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Clover is an intuitive and easy-to-use point-of-sale (POS) system for small and medium businesses. It has various software and hardware options to suit your needs. Whether you run a retail business, own a restaurant or provide services, Clover can meet your processing and POS needs. While it’s not the cheapest solution on the market, Clover’s roster of payment partners makes it a solid choice for businesses of all kinds.
Clover POS is a popular point-of-sale (POS) system developed by Clover Network Inc., a subsidiary of First Data Corporation. It provides businesses with a comprehensive and user-friendly solution for processing payments, managing inventory, tracking sales and running various operations.
Clover POS is a versatile platform with solutions designed specifically for retailers, restaurants, professionals and businesses. Whether you run a small retail shop or a bustling restaurant, Clover offers different hardware options and a wide range of apps to meet your specific needs.
Its hardware devices accept popular payment methods such as cash, cheques, credit cards, debit cards, prepaid cards, gift cards and EBT cards.
The upfront cost of Clover POS hardware and software can be higher than other POS systems. Additionally, there may be ongoing fees for software updates, debit card setup, early termination and payment processing. However, some users need more transparency and reported mixed experiences with the quality and responsiveness of its support team.
The primary function of Clover POS is to facilitate sales transactions and accept payments.
Here’s how to get started with Clover POS:
Create an account at Clover.com and follow the steps to set up your tasks and services. Once your account is set up, you can accept and take payments with the Clover hardware.
Dedicate space on your counter for a Mini, Station Solo or Station Duo. Ensure the area is secure and has a stable internet connection for Clover hardware.
Follow the instructions on the Quick Start Guide. You’ll turn on the power button, choose a language, review your internet connection and enter the activation code. Done right, Clover will install the latest apps on your device.
Unlike its competitors, Clover POS offers a range of hardware and software designed for various business types. There are plans for full-service dining, quick-service dining, retail shops, professional services, personal services and home and field services.
Clover POS supports various third-party applications and services, allowing businesses to connect their POS system with other tools, such as accounting software, CRM systems and online ordering platforms. This integration capability enhances efficiency and streamlines workflows by synchronizing data across different systems.
Let’s take a look at some of the core features of Clover POS.
Clover integrates easily with popular third-party apps such as QuickBooks, Time Clock, Yelp and more to make processes more convenient. It has a vast app marketplace with a wide selection of both free and paid integrations. You can integrate apps for loyalty programs, online ordering, accounting software integration and employee scheduling to improve its functionality.
The solution consists of both hardware and software components. You can select a mix of mobile readers, handheld devices and countertop devices with accessories such as scanners and printers.
Businesses can also select the features and functionalities that will fulfill their needs. Each Clover system has built-in features for employee management, customer engagement, tracking and reporting—so you can scale your business with ease.
Clover POS has inventory management features that allow businesses to track stock levels, monitor expiration dates for perishable goods and automate repetitive inventory-related tasks. Meanwhile, restaurants can use the POS solution to manage online menus and customize menu items to improve guests’ experience.
Clover POS offers various employee management features designed to streamline workforce operations and enhance efficiency. It’s a cinch to assign role-based permissions and access levels to employees, measure team performance and reward staff for their service. Managers and business owners can accurately track employee time and attendance with its Time Clock tool.
To gain more insights on your business’s profitability, you can access real-time sales data, track total sales per employee and generate comprehensive reports. Also, it’s easy to filter data to identify information on bestselling items and monthly sales trends.
Users looking for guidance to get started can get an SMB CompuCom professional for on-site installation and training.
Clover POS pricing has various plans based on the business type—Full service dining, Quick service dining, Retail shops, Professional services, Personal services and Home & field services. Each plan has features for sending e-receipts, managing invoices and storing customer card information for faster checkout. You also pay a transaction fee based on whether or not customers use a card.
Full service dining plans start from $160 monthly and offer business owners a reliable restaurant POS. While the most basic program allows you to take customer orders and payments from a house wait station, more advanced plans will enable you to take orders throughout your restaurant. It has omnichannel menu management, bill splitting, contactless dining via QR codes and an online menu page.
Quick service dining plans start from $100 per month. It enables business owners to take orders and payments with a robust POS. In terms of hardware, the most basic plan features a mini POS with a built-in receipt printer. Meanwhile, the most premium option has a handheld POS with an intelligent terminal. In addition, higher-paid plans have access to features for a customer database, promotions, loyalty programs and private feedback.
