HOTCHOWS BLOG
RESTAURANT POS
GUIDES & TIPS
Honest breakdowns, cost comparisons, and guides for independent restaurant and retail owners who are tired of overpaying their POS.
Best Square POS Alternatives in 2026 (Honest Comparison with Real Costs)
Square takes 2.6% + 15¢ on every swipe. We break down exactly what that costs you at $30k, $50k, and $100k/month in sales — and show the alternatives that won't eat your margin.
QuickBooks Discontinued Their POS: Best Alternatives in 2026
QuickBooks killed their POS in October 2023. If you're still hunting for a replacement that also handles bookkeeping, here are your best options — including one for $9.99/month.
Free Restaurant POS Systems That Actually Work in 2026
"Free" POS software usually means locked-in to expensive processing or stripped-down features. We test which ones are genuinely free — and which are free trials worth taking.
Restaurant Bookkeeping Made Simple: Chart of Accounts Guide
A practical guide to setting up your restaurant's chart of accounts — prime cost ratios, COGS by category, and how POS-integrated bookkeeping eliminates manual entry.