Opening a New Shop? The Complete POS Hardware Checklist (2026 UK)

Fitting out a new shop is a long list of decisions, and POS hardware is the one that bites hardest if you leave it late — lead times, integration testing and staff training all need the kit in hand before opening day. This is the checklist we run through with every new opening. Last updated: July 2026. Card payments first Your card machine has the longest setup chain: acquirer onboarding, bank checks and delivery can take weeks. Decide early between a countertop terminal, a portable chip & PIN device or tap-to-pay on phone, and order before anything else. Our guide to choosing a card machine covers the trade-offs. The till itself Tablet-based POS is now the default for new UK openings — an iPad with a sled or stand, running your chosen POS software. Check the software's hardware compatibility list before buying accessories, not after. Receipt printer and cash drawer An 80mm thermal printer beside the till, plus a cash drawer that fires from the printer's DK port. Match the printer connection (Bluetooth, USB or LAN) to your POS device — the mismatch here is the most common launch-week support call we get. See our receipt printer buyer's guide. Barcode scanning Even a small boutique benefits from a scanner at the till for speed and stock accuracy. A Bluetooth 2D imager covers screens, QR codes and loyalty passes as well as product barcodes. Connectivity and power A dedicated router or a 4G-SIM fallback so payments stay up if the broadband goes down. Enough sockets behind the counter — count them at the shopfitting stage. Charging routine for anything cordless: scanners, portable printers, terminals. Consumables and spares Receipt rolls in the right width, spare labels if you price-mark, and at least one backup of anything a single failure would close the till: usually the receipt printer and the card machine. The two-week rule Have every item on this list on site, connected and tested with a real transaction at least two weeks before opening. That leaves time to swap anything that does not play nicely together — and to train staff on the kit they will actually use. Opening soon? Tell us the till software and sector, and we will spec the full bundle. Browse the full range, use the Solution Builder, or talk to our team.