Keywords:
restaurant POS comparison, POS system costs, Stripe integration POS, free POS software for restaurants, convenience fee model, Clover alternative, small restaurant margins
Every transaction your restaurant runs passes through a web of fees. Between software subscriptions, processing costs, and hardware markups, the average restaurant loses thousands of dollars per year just to accept payments.
In an industry where profit margins average 3–5 %, that’s a huge hit.
This guide explains how POS costs add up, compares leading systems like Square, Toast, and Clover, and outlines a new approach—TABL, a free POS system that works with your own Stripe account and earns only from a small, transparent convenience fee (up to $1) paid by your guests.
Even the best-known POS vendors charge in multiple ways:
| Fee Type | Typical Range (U.S. 2024) | Who Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Processing Fees | 2.6 – 3.5 % + 15¢ / transaction | Restaurant |
| Software Subscriptions | $60 – $250 / month | Restaurant |
| Hardware Packages | $500 – $1,200 upfront | Restaurant |
Sources: Merchant Maverick, UpMenu
If you process $10 000 per month in card sales, that’s roughly $300–$400 per month or nearly $5 000 per year—money leaving your kitchen before you’ve paid staff or suppliers.
| Monthly Card Sales | ≈ 3 % Fees | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| $10 000 | $300 | $3 600 |
| $25 000 | $750 | $9 000 |
| $50 000 | $1 500 | $18 000 |
(Source: National Restaurant Association)
For a 5 % profit-margin restaurant, that 3 % POS cost cuts profits nearly in half.
Best for: mobile vendors, cafés, and small retail.
Pros: easy setup, flexible hardware, clear pricing.
Cons: effective processing ~3.4 %; limited depth for busy kitchens.
“The challenge with Square is cost; that 2.6 % + 15¢ adds up fast.” — r/restaurant
Best for: full-service or fine-dining environments.
Pros: powerful table management, loyalty, and delivery features.
Cons: subscription tiers, contracts, and required use of Toast Payments.
We fully understand why fine-dining operators love Toast—it’s polished and feature-rich for that segment.
Best for: general retail or mixed-use businesses.
Pros: strong hardware options, wide integrations.
Cons: more retail-oriented; percentage-based processing and proprietary devices.
Clover performs well in retail, but food-centric operators often need faster menu updates, modifier flexibility, and split-check workflows—areas where TABL is built to shine.
TABL flips the traditional POS model on its head.
The software is completely free—no monthly fees, contracts, or hardware markups.
Restaurants connect their own Stripe account, keeping full control of payouts and processing rates.
TABL never charges or collects from the restaurant.
Instead, TABL’s only revenue comes from an optional, small convenience fee (up to $1) paid by patrons on each card transaction.
That means:
Restaurants keep 100 % of menu revenue.
Processing fees are handled directly by Stripe—no middleman markup.
TABL earns only when your restaurant earns, and only through the fee your guest pays.
TABL integrates seamlessly with Stripe, one of the most trusted global payment processors.
Stripe handles all card transactions securely and deposits funds directly into the restaurant’s account. TABL simply provides the POS interface and convenience-fee management tools—nothing more, nothing hidden.
Many restaurants already use a small convenience fee to offset payment costs.
TABL makes that process consistent and transparent.
When evaluating systems, ask:
Who actually collects the processing fees?
Do I control my payouts and processor?
Are there subscription or licensing costs?
Does the POS provider make money from my transactions—or from transparent patron fees?
Is it built specifically for food service?
If you value cost clarity, customer transparency, and full payout control, TABL’s model may fit perfectly.
Most POS systems charge both software fees and processing markups.
TABL is completely free for restaurants—no contracts, no subscriptions, no hardware lock-ins.
Stripe handles payment processing directly and securely.
TABL earns only from a small, optional convenience fee (up to $1) paid by guests.
Toast remains excellent for fine dining; TABL fits fast-casual, cafés, and everyday food service.
Clover is strong in retail, but TABL is purpose-built for food.
Your POS shouldn’t cut into your margins—it should help you protect them.
TABL keeps it simple:
Free POS software for restaurants.
Stripe for secure, direct payment processing.
A small convenience fee (up to $1) that funds the platform; paid by guests, never by you.