The Ultimate Guide To Mobile POS Systems For Your Food Business
Connect POS, a Shopify Compatible APP
Aside from seeing happy customers, being fulfilled within your life’s purpose, and selling out your inventory, the next best thing about having a food business is getting paid. For cottage food businesses, home-based commercial kitchens, farmers market regulars, and food trucks having a reliable mobile point of sale system (mPOS) is a must.
Mastercard revealed that 82% of customers surveyed believe that contactless payment is a safer way to pay. The transition away from cash payments is picking up pace. Mobile and contactless payments are expected to grow by 221% between 2022 and 2027.
Where once cash was king, cards have taken the crown. We are quickly moving towards a cashless society, and adapting to consumer spending habits is part of keeping up with contactless payment methods should be a top priority.
The Benefits Of A Mobile POS System
Whether you are tethered to a brick-and-mortar kitchen at a fixed address, or you are ruling the city in your moving food mobile on wheels, a portable mPOS system should be a top priority investment.
They can help streamline payments on the go at farmers’ markets, festivals, and private events.
You can eliminate a bulky register and use your phone or smart tablet instead.
You can accept contactless payments.
Your payment information is safely stored in the cloud and accessible anywhere.
Commerce is paper free. Receipts are stored and can be emailed quickly.
It makes your business accessible to customers who don’t carry cash but have their phone on hand for contactless payment.
Perhaps most importantly, mPOS systems can help expand your revenue streams and allow you to be in multiple places simultaneously. In addition, because the mPOS systems are cloud-based, you can access business information anywhere, anytime, allowing you to untether from your computer, creating higher productivity and efficiency.
How Do Mobile Payment Systems Work
The learning curve for mobile payment systems is a relatively easy one. They are typically uncomplicated, allowing both employees and customers a smooth experience.
Getting your mPOS system up and running will require choosing a software provider, downloading the app, and connecting your card reader to the mobile device. After that, the only limiting factor is a strong WIFI or data connection.
Even without a signal, some mPOS offer an offline mode that lets you continue to accept payment even if you’re without a connection. In contrast, others won’t allow payment but will still provide some functionality while offline.
Using a mobile POS system can allow your business to be in more than one place at a time.
What To Look For In A Mobile POS System
Mobile POS systems can have a wide variety of features and operating modes catering to an equally wide variety of needs.
mPOS systems can process a variety of payment types, including:
Knowing what kinds of payments you want to accept will help you make an informed decision on your mPOS system.
In addition, you’ll want to keep in mind which features work best with your business model. Here are six features that might help you decide which mPOS system is right for you.
1. Marketing
Many mobile POS systems will allow you to create and process coupons, gift certificates, and loyalty programs, in essence operating as both a payment portal and your marketing department.
2. Security
Secure payments are crucial for both you and your customer. Therefore, your mPOS should be PCI-Compliant which will help you keep transactions secure and protect you from disputed charges.
3. Reporting
Reports are essential to analyzing sales figures, inventory, and buying trends. Knowing when your customers are most active, what they are buying and how they are paying will help you optimize your business.
4. E-Commerce Compatibility
As your business grows, you may consider integrating other platforms like websites, to sell products. An all-in-one concept like Square that will provide you with mobile POS hardware and website-building software that works in sync and can become a centralized place to manage your food business.
5. Third-Party Integrations
New food start-ups are often lean operations with one or two people at the helm. For example, using third-party programs for advanced accounting, inventory, and staff management that integrate with your mPOS system will help keep the juggling act smooth.
6. Employee Management
Some mobile POS systems will allow for multiple employee profiles to help you resolve human error issues or track time. You will also be able to set different roles and permissions using unique profiles.
How Much Does an mPOS Cost
There are typically three areas of the cost associated with an investment into a mobile POS system: hardware, software, and payment processing fees.
Hardware
The physical hardware can cost between $0- $800 whether you choose an mPOS that will work with your existing smartphone or tablet (Poster) or you invest in one that has its own unit (Square).
Software
Software for mPOS systems can also vary greatly, with some being free with the purchase of a portable terminal and others upwards of $270 per month.
Payment Processing Fees
Payment processing fees average 2.6% and are usually accompanied by a flat rate per transaction fee. All around, mobile payment systems tend to be cheaper than their traditional counterparts.
The Best Mobile POS Systems
There is really no ‘best’ mobile POS system; there is only the best mobile POS system for your specific needs. Here are a few of the most popular entry-level mPOS systems on the market.
Clover is a mobile POS system with several different options for mobile units. (Source: Clover)
Clover
Per Merchant Maverick: Clover has several mobile Android-based and purpose-built POS hardware solutions to choose from, but the most mobile-ready Clover device is the Clover Flex.
