Free tool
POS cost calculator
Enter software, hardware and processing inputs to see monthly cost, first-year cost and three-year total cost of ownership.
- Monthly (software + processing)
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- Year 1 (incl. hardware)
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- 3-year total
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Reading the result
Processing is almost always the largest line, so a small difference in effective rate outweighs a big difference in software price at any real volume. On $45,000/month of card sales, moving your effective rate from 2.9% to 2.5% saves about $2,160 a year — more than most software plans cost.
Before you sign
Ask for every recurring fee in writing (monthly, statement, PCI, gateway, minimums), confirm whether hardware is owned, financed or leased, and check the contract term and early-termination fee.
Frequently asked questions
What goes into POS total cost of ownership?
Software subscription (per location), one-time or financed hardware, and payment processing — usually the biggest line. Add-ons like loyalty, payroll and advanced reporting often sit on top.
How much does a POS cost per month?
A single-location business can start at $0/month on a free plan and pay only processing. Feature-rich retail and restaurant plans run about $60–$300 per month per location.
Why compare over three years?
Contracts, hardware financing and rate creep all play out over years, not months. A three-year view surfaces the true cost of a "cheap" plan on a long contract.
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Want a processor that actually beats these numbers?
Tell us your volume and we’ll come back with two or three quotes to compare.