Restaurant POS hardware for independent restaurants

The tablets, terminals, printers and network an independent restaurant or takeaway actually needs, what they cost, and how to set them up so tickets print on a Saturday night.

Updated 10 September 2026 28 min read Eclyde

On this page
  1. Restaurant POS hardware list by restaurant type
  2. POS tablets and Android POS terminals
  3. Receipt printers and kitchen printers
  4. Card terminals and the POS
  5. Cash drawers and other peripherals
  6. Network and Wi-Fi for a restaurant
  7. Restaurant POS hardware costs
  8. Bring your own, buy, finance or rent
  9. Tax relief, VAT and hardware records
  10. Restaurant POS hardware installation step by step
  11. Spares, cleaning and replacement
  12. Questions to ask a hardware supplier and common mistakes
  13. Hardware set-up checklist
  14. Eclyde POS hardware
  15. Your restaurant’s numbers

Restaurant POS hardware is the physical kit your till runs on: the tablet or POS terminal, the receipt and kitchen printers, the card terminal, the cash drawer and the network that joins them. Get it right and tickets reach the kitchen in seconds. Get it wrong and a printer drops off the Wi-Fi at 7.30pm on a Friday.

Most independent restaurants and takeaways in Ireland and the UK do not need a server cabinet or a custom install. They need one or two good screens, the right printer at each station, a card terminal, and a network that does not share its capacity with every customer’s phone. Many can reuse an Android tablet they already own.

Choose the POS software before any device, because the software decides which tablets, printers and terminals work. That choice is covered in the restaurant POS system buyer’s guide. This page covers the kit itself, with published prices checked in September 2026, a worked budget in euro and sterling, and an installation order that works.

Restaurant POS hardware list by restaurant type

Start with the service, not the catalogue. Quantities are examples, so count your own stations.

Hardware Takeaway or pizzeria Café or counter Full-service restaurant
Main POS device 1 tablet or Android POS terminal at the counter 1 tablet or terminal 1 to 2 terminals at the bar or pass
Incoming-order screen Often a second tablet for phone and online orders Rarely Rarely
Handheld devices Rarely Rarely Useful for table ordering and payment
Receipt printer 1 at the counter 1 at the counter 1 per terminal
Kitchen printer or kitchen screen 1 per station (oven, fryer, grill) 1 for food prep, sometimes none 1 per station plus bar
Label printer Useful for delivery bags Useful for named cups Rarely
Card terminal 1 counter, plus portable for delivery or collection 1 1 per section or portable
Cash drawer 1 1 1
Router with wired ports 1 1 1
Mobile data backup Strongly advised Advised Advised
Power protection for router Advised Advised Advised

Takeaways and delivery kitchens

The counter device handles walk-ins. A second screen shows phone, website and marketplace orders so the person on the phone is not blocking the counter. Kitchen printers go at each hot station. Drivers need their own phones for any driver app, which is covered in the guide to restaurant delivery management software.

Cafés and full-service restaurants

One tablet, one receipt printer, one card terminal and a cash drawer run most cafés. In a full-service restaurant, count the walk from the furthest table to the terminal. If it is long, handhelds let servers send orders from the table.

POS tablets and Android POS terminals

There are three types of POS screen.

Device type What it is Strengths Watch out for
Consumer Android tablet A standard tablet in a stand or case Low cost, easy to replace, you may own one already Needs a separate printer and stand; security updates end sooner on some models
Android POS terminal (desktop) All-in-one counter unit running Android, sometimes with a built-in printer Built for all-day counter use, optional customer display Higher price; check the spec sheet for network and drawer ports, and check your POS app supports the model
Android POS handheld Pocket device, sometimes with a small printer or card reader Table ordering, doorstep payments Small screen, battery life, drops

Android POS system basics

An Android POS system is POS software that runs on Android devices. Some POS apps run only on iPad, some only on Android, such as Eclyde’s POS app, and some on both. Lightspeed’s UK restaurant hardware page (checked September 2026) refers to its pre-configured iPad bundles, and Square’s UK kit page notes that the iPad is not included in its Stand kits. Check the provider’s supported device list before you buy anything.