The mobility of the $499 Clover Flex makes it easy to line-bust, sell on the floor, or even outside the bounds of your brick-and-mortar store with a data plan. In addition, the Clover Flex has a built-in card swipe/chip/tap payment reader, receipt printer, and barcode scanner.
Suitable for any business type
Monthly Fee: $0-$290/month
Processing Fee: 2.3%-3.5% + $0.10
Square Mobile POS coordinates with an APP and a backend capable of managing analytics.
Square
Square Point of Sale is a mobile POS system available for iOS and Android devices. Key capabilities of the Square POS system include online payment processing, sales reports, inventory tracking, digital receipts, email and SMS marketing campaigns, eCommerce, insights/analytics, and more.
Suitable for any business type
Monthly Fee: Free
Processing Fee: 2.6% + $0.10
Shopify Mobile POS system works especially well if you also want to develop E Commerce
Shopify
Reviewers report that one big draw with Shopify POS is how easily you can upgrade and scale as your business grows. Shopify is also versatile in that you can use it on any mobile device or laptop and has various pricing plans.
The entry-level service plan, Shopify’s Starter Plan, comes at a reasonable monthly fee of $5/month and provides access to the POS system as well as invoicing and limited online selling tools — embeddable buy buttons to sell on your existing blog or website (supports WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, Weebly, Tumblr, and more).
Suitable for retail
Monthly Fee: $9
Processing Fee: 2.7%
Using a mobile POS system will soon be the future of frictionless payments. Even if you feel you don’t need a mobile payment system yet, it’s worth looking at for the future scalability potential one offers.
And why the street taco just might unite humanity.
The street taco. Available in most major cities, the food blessing that meets just about everyone’s cravings, and a perfectly well-rounded and nutritious meal if done right. It’s time to throw some respect on the street taco’s name.
Why do we love a street taco so much? Is it the various fillings with their spices that can transport you to a foreign land? The specialty sauce from your favorite food truck? Is it the humbling way that no one person can eat them without making a mess? There are too many reasons to count.
We went on a search to find out how this food treasure ended up in the United States and also for proof that they might be the food that unites humanity.
The History of The American Street Taco
Let’s just state right here, although we can unequivocally say that the taco hails from our more well-spiced friends from the south, a street taco is not a Mexican taco and vice versa. The version of taco that has emigrated to the United States from the south has taken the vast array of regional flavors from South American cultures and made them a fusion of a hybrid of a melding of an authentic favorite.
Taquero in Los Angeles
Tacos and Mexican Silver Mines
The modern Taqueros (professional taco makers) have benefited from those who paved the taco cart streets before them. The word “taco” actually came from the silver mines of Mexico dating back before the 19th century. Back then, “taco” meant “explosive” in reference to the small sticks of dynamite used to blow up the rocks in the mines. (Insert joke about street food and explosiveness here.)
From the 19th century on, the only authentic tacos were found served from Mexican street cars. They are traditionally served with fresh warm corn tortillas, a family’s century-old salsa recipe, and various cuts of meat. Classic styles include “Barbacoa,” lamb meat, “Carnitas,” seasoned pork, “Al Pastor”, typically beef mixed with red peppers, and the uber classic, “Carne Asada,” which is thinly sliced grilled meat marinated in citrus juices.
A notable side story here is the Mexican worship of corn, which still plays a significant part in Mexican food heritage. Way back in 3000BC, the indigenous cultures worshipped corn as the foundation of humanity, the seed of life. Their devotion to this miraculous crop ran so deep that there was a thought that humans themselves might be made out of corn. So is it wrong to love a crop that sustains life in the form of tacos? We think not.
Chili Queens Juanita (left) and Esperanza Garcia make tortillas in this photograph from 1937. ALL IMAGES: UTSA SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
The Street Taco Crosses The Border
Americans can agree to disagree on many things, but a love of tacos can unite the most fickle of foodies around the food truck.
The taco made its way across the border around 1905 when Mexican migrants came to work on railroads and other laborious jobs. They brought with them the half-folded gold that is our modern-day street taco, as it was a versatile and highly portable lunch on the job.
Even in the early 1900’s Los Angeles was ahead of the foodie trends. With the demand for immigrant labor came the market for the taco carts that would line the streets here. The women running them were famously called “The Chili Queens.” These were typically migrant women who took their generational food knowledge to the streets to make all our lunch breaks better.
By the 1960s, street tacos became a staple on the food scene in every major city. Industrialization brought innovation to the taco game, with high-powered tortilla presses speeding up the process and making the tradition more widespread and accessible than ever.
It was this period forward where the authentic taco evolved to American standards and commonly included lettuce, cheese, hard crunchy shells, and sour cream. That’s right; you’ll not find sour cream at a Taquero’s cart in Guadalajara.
