Choosing a POS system in the Philippines
What a point of sale should do for your shop, how it is usually priced, and what to ask before you pay for one.
What POS software covers
At minimum a POS records a sale and prints a receipt. Most systems sold to small businesses also cover inventory, since deducting stock at the point of sale is the only reliable way to keep a count accurate.
Beyond that, systems differ in whether they hold the cost of each item, whether they let you record expenses, and whether they report profit rather than only revenue. Those three decide whether the software can answer “did the business make money this month” without a spreadsheet.
Questions to ask a vendor
- How is it priced? Per terminal, per user, per business, or a percentage of sales. Per-business pricing is the only one that does not increase as you grow.
- Is stock deducted automatically? If a person has to update counts after sales, counts will drift within days.
- Does it record cost per item? Without cost at the time of sale there is no margin reporting, only turnover.
- What happens on concurrent sales? Ask directly what two terminals selling the last unit do. Some systems allow both.
- Can the data be exported? CSV export of sales, products and inventory, available without contacting support.
- What are the BIR claims? Accreditation is a specific status. Ask for the accreditation number if a vendor claims it.
How Tindro answers those
299 pesos a month per business, unlimited terminals and staff. Stock is deducted inside the sale transaction. Unit cost is stored on each sale line at the time it sold. Two cashiers can never both sell the last unit. Sales, products, inventory and expenses export to CSV.
Tindro is not BIR-accredited and does not work offline. It does track utang: credit sales, down payments and each customer’s balance.
Common questions
How much does a POS system cost in the Philippines?
Prices range from free apps with limited features to systems costing tens of thousands of pesos to install. Subscription POS software is usually priced per terminal or per user. Tindro is 299 pesos a month for the whole business, with no setup fee.
What hardware is needed?
A device with a web browser is enough for browser-based systems: a counter PC, laptop, tablet or phone. A USB barcode scanner that acts as a keyboard needs no setup. Thermal receipt printers in 58mm and 80mm work through the browser print dialog.
Is Tindro accredited by the BIR?
No. Tindro is not an accredited Computerised Accounting System and does not issue official BIR receipts. It records sales and produces a tax summary for an accountant. Businesses required to issue BIR receipts must continue to do so.
Does it support GCash and Maya?
Yes. Cash, GCash, Maya, bank transfer and card are selectable at checkout, and each sale records the method used so the payment split in reports is accurate.