Android POS terminals with a printer

Desktop Android POS terminals combine the screen, computer and printer in one unit. As one example, SUNMI’s T3 PRO series page (checked September 2026) lists a 15.6-inch main screen, dual-screen versions with a second 10.1-inch or 15.6-inch screen, and a T3 PRO MAX model with an 80mm thermal printer, an auto-cutter, print speed up to 250mm a second and a printer service life of 150km. The page does not publish prices, so ask a reseller for a written quote. A built-in printer saves counter space and a cable, but a printer fault can send the whole terminal for repair, so keep a spare printer.

Choosing a POS tablet

  • Screen size. A counter POS with a busy menu needs a full-size tablet, not a phone-sized screen. Larger screens show more buttons per page.
  • Android version and updates. Google’s Android help page shows where to find the Android version and security update date in Settings, and says update schedules vary by device, manufacturer and carrier. Ireland’s National Cyber Security Centre says in its guidance for small businesses that when a manufacturer stops offering support for hardware or software, it is time to replace it.
  • Storage and memory. Offline modes store orders on the device. Follow the POS provider’s minimum specification, not the cheapest listing.
  • Stand, case and power. A locking stand with the charging cable routed inside keeps the tablet in place and charged. A sealed case keeps out splashes and flour, as long as it leaves the charging port clear.
  • Account. Set the tablet up on a business Google account, not a staff member’s personal account, and turn on a screen lock.

Receipt printers and kitchen printers

Printers sit in the hottest and greasiest spots in the building. Choose them by station.

Thermal printers

A thermal printer heats special paper to print. There is no ink or ribbon to replace, and printing is fast and quiet. Star Micronics says thermal printers should be installed away from ranges, heat lamps and other direct heat, in areas such as prep, expo and drinks stations, and can have optional buzzers that signal incoming orders. Thermal is the usual choice for receipt printers at the counter.

Counter printers now carry several connections. Epson’s UK page for the TM-m30III (checked September 2026) lists Ethernet, USB-A and USB-C connections, a drawer kick-out, support for 80mm and 58mm rolls, print speed up to 300mm a second, an auto-cutter rated for 2,200,000 cuts and IPX2 liquid protection, at £223.87 excluding VAT on Epson’s own store.

Impact printers

An impact printer strikes an ink ribbon against plain paper. Star explains that because the ticket is not heat-sensitive, it stays readable near ovens, grills, steam and heat lamps. Epson’s TM-U220II page describes an impact kitchen and receipt printer that uses a ribbon cassette, prints in black and red so order exceptions stand out, and uses paper that stays legible through heat and moisture. The trade-offs are noise, slower printing and ribbons to buy. Square’s UK shop lists the Star SP742ME3 Ethernet kitchen impact printer at £249 + VAT, and its Irish shop at €279 + VAT, both checked September 2026.

Kitchen printers built for wet and greasy areas

Some thermal kitchen printers are sealed for kitchens. SUNMI’s 80mm kitchen cloud printer page lists an IP52 rating, an oil-repellent casing with rubber seals and exterior holes smaller than 0.8mm, Bluetooth, LAN, Wi-Fi, 4G or USB connections, a sound and flashing light for new orders, a paper jam alarm, and 80mm paper with a holder for 58mm rolls.

Thermal versus impact

Factor Thermal printer Impact printer
Printing method Heat on heat-sensitive paper Ink ribbon struck onto plain paper
Best placement Counter, bar, expo, pickup, cold prep Hot line next to grill, oven, fryer or heat lamp
Ticket near heat Paper can darken and become hard to read Stays readable
Speed and noise Fast, quiet Slower, louder
Consumables Thermal paper rolls Plain paper rolls and ink ribbons

Kitchen printer or kitchen screen

A kitchen display screen replaces paper tickets with a screen at each station, showing order timers and status. Printers cost less, need no training and keep working on paper if a screen fails. Screens remove lost tickets and show how long each order has waited. The full comparison, station set-up and screen hardware are covered in the guide to the kitchen display system.

Paper widths

Most receipt and kitchen printers take 80mm or 58mm rolls. 80mm fits long modifiers and allergy notes on fewer lines, and 58mm suits handhelds. Use one width across the site so nobody loads the wrong roll mid-service.

Printer connections

Connection Use it for Notes
Ethernet (network cable) Fixed kitchen and counter printers Most reliable; any device on the network can print to it
USB A printer beside a single terminal Only the connected device can print to it
Wi-Fi Printers where a cable cannot reach Needs good signal at the station
Bluetooth Handhelds and mobile printers Short range; check how many devices can pair at once
Cloud printing Printing orders sent over the internet Star lists CloudPRNT on its SP742 impact printer for online order processing; needs internet

Orders from your own online ordering system should print at the same stations, in the same ticket layout, as counter orders.