Americans have taken the traditional taco and evolved it to really be just anything that is wrapped in a tortilla which can sometimes include the melding of entirely different cultures. See the Jamaican Jerk Street Taco or the gluten-free Vegan Jackfruit Taco with Coleslaw as evidence of the looseness of the interpretation of what a street taco in the US is in modern times.
Either way, we’re sure the Chili Queens of LA would be proud.
Street Taco Slang You Need To Know
Now that you have a newfound respect for the life and journey of the street taco, you should know how to order one from an authentic food cart respectfully. Here is some street taco lingo that you can throw around to gain immediate respect from your local Taquero.
Costra
When the Taquero lines the tortilla with meat and cheese, gives it a flip, and returns it to you crisped and caramelized.
Doradita
A fried taco.
Guero/a
A friendly nickname for a light-skinned customer.
Taquero/a
The master of the street tacos.
Cebollitas
Life itself, these are the roasted cambray onions.
Mexicana
A style of authentic taco that is meat, cilantro, onion, and salsa.
Americana
The opposite of the Mexicana style, with lettuce, cheese, and (gasp!) sour cream.
Verduras
This literally translates to “garden” and means with lettuce or herbs.
SAPi is determined to find the best food truck experiences all over the United States. This week we are bringing you the top five best food truck parks in Austin, Texas.
The Austin food scene is replete with cutting-edge culinary cuisines, but it wouldn’t be complete without its world-class food truck scene. The food trucks found in the fresh, funky city are the embodiment of Austin’s laid-back, socially driven culture where a hot happy hour can just as likely be found in a trendy new cocktail bar as in a happening parking lot.
Austin has an estimated 1200 active food trucks that make up the prolific parking lot fine dining scene. Narrowing down the top five would be unfair, so instead, in this edition of SAPi’s Best of Food Trucks we’ll be highlighting the best Food Truck PARKS that make up Austin’s foodie landscape.
That’s right, Austin has enough Food Truck Parks to make an entire list (or maybe two!). Have we found foodie paradise in a back lot with twinkling lights and picnic tables? Maybe.
The Picnic was founded on the principle that supporting local is the best investment for Austin’s food community. They also commit to supporting small food truck businesses long-term with one-year leases.
They boast of some unheard of food truck park amenities such as; boutique shopping, covered pavilion areas, and air-conditioned bathrooms. Food truck flavors range from TexMex to Thai and rotate making for a fresh experience with every visit. As an added bonus, The Picnic is open seven days a week, ready to fulfill your culinary cravings!
The Pangea Lounge is an ideal location for those in East Austin. It creates the epitome of a laid-back vibe complete with hammocks for those who actually want to lay back after a big meal. They also host outside vendors and live music events on a regular schedule. Serving not just your average fare, this is where you go for Columbia street eats and Venezuelan Pepitos.
Must Try: Bazilian Cozhina from Boteco, Bela Fria Hot Dog from Pepitos, and Tacos Al Paisa.
Photo Credit: Thicket Austin
The Brooklyn Breakfast Shop, Thicket South Austin Food Truck Park
3. Thicket Food Truck Park
Location: 7800 South 1st Street
Specialty: Play Areas, Live Music, Yoga, Open Mic
Serving South Austin, Thicket Food Truck Park is family-friendly community gathering space with tasty food trucks, play areas, and live music. It’s the perfect spot for families who don’t have babysitters but want to take a pseudo-date! The Thicket is an ideal brunch or lunch spot where parents can feast on the Brooklyn Breakfast Shop or Revolution Vegan Kitchen while watching the littles play at the jungle gym.
Must Try: Breakfast Chilaquiles from Revolution Vegan Kitchen, ceviche at Un Mundo de Sabor, and Sweet Monkey Plantains at Plantain Bar.
Photo Credit: Heart of Texas Peace Corps Association
Mueller Trailer Eats, Food Truck Park, Austin Texas
4. Mueller Trailer Eats
Location: 4209 Airport Blvd
Specialty: Laid Back Picnic Vibes
Mueller Trailer Eats is a whole vibe located in the Historic Browning Hangar. Colorful picnic tables and even a converted school bus food truck set the scene for a fun night out. This food truck paradise is easily accessible and features a variety of cuisine from plant-based vegan eats to exceptional grilled burgers.
The Mueller Trailer Eats food truck park is open seven days a week until 8 pm.
Photo Credit: Visit Austin Rainey Street Food Trucks, Austin, Texas
5. Rainey Street Food Trucks
Location: Rainey Street
Specialty: Tons of Variety, Great Date Night
The Rainey Street Food Trucks are the night out you didn’t know you needed. With a laid-back dress code, twenty food trucks to choose from, and live music alongside street bars, this might just be a foodie mecca. Rainey Street boasts every kind of cuisine alongside the banks of Lady Bird Lake. Rainey Street is the less crowded version of 6th Street with all the same funky energy.
