EPOS and POS systems for UK businesses
Quick Reference
Direct Answer
A POS (point of sale) or EPOS (electronic point of sale) system is a card machine plus till software: it takes payments and also records sales, tracks stock, manages staff and reports on takings. A plain card machine only takes the payment. A shop, café or restaurant usually needs an EPOS; a mobile trader or market stall usually needs only a card machine.
Summary
UK POS and EPOS systems combine card acceptance with till software. Smart terminals (Square Terminal, the PAX A920 behind Dojo, BBPOS behind Stripe) run both on one device from about £149 hardware. Software is £0 to £75+ a month, plus a 0.74% to 1.95% card rate.
This Page Covers
What POS and EPOS systems are, how they differ from a plain card machine, the smart terminals that run both, and UK costs in 2026.
Not Covered Here
Detailed per-terminal reviews (see the reviews hub), online-only checkout gateways, and bespoke enterprise POS estates.
Card machine vs POS / EPOS system
The difference is software. A card machine moves money. A POS or EPOS system moves money and also runs your counter: what sold, what is in stock, who served it, and what you took today. Here is the like-for-like.
| Card machine | POS / EPOS system | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A device that takes card payments only | Card payments plus till software: sales, stock, staff, reporting |
| Takes card payments | Yes | Yes (built in or paired) |
| Records sales and items | No (amount only) | Yes, line by line |
| Stock and inventory | No | Yes |
| Staff logins and shifts | No | Yes |
| Reporting and analytics | Basic (transaction list) | Full (sales by item, hour, staff) |
| Typical cost | £0 to £329 hardware, then a rate per transaction | Hardware plus £0 to £75+ monthly software, then a rate |
| Who needs it | Mobile trades, market stalls, low item counts | Shops, cafés, restaurants, salons with menus or stock |
Smart terminals that run both
An Android smart terminal runs POS software directly on the card machine, so one device does both jobs. For most small UK businesses this is the simplest and cheapest route to an EPOS, with no separate till to buy.
Square Terminal
All-in-one Android terminal with a built-in printer that runs the free Square POS. The simplest route to an EPOS for an independent shop or café, no separate till to buy.
Dojo (PAX A920 hardware)
Android smart terminal that runs the Dojo app plus EPOS integrations (Dojo works with many hospitality POS systems). Best once card volume passes roughly £15k a month.
Stripe Reader S700 (BBPOS hardware)
Touchscreen Android reader for businesses already on Stripe, with custom POS apps via the Stripe Terminal SDK. The case is the developer ecosystem rather than the rate.
Compare every device in the card terminal hub, or model the all-in cost with the fees calculator.
In one sentence
Card machine to take payment. EPOS to run the counter. A smart terminal does both on one device.
If you only need to take card, a reader is enough. If you want to see what sells, hold stock and manage staff, you want an EPOS. MerchantHQ compares the whole UK market, recommends the right setup for your trade and volume, then stays your named account team for life.
Get matched in 2 minutesFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between a POS system and a card machine?
A card machine takes card payments and records the amount only. A POS (point of sale) or EPOS (electronic point of sale) system adds till software on top: it records what was sold line by line, tracks stock, manages staff logins, and reports on sales by item, hour and staff member. Every EPOS includes card acceptance; not every card machine is an EPOS. A market trader needs a card machine; a shop or restaurant with a menu or stock usually needs an EPOS.
Do EPOS and POS mean the same thing?
In UK usage, yes. POS stands for "point of sale" and EPOS for "electronic point of sale". They are used interchangeably for the combined till-and-payments system a shop, café or restaurant runs at the counter. "Till system" is the same thing in plainer language.
How much does a POS or EPOS system cost in the UK?
Hardware ranges from a single smart terminal (£149 to £329, e.g. Square Terminal) up to a full counter setup (screen, printer, cash drawer, scanner) of £400 to £1,500+. Software is £0 (Square, SumUp) to £75+ a month per till for hospitality-grade systems. On top sits the card-processing rate, usually 0.74% to 1.95% per transaction. For a small shop, a Square Terminal at £149 with free software is the cheapest credible EPOS.
Can a card machine work as an EPOS?
A smart terminal can. Android smart terminals (Square Terminal, the PAX A920 used by Dojo and others, the BBPOS hardware behind Stripe Reader S700) run POS apps directly on the device, so one piece of hardware does both jobs for a small business. A basic card reader (a plain SumUp or Zettle reader) only takes payments and pairs to a separate POS app on your phone or tablet if you want till features.
Do I need an EPOS or just a card machine?
Take a card machine if you sell a small number of items, trade mobile, or just need to take payment (taxis, plumbers, market stalls). Take an EPOS if you run a counter with a menu or stock and want to see what sells, manage staff, and reconcile takings (shops, cafés, restaurants, salons). MerchantHQ matches you to the right setup either way.
Reviewed by Oliver Mackman. Last reviewed: 2026-06-01.