CartOS POS lets you sell in person using the same product catalog, inventory, and customer database as your online store. Whether you're at a retail counter, farmers market, trade show, or running a full restaurant, POS brings everything together in one system.
How CartOS POS works
CartOS POS runs in your web browser—no special software to install. Open the POS on any device with a browser and internet connection: tablet, laptop, or touchscreen terminal. Your products, inventory, and customers sync automatically with your online store.
When you make a sale on POS, inventory updates everywhere instantly. When someone buys online, your POS inventory reflects it. One catalog, one inventory, multiple ways to sell.
Accessing the POS
Go to Point of Sale in your admin sidebar, or navigate directly to yourstore.cartos-stores.com/pos. You'll need to log in with your CartOS credentials or a staff PIN if you've set those up.
For dedicated POS terminals, bookmark the POS URL or add it to your device's home screen for app-like quick access.
Choosing your POS mode
CartOS POS adapts to different business types. When setting up, choose the mode that matches how you operate:
Retail mode
The standard mode for most stores. Scan or search for products, add them to the cart, and check out. Perfect for boutiques, gift shops, general retail, and pop-up shops.
Restaurant mode
Designed for food service with table management, order tickets, kitchen display integration, and workflows for dine-in, takeout, and delivery. Supports coursing, modifiers, and split checks.
Quick service mode
Streamlined for fast-paced environments like coffee shops, food trucks, and counter service. Large buttons for common items, speed-focused interface, minimal taps to complete a sale.
Winery mode
Built for tasting rooms with wine club integration, tasting flight management, case discounts, and compliance features for alcohol sales.
Salon mode
Appointment-aware selling with service items, staff assignment, and tip handling. Integrates with scheduling for seamless client management.
Grocery mode
Optimized for high-volume scanning with scale integration for weighted items, PLU lookup, and fast checkout flows.
Select your mode in Point of Sale › Settings › POS Mode. You can switch modes anytime if your needs change.
Setting up hardware
CartOS POS works with a range of hardware. Here's what you might need:
Display device
Run POS on any device with a modern browser:
- iPad – Popular choice for its reliability and touchscreen. Works with iPad stands for countertop use.
- Android tablet – Budget-friendly option. Make sure it has a recent browser version.
- Laptop or desktop – Good for stationary setups, especially with an external touchscreen monitor.
- Dedicated POS terminal – Purpose-built touchscreen devices from vendors like Elo or Toast hardware.
Card reader
Accept card payments with Stripe Terminal readers. CartOS supports:
- Stripe Reader M2 – Portable Bluetooth reader for mobile selling
- Stripe BBPOS WisePOS E – Countertop reader with customer-facing display
- Stripe Terminal S700 – Advanced reader with touchscreen and PIN entry
Connect readers via Bluetooth or internet depending on the model. See Setting Up Card Readers for pairing instructions.
Receipt printer
Print receipts for customers who want them. CartOS works with Ethernet and Bluetooth receipt printers. Popular options include Star Micronics and Epson TM series. Configure printers in Point of Sale › Settings › Hardware.
You can also offer email or SMS receipts instead of printed ones—better for the environment and captures customer contact info.
Cash drawer
If you accept cash, connect a cash drawer to your receipt printer. The drawer opens automatically when you complete a cash transaction. Most drawers use a standard RJ11 connection to the printer.
Barcode scanner
Speed up product lookup by scanning barcodes. USB and Bluetooth scanners work with CartOS—they act as keyboard input, typing the barcode into the search field. No special configuration needed; just pair or plug in and scan.
Kitchen display (restaurant mode)
For restaurants, set up a kitchen display system (KDS) to show orders to your kitchen staff. This can be a dedicated screen or another tablet running the kitchen display view.
Configuring your POS
Product organization
The POS displays your products differently than your online store. Go to Point of Sale › Settings › Layout to configure:
- Quick buttons – Pin your most common products to the main screen for one-tap access
- Categories – Organize products into browsable categories
- Search behavior – Configure how product search works (by name, SKU, barcode)
For retail with many products, focus on good search and barcode scanning. For restaurant or quick service, invest time in setting up quick buttons for menu items.
