At a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Also called | POS, till, register, checkout system |
| French term | Système de point de vente (PDV) |
| Where it sits in the payment flow | At the start. It builds the sale and the total, then passes the amount to the terminal. |
| Who controls it | You choose it. In Quebec restaurants, Revenu Québec must certify it. |
| Does it cost the merchant | Yes. A software plan, hardware and sometimes apps. Card fees are separate. |
How it works
A POS is the front of a sale. The card networks and banks work behind it. You see the order and the total, and they see the payment.
- Staff or the customer pick the items. The POS builds the order and adds taxes.
- The POS sends the total to a payment terminal, or to your processor through a built-in reader.
- The processor asks the customer's bank to approve the card. The answer comes back in seconds.
- The POS records the result, prints or sends the receipt, and updates stock and reports.
A Canadian example
A café in Laval rings up two lattes and a muffin for $14. Two friends split it, $8 and $6. Staff tap Split on the POS. It sends $8 to the terminal, then $6, and each friend taps a card. The POS ties both payments to one order, so the day's sales report matches the deposits. An example only, not a quote.
What is different in Canada and Québec
- Québec restaurants, bars and food trucks must use a sales recording system certified by Revenu Québec and connected to its WEB-SRM service. Revenu Québec lists the equipment you need: a certified system, a compatible printer if necessary and an internet connection.
- That rule is for the restaurant sector. If you run another kind of business, check Revenu Québec's page for your sector. Revenu Québec says its list of certified systems may not be exhaustive.
- Since 7 May 2025, tip amounts suggested on a Québec screen must be calculated on the price before GST and QST. Check your POS and terminal tip screens.
- Clover devices in Canada cannot take card payments offline. If your line drops, a Clover POS cannot take cards until it is back.
- Apps differ in French. Clover says its Gift Cards app is currently unavailable in French and in Quebec.
What it costs and where it shows on your statement
A POS costs money apart from card fees: a monthly software plan, hardware you buy or pay for monthly, paid apps and setup. See how much Clover costs in Canada for the five parts of a quote. On your card statement, equipment rental or lease charges appear only if they are billed through your processor. A lease can be a separate contract with a separate company.
Where CleverPays fits in this step
You choose your POS, and in Quebec restaurants Revenu Québec decides which systems are certified. CleverPays does not certify systems and does not set card network rules. CleverPays is operated by Groupe Heo Inc., an Agent of Fiserv Canada Ltd., and is a Certified Clover Dealer. Clover devices in Canada work only with Fiserv processing.
We can recommend and set up Clover and other terminals or gateways. We can help Québec restaurants choose a certified system. We will walk you through a recent statement and answer questions in English and French.
Common mistakes
- Buying a POS before checking whether your type of business must use a certified system in Québec.
- Treating the terminal and the POS as one thing. A terminal alone does not make a restaurant compliant.
- Forgetting the internet. Without a connection, many POS systems cannot take cards.
Related terms
- Payment terminal: the device that reads the card.
- Clover: Fiserv's POS and payments platform.
- Payment processor: the company that moves the card payment.
- Integrated POS: a POS wired to the terminal so the amount passes across by itself.
- Semi-integrated POS: a POS that sends the amount to a separate terminal.
- Payment gateway: the link that carries online and remote payments.
Common questions
Is a POS system the same as a payment terminal?
No. The POS builds the order and the total. The terminal reads the card and sends the payment on. Some devices, like a Clover Mini, do both in one body.
Do I need a POS system?
Not always. A small stand can run on a terminal alone. A Québec restaurant needs a certified POS. A shop with stock or staff usually wants one.
Does a POS system work without the internet?
Often not for cards. Clover devices in Canada cannot take card payments offline, and most other terminals need a connection too. A backup connection is the usual fix.
Sources
- Revenu Québec, mandatory billing, required equipment, read 6 October 2026.
- Revenu Québec, certified SRSs that work with the WEB-SRM, restaurant sector, read 1 October 2026.
- Office de la protection du consommateur, pourboires, as used in our Quebec billing guide.
- Clover Canada, gift cards, read 24 September 2026, and pricing, read 6 October 2026.
- CleverPays guides: Quebec mandatory billing and card processing fees.