Retail plans start from $60 per month. The most basic plan features a simple countertop POS and higher-paid options come with a touchscreen terminal, countertop displays and a handheld device. Retail programs allow you to track sales, view reports, set employee permissions and get third-party apps from the Clover App Market.
Professional services plans start from $14.95 per month. The Starter plan does not come with a hardware POS device. Instead, users are limited to no-hardware transactions with their computer, tablet or phone. In contrast, more premium options offer a handheld and counter POS.
The Starter plan also accepts all major credit and debit cards, cash and check payments. Besides all the payment options in the Starter plan, higher-tier options can accommodate PayPal, gift cards and mobile wallets (e.g., Apple Pay and Google Pay).
Clover is compatible with a range of different third-party hardware devices. Clover also has multiple first-party options to choose from, depending upon the type and size of your business. It supports these five business types: retail, e-commerce, table service restaurants, counter service restaurants and service-based businesses.
Clover POS has start guides with easy-to-follow visual instructions for setting up your Clover device. You can also log in to your account to get more personalized help.
Clover POS has an intuitive interface that is easy to navigate. The layout is designed to be visually appealing and organized, enabling users to access the desired features with minimal effort. Naturally, the familiar design enables employees to quickly familiarize themselves with the POS system with a minimal learning curve.
All Clover devices are PIN Transaction Security (PTS) certified. It is compliant with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) and ships with end-to-end data encryption, tamper detection and access authorization.
Clover POS offers phone support to answer customer inquiries. It also has a FAQ section and small business resources where customers can view helpful information and read in-depth articles.
When compared to Clover POS, Square has zero monthly fees and setup fees. Square also follows a more transparent pricing structure, with clear transaction fees and predictable costs. Meanwhile, Clover POS offers a range of hardware options and an extensive app marketplace, making it suitable for various industries and business types.
Overall, Clover POS excels in versatility and customization options, while Square offers an all-in-one solution with transparent pricing and strong e-commerce integration.
Both Clover POS and Lightspeed offer features for payment processing, inventory management and software integrations. Along with Clover POS, Lightspeed provides a comprehensive set of features specific for the retail and restaurant industry, such as table management for restaurants and inventory management for retail. In terms of pricing, Lightspeed is significantly more expensive than Clover POS.
Both solutions are packed with employee management, inventory management and payment processing. Clover POS has solutions built for restaurants, retailers and service providers, while Shopify POS is ideal for retailers. While Shopify POS is priced significantly higher than Clover POS, it has advanced omnichannel capabilities that the latter lacks.
If you are looking for an intuitive POS with great hardware options and can afford to make a large upfront investment in hardware, Clover can be a great fit for your business. You can even take advantage of its 30-day trial period to check if it is suitable for your business.
Clover POS may be the right choice if you are looking for a POS specifically designed for a type of business or service. The solution provides businesses with a robust and user-friendly platform that combines the essential features of a point-of-sale system with advanced reporting and analytics capabilities. Whether you’re a small startup or an established enterprise, Clover POS has the potential to streamline your operations, improve customer experiences and drive business success.
Canadian specific editing and pricing research conducted by Anna Rey.
Related: Best Credit Card Machines In Canada
You need to purchase a Clover device online or from its merchant partners to start. While purchasing, you will be asked to apply for a merchant account. When you receive the device, it is set up to start accepting payments immediately.
Clover typically takes one to three business days to credit payments to your account. However, you can opt for immediate transfer of funds at a 1% additional fee.
All Clover devices are compliant with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) and ship with end-to-end data encryption, tamper detection and access authorization. The software includes malware detection and antivirus, and updates weekly.
The best POS systems for businesses include eHopper POS, Lightspeed POS, Clover and Square POS. To find out more about the best POS systems, you can view our list of the Best POS Systems For Small Business.
Shweta is an author and freelance writer. She writes about technology and small businesses. Her writing has also appeared in NewsWeek and Huffington Post.
A4 Thermal Paper Monique Danao is a journalist and freelance writer who has worked with several startups and tech companies. Her work has been published in Sitepoint, Fast Capital 360, Social Media Today, WPMayor among other publications.