's sales. In the UK it is often called an EPOS system. Published UK prices run from a £0 software plan to about £49 a month for a software bundle and £249 upfront plus £45 a month for a tablet bundle, with card fees on top. A POS does not bring in orders by itself, so most restaurants pair it with online ordering. Chefzi is ordering first, with a browser till on the Pro plan (in beta).
What a restaurant POS system does
| Job | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Take orders | Counter, table and phone orders, with sizes, extras and notes |
| Take payment | Cash, and card through a card terminal; split bills |
| Kitchen | Prints tickets or drives a kitchen screen |
| Records | Sales by item, payment type and VAT rate, plus an end-of-day report |
| Cash control | Cash drawer, tills opened and closed, Z reports |
What UK restaurant POS systems cost
Prices as each provider published them (ServeMate and Square read 12 November 2026; the others as published in November 2026). They change often and exclude card fees unless stated, so check each source. For a takeaway specifically, see our takeaway EPOS system page.
| Provider | Published price | Hardware |
|---|---|---|
| Square Online | £0 plan; Plus £69 a month after a 30-day trial; 1.4% + 25p on UK cards online | Not stated |
| ServeMate | £49 a month per shop: till, 0% commission online ordering, kiosk, loyalty; cards through Dojo only | Not stated |
| CubePOS | £49 a month | Your own iPad |
| Ezeepos | £249 upfront plus £45 a month | Tablet bundle supplied; card fee from 0.95% |
| Posso | From £499 + VAT hardware; software from £25 + VAT a month | Supplied |
| Chefzi Pro | £49 a month (£39 billed annually), ex VAT, per location; includes the browser till, loyalty and a branded Android app | None supplied; the POS is in beta; card sales go through your own terminal |
What to check before you buy
- The total monthly cost, including hardware, card rates and any extra till or kitchen screen.
- Card lock-in. Some bundles only work with one card provider.
- Contract term and notice. Ask in writing.
- Kitchen printing. Check your printers work with it, and what happens when the internet drops.
- Online ordering. Is it built in, or a separate product with its own fees? A till does not take an order from someone who is not in the shop.
- VAT and Z reports your accountant needs.
- Support hours, especially on a Friday night.
Where Chefzi fits, and where it does not
Chefzi started as online ordering for independent restaurants and takeaways, with 0% commission. The Chefzi POS is a browser till on the Pro plan: kitchen display, split bills, cash drawer and Z reports. It is in beta, runs on devices you already own, and counter card sales go through your own external card terminal and are recorded on the till. Chefzi does not sell hardware or kiosks. If you need a hardware bundle, a card terminal that talks to the till, or a kiosk, a till-first provider will suit you better. If you need direct online orders without paying commission, start with online ordering and add the till later. See the Chefzi till, takeaway EPOS compared and till or online ordering first.
Sources
- ServeMate pricing: https://www.servemate.co.uk/pricing (read 12 Nov 2026)
- Square Online: https://squareup.com/gb/en/online-store (read 12 Nov 2026)
- Posso, CubePOS and Ezeepos pricing pages, as published in November 2026 and used on Chefzi takeaway EPOS comparison
- Chefzi facts: https://chefzi.co.uk/chefzi-facts (read 13 Nov 2026)
Questions
What is a restaurant POS system?
It is the till system staff use to take orders and payment, print kitchen tickets and total the day's sales. In the UK it is often called an EPOS system. It runs on a tablet, till or computer, usually with a receipt printer and a card terminal.
How much does a POS system for a restaurant cost in the UK?
Published prices run from a £0 software plan to about £49 a month for software bundles, and from £249 upfront plus £45 a month for tablet bundles, before card fees (read November 2026). Chefzi's till is on Pro at £49 a month (£39 billed annually), ex VAT.
Do I need a POS system if I have online ordering?
Not always. Online ordering takes orders from customers, while a POS rings up walk-ins and phone orders and records cash. If most orders come online, start there. Add a till when handwritten tickets, cash-ups or several staff taking orders become the problem.
What is the difference between POS and EPOS?
In UK restaurants they mean the same thing. EPOS stands for electronic point of sale. Sellers use POS and EPOS interchangeably for the till system that takes orders and payment.
Is the Chefzi POS a full EPOS system?
No, not yet. It is a browser till in beta on the Pro plan, with kitchen display, split bills, cash drawer and Z reports. It supplies no hardware and does not connect to card terminals, so counter card sales go through your own terminal.
Can I try Chefzi before paying?
Yes. The first month is free on every plan, with no credit card needed. Plans are month to month with no contract, and support is available 24/7.