Best POS Systems for Liquor Stores in 2025
Let me guess: you’ve got 3,000+ SKUs, half your inventory is bought by the case but sold by the bottle, and you’re losing sleep over whether that new cashier is actually checking IDs. Welcome to liquor retail.
I’ve helped hundreds of liquor store owners find POS systems that don’t make them want to throw their register through a window. The truth? Most “retail POS” systems are absolute garbage for liquor stores. They can’t handle case-break inventory. They don’t understand that a 12-pack and 12 individual cans are the same product in different forms. And their “age verification” is basically a checkbox that nobody uses.
You need a POS built for liquor. Here’s what actually works in 2025.
💰 The Reality of Liquor Store Margins
📉 The Shrinkage Problem Nobody Talks About
Shrinkage from theft, breakage, and admin errors costs liquor stores 2-4% of revenue annually. For a $500,000 store, that’s $10,000-$20,000 in lost profits every year.
A good POS with proper inventory tracking can cut that number in half. That’s $5,000-$10,000 back in your pocket – every single year.
🏆 Top 6 Liquor Store POS Systems (Honest Reviews)
Here’s the thing about Bottle POS: it was built BY liquor store owners FOR liquor store owners. They didn’t start with generic retail software and try to shoehorn liquor features in. They started from scratch with 20,000+ beer, wine, and spirits products already in the database.
The killer feature: True case-break inventory management. Receive a case of 12 bottles, and the system automatically tracks it as both 1 case AND 12 individual bottles. Sell 3 bottles? Your inventory shows 9 bottles OR 0.75 cases. This sounds simple, but most POS systems can’t do it without manual reconciliation.
- 20,000+ products pre-loaded
- True case-break inventory tracking
- Built-in age verification with ID scanning
- Automatic reorder point alerts
- Liquor-specific reporting
- Excellent customer support
- Higher price than generic options
- Less flexible for non-liquor products
- Smaller company than giants like Square
KORONA leads most “best liquor POS” lists for good reason: their inventory management is absolutely bulletproof. Real-time tracking, automatic low-stock alerts, and the system updates instantly as sales happen.
Why liquor stores love it: Built-in age verification (no extra integrations needed), processor-agnostic payment processing (shop for the best rates), and genuinely excellent 24/7 support.
- Industry-leading inventory management
- Built-in age verification tools
- Choose your own payment processor
- No long-term contracts
- Works offline
- 24/7 US-based support
- Learning curve for advanced features
- Hardware purchased separately
- Can be overkill for tiny shops
“The biggest advantage of Shopify is that it’s completely integrated. Whether someone buys in-store or online, the inventory is always accurate.” — Peter Schwarzbach, owner of VIN Chicago
Best for: Liquor stores that want to sell online (where legal). Shopify’s e-commerce is unmatched, and the POS syncs perfectly with your online store.
- Best-in-class e-commerce integration
- Unified inventory across all channels
- Beautiful, modern interface
- Huge app ecosystem
- Age verification via Real ID app
- Age verification requires third-party app
- Less liquor-specific than Bottle POS
- Processing fees can add up
- Case-break requires workarounds
Running 3+ liquor stores? FTx was built for you. Their multi-location inventory management lets you transfer stock between stores, see consolidated reporting, and manage everything from one dashboard.
Age verification: Their integration is built for age-restricted businesses. Every scan is logged with timestamps for compliance audits.
- Excellent multi-location tools
- Advanced age verification with audit logs
- Inter-store inventory transfers
- Customer loyalty programs
- Built-in inventory management
- Custom pricing (must call)
- Overkill for single locations
- Longer implementation time
Look, not everyone needs a $100/month system. If you’re a smaller operation with straightforward inventory, Square’s free tier genuinely works. Their paid retail plan adds age restrictions and ID scanning at checkout.
Reality check: Square is simple and affordable, but you’ll feel the limitations once you hit 1,000+ SKUs or need true case-break tracking.
- Free tier available
- Beautiful, intuitive interface
- Age restrictions on retail plan
- ID scanning at checkout
- Great hardware at fair prices
- Basic inventory for liquor needs
- No true case-break management
- 2.6% + 10¢ processing adds up
- Limited advanced features
Lightspeed’s granular inventory is legendary. Buy by the case, sell by the bottle. Track wine by vintage, region, and grape variety. Set low-stock alerts at the individual product level.
Best for: Wine shops and upscale liquor stores with complex inventory needs and customers who expect product expertise.
- Exceptional inventory granularity
- Buy-case/sell-bottle support
- Wine-specific integrations
- Staff can be prompted for ID checks
- Excellent reporting
- Higher price point
- Can be complex to set up
- Some features require add-ons
🎯 Which POS Fits YOUR Liquor Store?
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Take the Free Quiz →💰 What You’ll Actually Pay
| POS System | Monthly Fee | Hardware | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bottle POS | $99-199 | $500-1,500 | Varies by processor |
| KORONA POS | $59-89 | $500-1,200 | Choose your own |
| Shopify POS | $39-89 | $200-1,000 | 2.6% + 10¢ |
| FTx POS | Custom | Custom | Custom |
| Square | $0-60 | $0-800 | 2.6% + 10¢ |
| Lightspeed | $89-269 | $400-1,500 | 2.6% + 10¢ |
Payment processing is negotiable. If you’re doing $30,000+/month in card sales, you have leverage. I’ve seen liquor stores save $300-600/month just by switching processors or negotiating rates. Systems like KORONA that let you choose your processor give you this flexibility.
