The cash register and its uses

At least we’ve seen a cash register if we don’t use it. Cash registers are an integral part of retail businesses and most cannot operate without one. Invented by James Ritty after the Civil War out of necessity for his salon operation. His main goal was to prevent employees from stealing money and he came up with the idea after seeing a tool that counted the revolutions of steamboat propellers. Patented in 1883, the cash register soon took on a life of its own and, after being sold several times, was finally installed in what it is today.

Today’s cash register doesn’t require you to break a fingernail while pressing huge buttons that were known to stick down and cause all sorts of problems. There are no longer number tabs that pop up to show you how much is being charged, instead most of the records are computerized. Computer cash registers are available in many forms today and can consist of just a simple program you run on your desktop computer that uses an interface like a normal cash register to full POS systems that come complete with cash readers. barcodes, a cash drawer and receipt printer Pos cash registers are what most of us are familiar with today as all the big retailers use them.

Computer cash registers or pos cash registers are very advanced and will do everything from recording customer purchases to doing their taxes. Many of the systems will come with a program that keeps track of your inventory, saving you time and money by streamlining the process and not having to take physical inventory. Don’t forget about options like barcode scanners and laser receipt printers that will help keep your business running smoothly.

Touch screen cash registers are the first choice among restaurants and grocery stores. These logs will display options and menu options that will make ordering faster with just a tap on the screen. Restaurant cash registers are designed so that the kitchen receives the order when the wait staff enters it into the computer so they can start preparing it right away. This makes for a much more efficient restaurant. Many of these point of sale systems also come with age verification software which is helpful for those in the bar business. These registries also allow for unique user IDs that track each person using the registry, their orders, and their sales. Most can download their business for that day or week in tax programs like Quick-books.

The importance of the cash register tape may seem small, but it is an important addition to any system and should be considered before purchasing. Today, most credit card machines and register systems use thermal paper for receipts. This paper requires special thermal printers that burn the image onto the paper. Laser printers are also used and they also have their own special type of receipt paper. These types of printers do not require ink, which is one less expense because ink will cost you a fortune in the long run, but they are much more expensive than regular paper receipt printers.

Below is a list of registrations and prices you can expect to pay:

• Standard 8 Department Electronic Cash Register (recommended for small businesses) starting around $100 – These cash registers are very basic, but for the small retailer they are perfect – Uses standard paper for receipt printing
• Standard electronic cash register from 40 to 99 departments (recommended for small and medium businesses) from $200-$350 – Same considerations as previous registration
• Touch Screen Cash Register (varies by size and packages/options, recommended for restaurants and bars) $500-$2500 – These cash registers will almost always be used with laser or thermal receipt printers
• POS Systems (varies by size and options) $1,500-$3,200 – Most often used with laser or thermal printers.