Tax settings
POS uses your store's tax settings by default. If your physical location has different tax requirements than your online sales, configure location-specific tax rates in Settings › Taxes.
Payment methods
Enable the payment methods you'll accept in person:
- Card – Via Stripe Terminal reader
- Cash – With cash drawer integration
- Gift cards – If you sell and redeem gift cards
- Store credit – For returns or customer credits
- External – For other methods (checks, external payment apps)
Receipt options
Configure what appears on receipts: your logo, store info, return policy, custom messages. Choose whether to default to printed, emailed, or no receipt.
Making your first sale
Adding items
Add products to the cart by:
- Tapping quick buttons (if configured)
- Searching by name or SKU
- Scanning a barcode
- Browsing categories
For products with variants, select the specific variant (size, color) after adding.
Adjusting the cart
- Tap an item to change quantity or remove it
- Apply discounts (percentage, fixed amount, or saved discount codes)
- Add a custom item for one-off sales not in your catalog
- Add notes to items if needed
Customer lookup
Associate the sale with a customer to track their purchase history and apply any customer-specific pricing. Search by name, email, or phone. If they're new, create a customer record during checkout.
Checkout
When ready, tap Checkout. Select the payment method:
- Card – The reader prompts the customer to tap, insert, or swipe
- Cash – Enter the amount tendered, see the change due, and the drawer opens
- Split payment – Accept multiple payment methods on one transaction
After payment, offer a receipt (print, email, or SMS). The sale is complete and recorded in your orders.
Managing the cash drawer
Opening float
Start your shift by entering your opening cash amount. This establishes your baseline for end-of-day reconciliation.
Cash drops and payouts
Record when you remove cash from the drawer (drops to the safe) or pay out cash (petty cash expenses). This keeps your drawer count accurate.
Closing out
At the end of the day, run a close-out. Count your drawer, enter the actual amounts, and CartOS compares expected vs. actual to identify any discrepancies. Generate end-of-day reports showing total sales by payment type.
Staff management
Staff PINs
Create PIN codes for staff members so they can clock in and use the POS without full admin access. Each sale is attributed to the logged-in staff member for accountability and commission tracking.
Permissions
Control what each staff member can do:
- Process sales
- Apply discounts (with limits)
- Process returns
- Access reports
- Manage cash drawer
Time tracking
If enabled, staff clock in and out through the POS. View timesheets and hours worked in your admin.
Returns and exchanges
To process a return:
- Find the original order (search by order number, customer, or date)
- Select the items being returned
- Choose refund method (back to card, cash, or store credit)
- Complete the return
For exchanges, process a return and a new sale, or use the exchange feature to combine them in one transaction.
Returned items automatically go back into inventory unless you specify otherwise (damaged items, for example).
Offline mode
If your internet drops, POS can continue accepting some payments in offline mode. Cash transactions work normally. Card transactions are queued and processed when connectivity returns.
Offline mode has limitations—you can't look up customer history or verify real-time inventory. Use it as a backup, not a primary mode. Keep your internet connection reliable.
POS reports
View POS-specific reports in Point of Sale › Reports:
- Sales summary – Total sales, transaction count, average sale value
- Sales by staff – Who sold what
- Sales by product – Top sellers at the register
- Payment methods – Breakdown of cash vs. card vs. other
- Hourly sales – When your busy times are
- Cash drawer report – Reconciliation details
POS sales also appear in your main CartOS reports alongside online sales, giving you a complete view of your business.
Tips for success
Practice before going live
Run through several test transactions before your first real customer. Make sure you're comfortable with the flow, your hardware works, and your staff knows the system.
Set up quick buttons thoughtfully
Watch what you sell most and adjust your quick buttons to match. Good button layout dramatically speeds up checkout.
Keep your catalog clean
Products on your online store appear in POS by default. If you have online-only items (digital downloads, for instance), mark them as not available for POS to keep your POS catalog focused.
Train your team
Make sure everyone who uses the POS knows how to handle common scenarios: discounts, returns, customer lookup, and what to do if something goes wrong.