01
Start with the shift, not the feature list
Ask how a cashier logs in, sells, parks an order, refunds, closes the drawer, and keeps working if the internet drops. If that flow is slow, the rest of the feature list will not save the day.
02
Check what happens to stock after a sale
For retail, the SKU should drop. For restaurants, the ingredients inside the dish should move. A system that only counts products may still leave your food cost unknown.
03
Separate reporting from accounting
Good POS reporting tells you sales, cash, refunds, voids, staff, products, and stock movement. It does not automatically mean full bookkeeping, tax filing, or a formal P&L.
04
Ask what is not included
The honest answer matters. Card processing, customer messaging, accounting, delivery integrations, payroll, and online ordering are often assumed. Make the vendor say yes or no before implementation.