Card terminals and the POS

The card terminal is a separate device with its own contract, even when the POS company supplies it.

Integrated and standalone terminals

  • Integrated. The POS sends the amount to the terminal. No keying, fewer mistakes, and the payment is matched to the order automatically. Usually tied to one payment provider.
  • Standalone. Staff key the amount into the terminal and mark the order paid on the POS. More keying, but you can change payment provider without changing the till.

Published card terminal prices

These devices come from payment providers, so choosing one also means choosing that company’s card processing and rates. Prices below exclude VAT and were checked in September 2026 on Square Ireland, Square UK, SumUp Ireland and SumUp UK.

Device Ireland UK What the provider’s page says
Square Reader (2nd generation) €19 £19 Reader used with a phone or tablet
Square Terminal €169 £149, or £25 a month for 6 months Standalone terminal
SumUp Solo Lite €15, shown reduced from €25 £15, shown reduced from £25 Pairs with a phone, battery for 1,000 transactions
SumUp Solo €49, shown reduced from €79 £49, shown reduced from £79 Works on its own, battery for 300 transactions, optional printer that doubles as a charger
SumUp Terminal €109, shown reduced from €135 £99, shown reduced from £135 Built-in receipt printer, battery for 250 transactions including printing

Terminal connections

Wi-Fi terminals stop when the Wi-Fi does. A terminal with a mobile SIM suits delivery, the door and outdoor seating, where it has signal. Bluetooth readers depend on the phone or tablet they pair with. The GOV.UK guidance on analogue to digital landlines (last updated 28 February 2024) lists card payment systems among the devices to check, and expects most customers to have moved by January 2027. If your card terminal still plugs into a phone socket, ask your payment provider now what replaces it.

Card payments without internet

Some terminals store card payments offline, with limits. Square’s UK help centre says physical contactless cards are not accepted offline, uploads are due within 72 hours on Register, Terminal and Handheld, and the business is responsible for payments later declined. Outage set-up and testing are covered in the offline POS system guide.

Cash drawers and other peripherals

Buy these after the printer, because most connect through it.

Cash drawers

  • Printer-driven. The drawer plugs into the receipt printer’s drawer kick-out port, and the POS tells the printer to open it on a cash sale. The Epson TM-m30III above lists this port. Square’s UK shop lists a printer-driven cash drawer at £69 + VAT, and its Irish shop at €89 + VAT, both checked September 2026.
  • Terminal-driven. Some all-in-one terminals open the drawer directly. Check the spec sheet for a drawer port before you buy a drawer with the wrong plug.
  • Manual. A drawer with a key and no cable. Cheapest, but nothing records when it was opened.

On any drawer, check that the cable matches your printer’s port, that euro or sterling notes lie flat in the slots, and that both keys work. Set the POS so only managers can open the drawer without a sale, and read the no-sale count at close.

Phone and caller ID

Caller ID puts the caller’s number, and on many systems their last order, on the POS before staff answer. The hardware it needs depends on your phone service, so ask the POS provider in writing. UK lines are moving to digital, so do not buy a box built for an analogue line without checking.

Marketplace tablets

If you run separate order tablets for Just Eat, Deliveroo or Uber Eats beside the till, treat each one as POS hardware: a stand, a charger routed to a socket, a place on the POS network, a label with the app name and the volume up. What the apps charge per order is set out in the guide to Just Eat, Deliveroo and Uber Eats commission.

Network and Wi-Fi for a restaurant

When the POS stops on a Friday night, check the network first.

Wired first

  • Fixed printers on cable. Run a network cable to each kitchen and counter printer. A small network switch beside the router gives you extra ports.
  • Counter terminal on cable if it has a network port.
  • Wi-Fi for what moves. Tablets at the pass, handhelds and phones.
  • Label both ends of every cable with the station name.

Router placement and coverage

  • Put the router high, central and in the open, not inside a metal cabinet, behind the walk-in fridge or under the counter beside the fryer.
  • Of the router’s two bands, the lower reaches further through walls and the higher is faster close by. Let devices use both unless your POS provider says otherwise.
  • In a long or multi-floor building, add mesh points or a wired access point near the kitchen.

