How to Choose a POS System for Your Shop in Lebanon: A 10-Point Checklist

1. It works with the hardware you use

Check that the system supports barcode scanners, receipt printers and cash drawers — ideally plug-and-play. If you already own hardware, ask to test the POS with your actual scanner and printer so there are no surprises on the shop floor.

2. It handles retail, wholesale and special prices

Many shops sell the same product at different prices depending on who’s buying. A good POS lets you set retail, wholesale and special pricing and apply the right one at checkout, instead of calculating discounts by hand.

3. Inventory you can actually trust

Stock should update automatically with every sale and every purchase. Look for:

• Search and filters across all your products and categories
• Clear stock levels and a quick view of what’s running low
• Cost price next to retail price, so you know the margin on each item
• A setting that decides whether sales can continue when an item shows zero stock

4. Purchases and supplier balances

Buying stock is half the business. A POS that records purchase orders — ordered, received, paid or partially paid — shows exactly how much you owe each supplier and stops invoices from slipping through the cracks.

5. Customer accounts and credit

If regular customers buy on credit and pay later, the POS needs to track it. Look for customer records with outstanding balances, so you can see at a glance who is settled and who still owes — no more notebooks behind the counter.

6. Expenses, not just sales

Rent, salaries, utilities and supplier payments decide whether a good sales month was actually profitable. A POS that logs expenses by category — including recurring ones — gives you the full picture in one place.

7. Reports that show real profit

Sales totals aren’t enough. The reports that matter show revenue, expenses, discounts given and net profit for any date range, and ideally the gross profit and margin of each transaction. That’s how you spot products that sell a lot but earn very little.

8. Users, roles and multiple branches

Give each employee their own account so every sale is traceable. If you have — or plan to open — a second location, check that the POS can manage stock, sales and expenses per branch and across all branches from a single system.

9. Arabic and a comfortable interface

Your staff will use the POS all day. Full Arabic language support, a clear layout, keyboard shortcuts and a dark mode for long shifts make a real difference to speed and mistakes at the counter.

10. Settings that fit your store

You should be able to add your logo and store details to receipts, set up categories, suppliers and customers, choose your currency and language, and connect your devices — without calling the developer every time something changes.

Questions to ask before you buy

1. 01Can I see the system running in a real store, not just a demo?
2. 02What exactly is included in the price, and what costs extra?
3. 03Does it work with my scanner, printer and cash drawer?
4. 04How are updates, support and training handled after installation?
5. 05Can I get my data out if I ever switch systems?
6. 06What changes — and what does it cost — as I add branches or employees?

How iDevelopIt POS covers this checklist

We designed and built iDevelopIt POS end-to-end, and it’s already running in real stores. It supports barcode scanners, receipt printers and cash drawers; retail, wholesale and special pricing; inventory with low stock alerts; purchase orders and supplier balances; customer balances; expenses; profit and margin reports; employee accounts; multi-branch operations; and full Arabic with dark mode.