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Holly Ocasio Rizzo

Guide to Cash Registers

Cha-ching! Keep the money coming in with the right cash register

By Holly Ocasio Rizzo, Writer and editor, Holly Ocasio Rizzo

Cash registers have been the workhorses of retail since they were invented in 1879 by a tavern owner who wanted to keep his employees' hands out of the till. Cash registers remain the most important piece of equipment in a retail store.

And while many businesses are moving to more costly and sophisticated point-of-sale (POS) systems that involve computers, barcodes and software, basic cash register models still offer many small businesses a number of benefits, including:

  1. Low cost
  2. Ease of use
  3. Few components

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done


Get the register basics

Whether you choose the most basic battery-operated cash register or an electronic model, it should perform the following functions: record sales and return transactions, add or subtract items on your customer's bill, provide price look-ups (PLUs), calculate correct change to customers, offer tax tables and print receipts from a built-in printer. Cash registers should also include a locked cash drawer.
I recommend: For the best selection of budget-conscious choices, visit cash register specialists such as RoyalSupplies.com or CashRegisterStore.com, which offers recommendations for small businesses, startups and kiosks. You can also order low-cost models at OfficeDepot.

Consider advanced features

Depending on your needs, you may want a cash register that connects to multiple registers and printers, prints graphic logos on receipts, provides better reporting capabilities and offers an LCD display.
I recommend: Cash Register Distributors Warehouse gives you the option to shop by price so you can see the features offered in higher-end models.

Restaurant-specific cash registers

Cash registers designed for the restaurant business generally offer spill-resistant keyboards and can be programmed for menu items. They also offer the ability to connect to printers in your kitchen so cooks receive orders automatically.
I recommend: Find restaurant cash registers at RestTech.com or POSNation.com.

Remember the software

Many cash registers require software so you can charge the proper sales taxes, run monthly or daily reports and identify sales by department or employee. Low-cost models often include basic software; higher-end registers can require software to be purchased separately.
I recommend: CashRegistersOnline.com offers a host of software programs that allow you to run reports, track inventory or integrate your data into QuickBooks.

Cash-challenged? Consider a second-hand model

If you want to get more features but can't afford the extra cost, look into a pre-owned cash register. Many suppliers sell refurbished machines at a major savings.
I recommend: Find low-cost, refurbished cash registers at CashRegisterStore.com.

Stock up on register supplies

Keep your cash register running at all times by maintaining an adequate supply of paper rolls or thermal paper rolls to print receipts and ink ribbons.
I recommend: Secure your cash register supplies at CashRegistersOnline.com or RoyalSupplies.com.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

  • On very basic cash registers, the only thing you may need to program into your cash register is your local tax rate. Your product manual should include simple instructions for this. Some suppliers will program your cash register for you.
  • Some suppliers will give you money back on your old cash register when you purchase a new one.
  • Determine minimum and maximum amounts of cash to keep in the cash drawer. If most of your customers pay with checks or credit cards, you won't need to keep much cash on hand.

The official source of Cash Registers is the Cash Registers page at Business.com

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Recommended Solution Providers

Cash Register Store: Used Cash Registers
Online provider of cash registers.

Cash Register Group: Cash Register Store
Provider of cash registers and point-of-sale equipment.

Biztracker: Point of Sale Software
Provider of point-of-sale software.

LetterFolders: Cash Registers
Provider of manual and computer interface cash registers.

Royal Consumer Information Products: Cash Registers
Provider of cash registers.

POS Nation: POS provider
Provider of point-of-sale systems.

Best Sites to Learn More

Beginner's Guide: Cash Registers
Articles about purchasing cash registers and point-of-sale systems.

AllBusiness: Cash Registers
Articles about cash registers.

About: Cash Management Systems
Guide to purchasing a cash management systems, like a cash register, for a retail or other business.

Restaurant.org: Cash Register Providers
List of cash register suppliers for across the US.

Best Blogs and Forums

Point of Sale System Forum: POS Forum
Discussion of POS system issues.

The Wizard of POS: EPOS Blog
News and opinions on point of sale solutions.



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