United States · Restaurant buying guide

Restaurant POS buying guide for the United States

A restaurant POS evaluation should follow the way your team serves guests: counter orders, table checks, bar tabs or off-premise pickup. Start with a representative shift and ask each vendor to show where the order, payment and reporting records meet.

US availability, processor setup, state coverage and currency scope must be confirmed in a written quote. Canadian pricing and product descriptions do not establish a US offer or approval for your location.

Specify the state and service model first

Give the vendor your state, locations, service channels and existing processor. Ask for a demonstration using your menu, sales-tax categories and tip practices; have your accountant review the proposed configuration.

  • Test split checks, tip adjustments, void permissions and a refund against its original payment.
  • For quick service, follow an order from counter or pickup channel to the kitchen and handoff.
  • For groups, confirm reporting by location and whether each merchant account needs separate onboarding.

Compare a written US quote line by line

Use the same device count, channels and contract period for every proposal. Ask the vendor to identify both the billing currency and the settlement currency. Do not convert a Canadian plan and assume it is the US contract.

  • Itemize software, device licences, kiosks, hardware, installation, data migration and staff training.
  • Separate processing, payment equipment, chargeback-related costs, courier fees and messaging usage.
  • Document renewal, cancellation, export access and support hours in the proposed agreement.

Preserve records before moving service

Map what the old system exports to what the new system can import. A customer list, loyalty balance and gift-card liability are different records; each needs an agreed migration method and reconciliation.

  • Retain historical sales, tip and settlement reports and confirm access after ending the old agreement.
  • Rebuild and check modifiers, tax categories, staff roles and kitchen routing with a shift manager.
  • Choose a cutover window, rehearse a service and keep a documented fallback ready.

Check the cash drawer and processor deposit

Reconcile a sample day containing cash, cards, tips, discounts and refunds. Ask how the business-day cutoff relates to processor settlement and how staff resolve differences without changing the original sale history.

  • Request proof of the supported payment flow on the exact merchant account and terminal setup.
  • Treat offline cash as a scoped Beta workflow; card payments require connectivity.

Questions to ask before you choose

Is Novaryq available in every US state?

This guide does not establish nationwide availability. Ask Novaryq to confirm your state, currency, supported service flows, devices and processor arrangement in a written quote before committing.

Can I use the Canadian price as my US quote?

No. Published Canadian pricing is not a US offer. Request the subscription, included devices, implementation, billing currency and third-party charges for your US business.

Can I keep my current payment processor?

That requires confirmation. Identify the processor, merchant account, terminal models and required sale, tip and refund flows. Get the supported arrangement in writing before scheduling a switch.

Will all orders continue during an internet outage?

No blanket continuity is promised. Beta cash order entry is limited to supported, prepared terminals with the workflow enabled. Card acceptance and connected services depend on connectivity and provider availability.

Sources and product scope

Novaryq platform POS scope

Novaryq payment disclosures

Discuss your restaurant workflow