Separate networks

  • POS network. Tills, printers, kitchen screens and card terminals. A long password that customers never see.
  • Guest network. Customers’ phones. Separate name and password. On a busy night it should not slow the POS.
  • Staff phones. On the guest network, not the POS network.
  • Router admin password. Change the default one on day one. Ireland’s NCSC names unchanged manufacturer default passwords as one of the most common mistakes, and suggests passwords of at least 12 characters.

Fixed addresses for printers

Network printers get an address from the router. If the router hands out a different address after a restart, the POS can lose the printer. Reserve a fixed address for each printer in the router settings, and write it on a label on the printer.

Mobile data backup

A router with a SIM card that takes over when the broadband drops keeps the POS, online orders and card terminals connected. Check coverage before you buy. In Ireland, ComReg’s outdoor mobile coverage map shows predicted 2G, 3G and 4G signal strength by Eircode or address for each operator. The map is outdoor only. In Ireland or the UK, test a SIM from each network inside the kitchen before you buy. Outage planning, backup options and a full test script are covered in the offline POS system guide.

Power

  • Keep the router, switch and any network printers on a small uninterruptible power supply (UPS) so a tripped socket does not take the network down.
  • In the UK, GOV.UK notes that digital landlines cannot carry power, so handsets and routers need mains power and will not work in a power cut without a backup power system.

Security basics

Ireland’s NCSC small business guidance recommends automatic security updates, encrypted phones and tablets, and a VPN or secure connection on public Wi-Fi. In a restaurant, that means automatic updates and a screen lock on every POS tablet, and no POS devices on public hotspots.

Restaurant POS hardware costs

POS hardware cost has seven lines: POS devices, printers, the cash drawer, card terminals, network kit, installation, and consumables and repairs. Usually only the first four have published prices.

Published hardware prices, checked September 2026

The table lists what each company’s own page showed on 10 September 2026, excluding VAT. Promotional prices change often, so check the page on the day you buy.

Item Ireland UK Source
Square Register (2nd generation) €699 £699, or £59 a month for 12 months Square Ireland, Square UK
Square Terminal €169 £149, or £25 a month for 6 months Square hardware pages
Square Handheld €199 £169, or £29 a month for 6 months Square hardware pages
Square Stand, iPad not included €119 £99, or £17 a month for 6 months Square hardware pages
Star TSP143IV USB and Ethernet receipt printer €299 £199 Square Ireland shop, Square UK shop
Star SP742ME3 Ethernet kitchen impact printer €279 £249 Square shop pages linked above
Epson TM-m30III receipt printer Not checked £223.87 Epson UK store
Printer-driven cash drawer €89 £69 Square shop pages linked above
Square Register Kit From €1,159 From £1,139 Square Ireland kits, Square UK kits
SumUp Solo card reader €49 £49 SumUp card reader pages
SumUp Terminal with built-in printer €109 £99 SumUp card reader pages
Epos Now hardware bundle (terminal, card machine, cash drawer) Not checked From £299, with a 12-month subscription from £54 a month Epos Now UK pricing
Lightspeed Restaurant hardware Not published Not published Lightspeed UK hardware page

Square’s Irish hardware page says its kits include a Square Stand or Register plus a cash drawer, receipt printer and paper. Other resellers sell the same Star printers at different prices, and they may not be on every POS provider’s supported list.

Worked example: hardware budget for a takeaway

Example only. A pizza takeaway in Ireland has one counter and one oven station. It takes walk-in, phone and online orders, and delivers with its own drivers. It needs a counter device, a receipt printer, an impact printer at the oven, a cash drawer and one portable card terminal. Prices are the published September 2026 figures above, excluding VAT.

Kit A: a dedicated terminal, bought outright.

Item Price
Square Register €699
Star TSP143IV receipt printer €299
Star SP742ME3 kitchen impact printer €279
Printer-driven cash drawer €89
Square Terminal for the door and deliveries €169
Total €1,535 + VAT

Kit B: the Android tablet the owner already has.

Item Price
Android tablet, already owned and still receiving updates €0
Star TSP143IV receipt printer €299
Star SP742ME3 kitchen impact printer €279
Printer-driven cash drawer €89
SumUp Solo card reader €49
Total €716 + VAT

Kit B costs €1,535 − €716 = €819 less before VAT. Square’s Irish shop adds 23% VAT, showing the €299 printer as €367.77. A business that cannot reclaim VAT pays €1,535 × 1.23 = €1,888.05 for Kit A and €716 × 1.23 = €880.68 for Kit B.

