Starter software stack for a coffee shop or cafe
A lean counter setup for a coffee shop, matcha bar or small cafe: take payments with drink modifiers, schedule a small part-time team, and take pickup orders without delivery-app commissions. Matcha bars use the same stack (specialty cafe, not a separate industry).
These are starting points picked from tools we list, not paid placements. Prices are what vendors published when we checked (Oct 2026); confirm on their pages. How we make money.
We may earn a referral fee from these partners. It never changes our verdicts. How we make money.
POS & payments: Square for Restaurants
Why: Square lists Free $0, Plus $49 and Premium $149 per location/mo, with published in-person card rates and no contract; the coffee POS guide calls it the easiest start for a new or single-counter cafe.
POS, payments and online ordering popular with bars, cafes and small outlets.
Pros & cons
- Square Free plan at $0/mo
- Can take payments without hardware (Tap to Pay, invoices, virtual terminal)
- Keyed-in card fees 3.5% + 15¢; online 3.3% + 30¢ on the Free plan
- Instant transfers cost a fee (next-business-day is free)
Scheduling & time clock: Homebase
Why: Free Basic plan for 1 location and up to 10 employees; paid tiers are published per location.
Free scheduling, time clock and team messaging for small hospitality teams.
Pros & cons
- Free Basic plan: 1 location, up to 10 employees
- Scheduling, time clock, payroll, hiring and team messaging
- Built for general hourly small businesses, not restaurant-specific
Direct online ordering: Owner.com
Why: Branded pickup-ahead online ordering that runs alongside your POS, so orders stay off delivery-app commissions (Flex $249/mo + 5% restaurant fee per order, or Flat $499/mo with no restaurant fee; month to month).
AI-built restaurant websites, online ordering and marketing.
Free calculator and matching templates
Other stacks: Small barSmall restaurantSmall hotel