🔥 The 7 Features You Can’t Compromise On
- Case-Break Inventory — Buy by case, sell by bottle, track both. If the POS can’t do this natively, walk away.
- Age Verification with Logging — Every ID check must be timestamped and logged. Regulators will ask for this.
- ID Scanning — Manual birthday entry is error-prone and slow. Scan the license, verify automatically.
- Real-Time Inventory — You need to know what’s on your shelves RIGHT NOW, not after tonight’s reconciliation.
- Low-Stock Alerts — Automated alerts when products hit reorder points. Never run out of your best sellers.
- Product Database — Pre-loaded beer/wine/spirits database saves hours of data entry.
- Offline Mode — Internet dies during Friday rush? You still need to sell. Sync when it’s back.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What POS system do most liquor stores use?
The most common choices are Bottle POS, KORONA POS, and Lightspeed for established stores, while newer or smaller operations often start with Square before upgrading. The “best” choice depends on your store size, number of SKUs, and whether you need online selling capabilities.
How much does a liquor store POS system cost?
Monthly software costs range from $0 (Square free) to $200+ for premium systems. Hardware runs $200-1,500 depending on setup. Processing fees are typically 2.3-2.9% per transaction. Budget $1,500-5,000 for your first year all-in.
What is case-break inventory management?
Case-break means the POS understands that 1 case of 12 bottles = 12 individual bottles. When you receive a case, both units are logged. Sell 3 bottles, and your inventory shows 9 bottles (or 0.75 cases). This prevents the nightmare of manual end-of-day reconciliation that plagues stores using generic retail POS.
Do I really need ID scanning?
Yes. Manual birthday entry is slow, error-prone, and doesn’t create a defensible audit trail. ID scanning logs every verification with timestamp and employee ID. When regulators investigate, you have proof. When they investigate a store with manual checks, they have “he said, she said.”
Can I use Square for my liquor store?
Yes, with caveats. Square works for smaller stores with straightforward inventory. Their retail plan adds age restrictions and ID scanning. However, they lack true case-break inventory, their liquor-specific features are limited, and you’re locked into their payment processing rates.
What’s a good profit margin for a liquor store?
Healthy liquor stores average 20-30% gross margin overall. But that hides the reality: beer margins can dip below 30%, while spirits and wine often exceed 40%. Premium, rare, and specialty products can hit 50%+. Your POS should help you track margins by category so you know what’s actually making money.
🚀 Ready to Upgrade Your Liquor Store?
Get free quotes from the top liquor store POS providers. Compare features, pricing, and find your perfect match.
Get Free Quotes →📚 More Resources for Liquor Retailers
- Complete POS System Reviews — 100+ systems compared
- Age Verification Best Practices — Stay compliant, avoid fines
- Inventory Management Guide — Reduce shrinkage, boost margins
- Payment Processing Comparison — Find the lowest rates
Last updated: December 2025 | Written by the POSAdvice editorial team | We may earn a commission when you purchase through our links.
Liquor Store POS Pricing
Complete cost breakdown for POS systems with inventory scanning and age verification:
Retail POS Pricing Comparison
Compare pricing for retail point-of-sale systems. Find the best value for your store type.
Shopify POS
- Software From $29/mo
- Processing 2.4% + $0.30 (with Shopify Payments)
- Contract Monthly or annual (10% discount)
Square for Retail
- Software Free plan available
- Processing 2.6% + $0.10
- Contract None
Lightspeed Retail
- Software From $89/mo
- Processing 2.6% + $0.10 (Lightspeed Payments)
- Contract Annual billing required
Clover
- Software From $14.95/mo
- Processing 2.3% + $0.10 to 2.6% + $0.10
- Contract Varies by reseller
Detailed Pricing Breakdown
Shopify POS Pricing
Software Plans
| Plan | Monthly Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Shopify + POS Lite | $29/mo | POS app, Shopify store |
| Shopify + POS Lite | $79/mo | Professional reports |
| Shopify + POS Pro | $168/mo | Smart grid, unlimited staff |
Hardware Costs
Payment Processing
Rate applies to in-person card transactions. Online and keyed transactions may have higher rates.
Square for Retail Pricing
Software Plans
| Plan | Monthly Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | FREE | Basic POS, inventory |
| Plus | $60/mo | Advanced inventory, reporting |
| Premium | Custom | Enterprise, dedicated support |
Hardware Costs
Payment Processing
Rate applies to in-person card transactions. Online and keyed transactions may have higher rates.
Lightspeed Retail Pricing
Software Plans
| Plan | Monthly Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Lean | $89/mo | POS, basic inventory |
| Standard | $149/mo | Accounting, ecommerce |
| Advanced | $239/mo | Loyalty, advanced reports |
Hardware Costs
Payment Processing
Rate applies to in-person card transactions. Online and keyed transactions may have higher rates.
Clover Pricing
Software Plans
| Plan | Monthly Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Register Lite | $14.95/mo | Basic retail POS |
| Register | $44.95/mo | Full POS, inventory |
| Counter Service | $54.9/mo | QSR, order tracking |
Hardware Costs
Payment Processing
Rate applies to in-person card transactions. Online and keyed transactions may have higher rates.
Get Your Personalized Quote
Actual pricing depends on your specific business needs. Get custom quotes from top providers.
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