UK version. Kit A at Square’s UK prices is £699 + £199 + £249 + £69 + £149 = £1,365 + VAT. Kit B, with an owned tablet and a SumUp Solo, is £199 + £249 + £69 + £49 = £566 + VAT, a difference of £799. On Square’s UK monthly plans, Kit A’s first month is £517 for printers and drawer plus £59 for the Register and £25 for the Terminal, so £601 + VAT. The plans total 12 × £59 = £708 and 6 × £25 = £150, or £858 against £848 outright, so spreading the cost adds £10.

What the example shows:

  • The tablet is the swing item. Reusing a supported tablet you already own removes the largest single line, as long as it still gets security updates.
  • Printers cost the same either way. The €578 or £448 of receipt and kitchen printers is in both kits. Choose them for the station, not the bundle.
  • The terminal is a card-rate decision. A €49 reader and a €169 terminal differ by €120, once. A 0.1 percentage point difference in card rate on €18,000 a month of card sales is €18 every month.

Costs without a published price

The worked example leaves out the router, switch, UPS, cabling, label printer, consumables and installation. Get each as a written quote.

  • Network kit and cabling. Varies with the building. A long kitchen or basement prep room adds cable runs, so ask for a price per cable point.
  • Installation. Some providers include device and printer set-up, others charge. Eclyde’s €499 launch fee, for example, includes POS and printer configuration. Ask what is included and whether anyone comes on site.
  • Consumables. Thermal rolls, plain rolls, ribbons and labels. Ask for a case price and count the rolls a busy week uses.

Bring your own, buy, finance or rent

The right option depends on cash, what you already own, and how long you expect to keep the POS software. Some software providers offer more than one route. Eclyde, for example, runs on Android tablets you already own, and hardware can also be bought, financed or rented.

Option Upfront cost Who owns it Lock-in Watch out for
Bring your own None for devices you have You None Older tablets may be out of security updates; printers must be on the supported list
Buy new Full price You Low, if the hardware runs other software Check the model works with other POS apps before buying
Finance Low Usually you at the end, check the agreement Medium Interest, and whether cancelling the software ends the payments
Rent from the provider Low or none Provider High Return conditions, repair terms, and whether rental outlives the software contract

Checks before reusing a tablet

  1. Read the version. Open Settings, then About tablet, and note the Android version and security update date, as Google’s help page describes.
  2. Compare with the minimum. Check the version against the POS provider’s published minimum.
  3. Check support. If the security update date is months old, ask the manufacturer whether updates have ended. Once support stops, the Irish NCSC says to replace the device.
  4. Test the battery and port. Run it off the charger through a quiet service, and check the charging cable sits firmly.
  5. Reset and record it. Factory reset it, set it up on the business Google account, and add it to your asset list.

Payment plans and bundles

Some providers publish payment plans. On the Square UK hardware page, checked September 2026, the Register plan costs £9 more than the £699 upfront price and the Terminal plan £1 more than £149, as the worked example above shows.

Bundles can tie hardware to software. Epos Now UK showed a hardware bundle, with a countertop POS terminal, card machine and cash drawer, from £299, shown reduced from £849. The page says the discounted price requires a 12-month payments, care and support subscription starting at £54 a month. The first-year minimum for that offer is £299 + (£54 × 12) = £947.

Rental and finance terms to read

  • Total paid. Upfront payment plus the monthly payment multiplied by the months, including VAT, compared with the purchase price.
  • End of term. Whether you return the device, buy it for a final fee, or keep paying.
  • Cancellation. Whether ending the software ends the rental, or you keep paying for a device locked to software you no longer use.
  • Tax. Leased kit is treated differently for capital allowances, as the next section sets out.

Tax relief, VAT and hardware records

POS devices and printers are usually treated as plant and machinery. Confirm the treatment with your accountant.

