What does a POS system for hospitality cost?
Hardware, licence, TSE, hidden costs: what a POS system really costs, with a worked example and a checklist for comparing quotes.
Servire offers the Free (€0), Solo (€39) and Pro (€59 per month) plans for iPhone, iPad and Android. Solo includes TSE, DSFinV-K and the DATEV file export for one active register device per shift; Pro adds §146a cash register registration through Servire and unlimited devices. Max (€99) adds additional modules. All plans can be cancelled monthly. Compare the combined cost of licences, hardware and setup using the current plan details and cost calculator.
A POS system for restaurants doesn't simply cost "X euros a month". The price is made up of several line items — and that's exactly where the surprises hide. If you only look at the monthly fee, you often end up paying double.
This guide shows you which costs actually come up, what to look for when comparing offers, and how to tell a fair system from an expensive one.
The two kinds of costs: one-time and recurring
Every POS system has two cost categories:
- One-time costs hit at the start: hardware, setup, installation, training.
- Recurring costs you pay month after month: software license, TSE, support, updates.
Traditional vendors like to front-load the one-time costs (expensive hardware, setup fee) and top them up with recurring module and license fees. Cloud vendors shift almost everything into the monthly bill. Both models can be fair or expensive — what matters is the total over three years, not the first impression.
Hardware: from 0 to 2,000 €
This is where you can make the biggest difference to your costs.
| Hardware approach | Typical costs |
|---|---|
| Proprietary POS hardware (terminal, receipt printer, cash drawer) | 800 – 2,000 € per register |
| Tablet POS with stand and accessories | 300 – 700 € per register |
| App on your existing iPhone, iPad or Android device | 0 € (devices already there) |
On top of that, there's often a card terminal (150 – 400 €) and a receipt printer (150 – 300 €). If you use Tap to Pay on iPhone or, with Stripe, on an Android smartphone, you skip the terminal entirely; if you use digital receipts via QR code or email, you don't necessarily need a printer. When it comes to the printer, make sure you're not locked into one brand: besides Epson, Servire talks to any network-capable receipt printer with ESC/POS, so you can pick the device by price and availability.
Tip: For every offer, ask specifically whether the hardware is bought, rented, or leased — and what happens to it when the contract ends. Rented hardware often costs more over the contract term than the purchase price.
Software: the monthly license
The recurring license is the item most people see first. The range is wide:
- Entry-level systems / POS only: approx. 30 – 60 €/month
- Established restaurant systems: approx. 100 – 300 €/month
- Enterprise platforms: on request, often with an annual contract
What matters is what's included in the price. Some vendors bill per device or per location — three iPads can then cost three times as much. Others tier their plans, and the very feature you need (kitchen display, reservations, self-ordering) sits one tier up.
TSE and compliance: mandatory, but often extra
Since the KassenSichV, every electronic cash register in Germany needs a TSE (Technische Sicherheitseinrichtung — certified technical security device). Add to that the Kassenmeldepflicht under §146a (mandatory cash register registration, since 2025), the DSFinV-K export for tax audits, and the DATEV export for your tax advisor.
These building blocks are required by law — yet many vendors charge extra for them:
- Hardware TSE: 50 – 300 € one-time plus a recurring fee
- Cloud TSE: often 5 – 15 €/month on top
- DSFinV-K or DATEV export: sometimes a paid module
Always factor these items in. A "49 €" system can quickly land at 80 € once the TSE module and exports are added.
Hidden costs to watch out for
These are the items that tend to be buried in the fine print:
- Setup and installation fee (200 – 500 €)
- On-site training (daily rates)
- Per-device or per-location licenses
- Update and maintenance fees
- Minimum contract term (12 – 36 months) with a notice period
- Payment provider lock-in with its own transaction fees
The contract term is especially treacherous: if the system doesn't work out, you keep paying until the end anyway.
Worked example: three years, one location
A realistic comparison for a small business with two registers:
| Item | Typical system | Transparent cloud system |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware (2 registers) | 1,500 € | 0 € (your own devices) |
| Setup | 300 € | 0 € |
| License (36 months) | 36 × 150 € = 5,400 € | 36 × 59 € = 2,124 € |
| TSE / compliance | 36 × 10 € = 360 € | included |
| Total over 3 years | ≈ 7,560 € | ≈ 2,124 € |
The numbers are examples and vary by vendor and plan — but the order of magnitude holds: the difference rarely comes from the monthly price alone, but from hardware, modules, and per-device billing.
What to look for when choosing
Ask every vendor the same questions:
- What does the system cost including TSE, DSFinV-K, and DATEV?
- Is billing per device or a flat rate?
- Do I need special hardware, or does it run on my existing devices?
- Is there a minimum term — and how long is the notice period?
- Are updates and support included?
- Am I tied to a specific payment provider?
- Can I try the system for free before I pay?
If a vendor won't give you a clear number on these questions, that's an answer in itself.
Conclusion
The honest price of a POS system is the sum of hardware, license, compliance, and hidden items over the entire contract term. So don't compare monthly fees — compare total costs over three years, and pay particular attention to per-device billing, module surcharges, and contract lock-in.
Servire deliberately takes the transparent approach: 59 €/month, everything included — TSE, DSFinV-K, DATEV file export, unlimited devices, cancel monthly, runs on your iPhone, iPad or Android device. Work out your own savings in the cost calculator. You'll find the full feature and price comparison on the comparison page and the pricing overview. If you want to switch from an existing system, the switching page shows you how it's done in under an hour.
Assumptions and sources for your comparison
These examples illustrate cost models, not binding quotes. The €0 Servire hardware assumption requires suitable devices you already own. Account separately for new purchases, payment processing fees and overlapping contracts. Use either net or gross prices consistently.
The official pricing pages for orderbird PRO and ready2order show different device, contract and package models. Use the line items from your actual quote. See Servire plan details for our terms and connecting a receipt printer for setup instructions.
