What Is the Best POS System for Small Liquor Stores? 6 Top Providers

The liquor retail industry is booming. Revenue is growing and consumers are branching out, exploring premium spirits and craft beverages that offer higher margins. So, what’s the catch? 

You can only take advantage of this growth trend if you have the right systems in place to capture it. 

Generic retail point of sale (POS) systems aren't built to handle the complexities of liquor retail. You need age verification features, inventory management for case breaking and mix and match pricing, automated multi-jurisdictional tax calculations, and compliance reporting that keeps you audit-ready at all times.

If you’re still running on a standard POS system, you’re missing out on key opportunities. Instead, you need a specialized POS platform designed for stores like yours.

In this blog, we’ll cover the six top options for the best POS system for small liquor stores. For each, we’ll discuss key features and pricing. 

Let’s get started.

Essential Features Every Small Liquor Store POS System Needs

Before we cover our list of best POS systems for small liquor stores, let’s explore some of the unique challenges of liquor store operations and the key features you need from your tools and technology to manage them. 

Unlike clothing stores or general merchandise retailers, liquor stores face strict compliance requirements, age verification laws, and inventory challenges that demand special attention and, as a result, special tools and technology. But what makes a tool a great fit for liquor stores?

When evaluating your options, these essential features are nonnegotiable:

• Integrated ID scanning with forgery detection: Automatically scan and verify customer IDs.
• PACT Act and FDA compliance tracking: Maintain detailed records required for tobacco and alcohol regulations, automatically generating the reports you need for inspections and audits.
• Case breaking and mix and match functionality: Track individual bottles while managing case quantities, so you can sell by the bottle or case without creating a mess.
• Serialized tracking for premium products: Individually track high-value items like rare whiskeys or vintage wines to prevent theft.
• Automated tobacco and alcohol excise tax calculations: Handle complex tax calculations automatically, including varying rates for different product categories and jurisdictions.
• Support for cash, cards, and mobile payments: Accommodate all customer preferences with flexible payment processing.
• Purchase history tracking and loyalty program management: Track customer data and buying patterns, so you can create targeted promotions and loyalty programs.

These features work together to create an all-in-one solution that protects your business and streamlines operations. Now, let's examine six key providers with the features liquor stores need to succeed. 

Square 

Best for: New business owners and pop-up businesses

Square offers a user-friendly POS solution that works well for small business owners who want to get up and running quickly. While not specifically designed for liquor retail, Square provides most of the essentials that liquor stores need at a low price point. 

Key features:

• Built-in ID scanning to verify customer age for alcohol purchases
• Mobile POS options for inventory management and floor sales
• Basic inventory tracking with real-time stock updates across locations
• Gift card functionality to drive customer retention

Pricing: Square Plus starts at $29/month.

While Square lacks advanced liquor retail features like case breaking and specialized compliance reporting, it provides a solid foundation for basic operations and can be a good option for a “starter POS” system for liquor stores.

Lightspeed Retail

Best for: Stores focusing on e-commerce 

Lightspeed Retail is a cloud-based platform that works well for enterprise retailers or stores looking to dominate in online sales channels. The tool isn’t designed specifically for liquor stores, but it has most of the features liquor retailers need.

Related Read: Brick-and-Mortar vs. E-Commerce: Which Is Best?

Key features:

• Unified commerce that syncs in-store and online operations
• Built-in RACS compliance and age verification integrations
• Website builder with search engine optimization (SEO) tools to attract online customers
• Buy online, pickup in store (BOPIS) capabilities for customer convenience
• Real-time reporting and forecasting across all sales channels

Pricing: Plans range from $89–$289/month, with custom enterprise pricing available.

Lightspeed is particularly valuable for stores in markets where online liquor sales are permitted. If you’re planning to expand into e-commerce, this is one tool to consider.

KORONA POS

Best for: Small to medium retailers prioritizing remote management

KORONA POS is a cloud-based solution that offers a suite of liquor store-specific features. If you run a liquor store and want to be able to access most of your back office functionality from the road, KORONA may be a good option to consider. 

Key features:

• ID scanning with age verification reminders 
• Employee management with customizable permission levels 
• Cloud-based remote access through KORONA Studio back office
• Customer loyalty program integration with promotional capabilities

Pricing: KORONA’s Core plan starts at $59/month.

KORONA POS works well for growing liquor stores who need reliable age verification and the ability to monitor operations off-site.  

mPower POS 

Best for: Multilocation liquor store chains

mPower POS is a solution built exclusively for bottle shops and liquor stores. They offer features tailored to multilocation liquor store chains and give the advanced functionality growing liquor retailers need. 