VAT on hardware

  • Ireland. Revenue says you may reclaim VAT on goods and services used for your taxable supplies, with a valid VAT invoice, through your VAT 3 return, within four years.
  • United Kingdom. GOV.UK says VAT-registered businesses can reclaim VAT on items bought for business use, only the business share where there is personal use, and need valid VAT invoices.
  • Not VAT-registered. The VAT is a cost, so compare prices including VAT. Square’s shops show the €299 + VAT receipt printer as €367.77 in Ireland and the £199 + VAT printer as £238.80 in the UK.

Capital allowances in Ireland

Revenue’s capital allowances page gives wear and tear allowances for plant and machinery at 12.5% a year over eight years. The asset must be in use in the trade at the end of each accounting period claimed.

Capital allowances in the UK

  • Annual Investment Allowance. GOV.UK says you can claim AIA on most plant and machinery up to £1 million.
  • Items already owned. AIA does not apply to items you owned for another reason before using them in the business, such as a personal tablet moved to the counter.
  • Leased items. GOV.UK says capital allowances do not apply to things you lease unless you have a hire purchase contract or long funding lease. Ask your accountant how rental payments are treated.
  • Cash basis. GOV.UK says sole traders and partnerships using cash basis can only claim capital allowances on business cars. Ask your accountant how equipment is handled under cash basis.

Worked example: tax relief on Kit B

Example only. Ireland. A company buys Kit B for €716 excluding VAT and reclaims the VAT. The wear and tear allowance is €716 × 12.5% = €89.50 a year for eight years. Revenue’s tax and duty manual on corporation tax rates gives 12.5% as the rate on trading income, so the allowance reduces the company’s tax by €89.50 × 12.5% = €11.19 a year, or €89.50 across the eight years.

UK. GOV.UK’s corporation tax rates page gives a 19% small profits rate for companies with profits of £50,000 or less. If such a company claims AIA on Kit B’s £566, its taxable profit falls by £566 in the year of purchase and its corporation tax by £566 × 19% = £107.54.

Hardware records

  • Ireland. Revenue says to keep the original of documents used to calculate your tax, including receipts for purchases, for six years.
  • UK limited companies. GOV.UK’s company records page says accounting records include details of assets owned by the company, are kept for six years from the end of the last financial year they relate to, and are kept longer for equipment expected to last more than six years. HMRC can fine a company £3,000 for not keeping them.
  • Asset list. One line per device: model, serial number, supplier, purchase date, price and VAT, warranty end date, location, fixed network address, and the date it left the business.

Restaurant POS hardware installation step by step

Book the install for a closed day, and run a full test service before your first busy night.

  1. Draw the floor plan. Mark the counter, each kitchen station, the pass, the delivery bench, every socket, the router and every heat source.
  2. Match every device to the supported list. Tablet, terminal, printers, drawer and card terminal, by exact model number.
  3. Check signal at each station. Wi-Fi with a phone, and mobile data on each network if you plan a backup SIM.
  4. Install the network. Router high and central, switch beside it, UPS under both. Change the admin password. Create the POS network and the guest network.
  5. Run and label cables. One network cable to each fixed printer and to the counter terminal. Label both ends.
  6. Place the printers. Impact at the hot line, thermal at the counter, bar, expo and cold prep, with room to open the lid.
  7. Connect the cash drawer to the printer’s or terminal’s drawer port.
  8. Fix printer addresses. Print a status page from each network printer to find its address, reserve that address in the router, restart the printer to confirm, and label it.
  9. Set up each tablet. Business Google account, screen lock, automatic updates, the POS app from Google Play, and a charging stand.
  10. Add printers to the POS by station name and address: counter receipt, oven, fryer, bar.
  11. Set kitchen routing. Each menu category or item goes to the right station. Keeping one menu across till, website and apps is covered in the guide to restaurant menu management.
  12. Test payments and the drawer. Take a small real card payment and refund it. Ring a cash sale and check the drawer opens, then a card sale and check it stays shut.
  13. Run test orders. Send a long order with modifiers and allergy notes from the counter, the phone screen and the online ordering page. Check each ticket prints in full at the right station.
  14. Run the outage test. Unplug the broadband, take an order, print it and take cash. Reconnect and check the sync.
  15. Train the team. Changing a roll and a ribbon, and the restart order: router, then printers, then tablets.
  16. Photograph the set-up. Cable labels, router settings and printer addresses, stored where every manager can find them.

Spares, cleaning and replacement

A spares box on the shelf by the router saves a service when a roll runs out or a cable fails.

Spares box

  • Paper, ribbons and labels for every printer. Store thermal rolls away from heat, since Star notes thermal paper can react to high temperatures.
  • Two network cables, plus a spare charger for each tablet type.
  • The old receipt printer, tested as a backup.
  • A printed sheet of printer addresses and support phone numbers.

Cleaning

Unplug a printer before clearing a jam, follow the maker’s instructions for the print head and cutter, and brush crumbs and flour out of the paper compartment weekly. Keep kitchen degreaser off tablet screens.

Lifespan maths

Makers publish ratings for the parts that wear. Example only. Epson rates the TM-m30III auto-cutter for 2,200,000 cuts. A takeaway printing 300 receipts a day, 360 days a year, makes 300 × 360 = 108,000 cuts a year, so the rating covers 2,200,000 ÷ 108,000 = about 20 years. SUNMI gives the T3 PRO MAX printer a service life of 150km. At 15cm a ticket, 300 tickets a day use 300 × 0.15 = 45 metres a day, or 45 × 360 = 16,200 metres a year, so 150km lasts about 150,000 ÷ 16,200 = 9 years. On ratings like these, update support on the tablet is more likely than print volume to set your replacement date.

Replacement signs

  • The manufacturer has stopped security updates.
  • The POS provider has raised its minimum Android version above the device.
  • The tablet loses charge during service even on its stand.
  • The battery has swollen, or a cracked screen lets in liquid.

Retiring old devices

Deactivate the device in the POS dashboard, sign out of the business Google account, factory reset it, remove any SIM or memory card, update the asset list, and recycle it as electrical waste.

Questions to ask a hardware supplier and common mistakes

Questions to ask before you buy

  • Which exact tablet, terminal, printer, drawer and card terminal models do you support, and where is that list published?
  • What minimum Android version, memory and storage does the app need?
  • Can I use the tablets and printers I already own?
  • Is rented hardware locked to your software, and what happens to it if I cancel?
  • How long is the warranty, who holds it, and do you send a swap device before I return the faulty one?
  • Do your printers connect by network cable, and does the receipt printer have a drawer port?
  • Does the card terminal work on Wi-Fi and on a mobile SIM?
  • What is the support number on a Saturday night, and can support see my devices remotely?

Common mistakes

  • A thermal printer beside the grill. Tickets darken and orders get misread.
  • Every printer on Wi-Fi. Walls, fridges and a crowded guest network interrupt tickets.
  • No fixed printer addresses. A router restart moves the printer and the POS loses it.
  • A staff member’s personal Google account on the till tablet. When they leave, the access leaves with them.
  • No spare rolls or ribbons. A printer runs out at 8pm with nothing on the shelf.
  • Signing a rental without reading the cancellation clause. The payments can outlast the software.
  • Claiming AIA on a tablet you already owned. GOV.UK excludes items owned for another reason before business use.

Hardware set-up checklist

  • Floor plan with stations, sockets, heat sources and cable routes
  • Every device model on the POS provider’s supported list
  • Tablets on a business Google account, with screen lock, automatic updates and Android version recorded
  • Router admin password changed, POS and guest networks separate
  • Network cable to every fixed printer and the counter terminal, labelled at both ends
  • Fixed address reserved and labelled on every network printer
  • Impact printer at the hot line, thermal printers away from heat
  • Cash drawer opens on cash sales only
  • Card terminal payment and refund tested, SIM signal checked if portable
  • Kitchen routing tested with a long order at every station
  • Router, switch and network printers on a UPS
  • Mobile data backup tested inside the kitchen
  • Outage test done: broadband unplugged, order taken, ticket printed, sync checked
  • Spares box stocked with rolls, ribbons, labels, cables and chargers
  • Asset list complete with serial numbers, invoices and warranty dates
  • Support number on the wall beside the till

Eclyde POS hardware

Eclyde is a restaurant growth platform for independent restaurants in Ireland and the UK. Its POS is an Android app, so the hardware list is short.