Key features:

• Multistore data synchronization with centralized pricing and promotions
• Intelligent ordering system with suggested reorder reports 
• Handheld app for Zebra devices for mobile inventory management
• Data migration services from existing systems

Pricing: mPower costs $1,000 upfront, plus $120/month per register; additional registers include a $250 setup fee, plus $120/month.

mPower is a strong choice for business owners who operate multiple locations or plan to expand in the near future.

NCR Counterpoint 

Best for: Convenience stores and gas stations with liquor sales

NCR is a point of sale provider designed for restaurants, convenience stores, and gas stations. They offer fuel pump integrations and other niche features that might be a good fit for combination gas station/liquor store businesses.  

Key features:

• Detailed product attribute tracking, including sizes, colors, and custom fields
• Advanced customer relationship management (CRM) with purchase history tracking
• Comprehensive reporting suite for better decision making
• Multichannel inventory management across store, online, and mobile

Pricing: Custom pricing is based on business size and requirements.

NCR Counterpoint is the right choice for established liquor retailers with complex needs, multiple locations, or specialized product categories.

Bottle POS

Best for: Small to medium-sized liquor stores

Bottle POS is a point of sale solution built by liquor store owners, for liquor store owners. Bottle POS' solution was designed to address every unique challenge of liquor retail, giving you the automation and industry-specific features you need to boost profits.

Key features:

• Advanced age verification with integrated compliance tracking
• Auto invoicing system to eliminate manual data entry 
• Auto ranking technology that grades inventory A–D based on sales patterns
• Case-bottle inventory tracking with built-in unit conversion features
• Built-in customer loyalty program with SMS marketing 
• Remote access capabilities from any device with Wi-Fi
• Integration that works with most existing Windows 10+ touchscreen hardware

Pricing: Get a custom quote for the hardware and software you need in your store using their transparent pricing tool.

Bottle POS is the ideal choice for any liquor store seeking an all-in-one specialized solution. Whether you're a new business or an established operation, Bottle POS is a smart investment for serious liquor retailers looking for ways to grow their business. 

How To Choose the Best POS System for Your Small Liquor Store 

Finding the right POS system for your liquor store is crucial, but it doesn't have to be overwhelming. We’ve laid out a simple step-by-step process you can follow to carefully weigh your options and find the right fit for your store. 

Step 1: Assess Your Current Operations
Start by taking an honest look at your store. Are you a small neighborhood bottle shop focused on beer and wine, or do you specialize in premium spirits? Your daily transaction volume and product mix will determine which features you actually need versus nice-to-haves.

Related Read: Liquor Store Accounting: 11 Tips & Tools

Step 2: Understand Your Compliance Requirements
Research your state's specific regulations for age verification, reporting, and tax calculations. These requirements vary significantly across jurisdictions, and your POS system needs to have the features to manage them.

Step 3: Evaluate Your Technical Infrastructure
Check if your existing hardware can support new software to minimize upfront costs. Also, examine your internet connection to ensure you have a reliable setup that supports a cloud-based solution. 

Step 4: Plan for Growth
You’re selecting a POS system for today — but to get the most bang for your buck, you need to think beyond today's needs. If you're planning to expand to multiple locations or add e-commerce capabilities, make sure your chosen system can scale with your business.

Step 5: Calculate Total Cost of Ownership
Next, consider the price, but look beyond the sticker price. Factor in processing fees, ongoing support costs, and training expenses to understand the true investment. Sometimes, the cheapest upfront option is the most expensive in the long run.

Step 6: Prioritize Expert Support
Finally, choose a provider who has liquor industry expertise. You want a technical partner who understands your specific challenges and can guide you through everything from compliance requirements to operational hiccups.

Find Your Perfect POS System for Small Liquor Stores 

Your success depends on having the right tools and systems. A generic retail POS solution can’t handle the compliance requirements, specialized inventory needs, and unique challenges that come with liquor store operations. If you want to set yourself up for growth, you need an industry-specific solution.

The six options listed all have their different strengths and weaknesses — the right fit for your store depends on your specific needs and goals. When evaluating your options, focus on four key factors: liquor-specific features, transparent pricing, reliable support, and a proven track record in beverage retail. 

For our money, Bottle POS checks all these boxes and more. It is an affordable, all-in-one solution that has every feature liquor store owners need to succeed in the modern retail market.  

Ready to streamline your liquor store operations? Build and price your ideal POS system today.