  • Devices. The Eclyde POS app is on Google Play. It runs on existing Android tablets and on SUNMI Android POS devices. There is no iOS POS app, so it does not run on an iPad.
  • Printers. It works with 50+ compatible receipt and kitchen printers. Ask for the compatible list before buying a printer.
  • Activation. Install the app, then enter the device code from the Devices tab in the Eclyde dashboard.
  • Offline. The POS keeps taking orders during an internet outage and syncs to the cloud when the connection returns.
  • Kitchen display. Runs on a tablet or screen in the kitchen, with real-time orders, order timers and status updates.
  • Phones. Caller ID on incoming phone calls. Drivers use the own-driver app with live driver location. Staff use the staff web app on their own iPhone or Android phone for shifts, clock in and clock out, and team chat, covered in the guide to restaurant staff management software.
  • Getting the kit. Hardware can be bought, financed or rented.
  • Card payments. Eclyde does not offer card processing. Online payments go through the restaurant’s own Stripe account, and in-person card payments use a terminal from a provider you choose.

To go live, you sign up, complete the set-up flow (connect your domain, walk through the dashboard, connect Stripe), install the app on an Android tablet, enter the activation code and start taking orders. The €499 launch fee covers POS and printer configuration, menu build, website and ordering set-up, customer import, staff onboarding, testing and go-live support, and is refunded in full within 30 days if Eclyde is not right for the restaurant. After that it is €99 a month for the whole platform, with no Eclyde commission on direct orders. Details are on the pricing page. Owners can also monitor and control the restaurant from anywhere, as covered in the guide to the restaurant management app.

If your team wants iPads, self-service kiosks, or the till and card terminal from one company on one contract, a provider built that way will suit you better.

Your restaurant’s numbers

Hardware is mostly a one-off cost. Card fees and marketplace commission come back every month. Before you sign a hardware quote, get your own figures in front of you. The free Eclyde audit checks your Google profile, your website and your marketplace dependence in about two minutes, then shows what direct ordering is worth to your restaurant. Take those figures into any hardware or POS conversation, whichever provider you choose. Start your free restaurant audit.

Questions

What hardware do I need for a restaurant POS system?

Most independents need a POS device (a tablet or an Android POS terminal), a receipt printer, at least one kitchen printer or kitchen screen, a card terminal, a cash drawer if you take cash, and a reliable router. Takeaways that deliver often add a second screen for incoming orders. Full-service restaurants may add handheld devices for servers.

Can I use a normal Android tablet as a POS?

Often, yes. Many POS apps run on standard Android tablets. Check the provider's supported device list, the Android version, and whether the manufacturer still sends security updates. Put the tablet in a stand or case, keep it on charge, and connect printers by network cable where you can.

Should a restaurant kitchen use a thermal or impact printer?

Impact printers use an ink ribbon on plain paper, so tickets stay readable near grills, ovens and heat lamps. Thermal printers are faster, quieter and need no ribbon, but thermal paper reacts to heat, so they suit prep, expo, bar and pickup stations away from direct heat. Many kitchens use impact at the hot line and thermal elsewhere.

How much does restaurant POS hardware cost?

It depends on what you already own. Published prices checked in September 2026 include a Square Terminal at €169 plus VAT in Ireland and £149 plus VAT in the UK, a Square Register at €699 plus VAT in Ireland and £699 plus VAT in the UK, and a Star kitchen impact printer at €279 or £249 plus VAT from Square's shop. Reusing a tablet you own cuts the cost.

Is it better to buy or rent POS hardware?

Buying costs more upfront but you own the devices and can move them to other software. Renting or financing spreads the cost, but check the term, what happens at the end, and whether the rental ends when you cancel the software. Compare the total paid over the term with the purchase price.

Should POS printers connect by Wi-Fi or cable?

Use a network cable for fixed printers where you can. A wired printer is not affected by walls, fridges or a busy guest network. Use Wi-Fi or Bluetooth only where a cable is impractical, and give network printers a fixed address on the router so the POS always finds them.

What is an Android POS terminal with a printer?

It is an all-in-one device running Android with a touchscreen and a built-in receipt printer. Desktop models sit on the counter and some add a second screen facing the customer. Handheld models suit table service and doorstep payments. Check the spec sheet for network and cash drawer ports, and check that your POS app supports the exact model.

Can I claim tax relief on POS hardware?

Usually, as plant and machinery. In Ireland, Revenue gives wear and tear allowances of 12.5% a year over eight years. In the UK, the Annual Investment Allowance lets most businesses deduct qualifying plant and machinery up to £1 million in the year of purchase. Leased items and items you owned before are treated differently, so ask your accountant.

Restaurant audit

See what the apps are costing you.

2 minutes. Your Google profile, your website, your numbers.

Related