Choosing a POS is one of the most expensive mistakes a restaurant can make, because you only discover the problems after the system is running your floor. Lebanon adds its own challenges: two currencies, a changing exchange rate, power cuts and unreliable internet. This guide lists what to check, so you can compare any system, including ours, with a clear head.
What "best" means for a restaurant in Lebanon
The best POS is not the one with the longest feature list. It is the one that keeps taking orders on a busy Saturday night when the generator switches over, that prints the right ticket in the right kitchen, and that tells you at the end of the month what you actually earned.
The checklist
1. Dual currency done properly
You need prices in USD with payment in USD, LBP or both, change given in either currency and an exchange rate you can update in seconds. Check that reports show both currencies and that the rate used on each bill is saved with the bill.
2. It keeps working when the internet or power drops
Ask what happens when the connection drops in the middle of service. A good cloud POS keeps working and syncs when the line comes back. Pair it with a small UPS for the router and the main terminal.
3. Tables, orders and the kitchen
Look for a table map, split and merge bills, course firing, modifiers ("no onions", "extra cheese") and tickets routed to the right printer or kitchen screen (grill, bar, cold kitchen).
4. Delivery and takeaway
Most Lebanese restaurants depend on delivery. You need delivery orders with customer address and phone, driver assignment and a clear view of what is out, delivered and paid.
5. Menu, recipes and real food cost
This is where restaurants make or lose money. A proper system lets you define recipes, deducts ingredients from stock on every sale and shows the real cost and margin of each dish.
6. Stock, waste and purchasing
Track purchases from suppliers, waste and staff meals, and run counts. If stock in the system never matches the fridge, the reports are useless.
7. Loyalty and customer data
Repeat customers are cheaper than new ones. Points, discounts and a customer list you own are worth more than any ad campaign.
8. Reports you will actually read
Daily sales by hour, best and worst dishes, cashier closings, and profit after food cost. All of this should be visible from your phone, wherever you are.
9. Support in your time zone and your language
When something breaks at 10 pm on a Friday, you need someone in Lebanon who answers. Ask who supports you and how fast.
10. Clear pricing
Watch for setup fees, per-terminal fees and paid "modules". A simple monthly price with everything included is easier to plan.
Cloud or installed?
An installed POS lives on one computer in your restaurant. If that computer dies, so does your data. A cloud POS stores everything online, so you can see the restaurant from home, run several branches and never lose your history. With offline mode and a UPS, a cloud system is now the safer choice for most restaurants.
How the CeevTech Restaurant POS fits this checklist
We built our system in Jbeil for restaurants, cafés and snack shops in Lebanon. It covers tables and orders, the LBP exchange rate, menu and recipe costing, stock, waste, delivery and loyalty. Plans are Basic $50, Pro $80 and Ultra $100 per month (billed yearly), the first month of Ultra is free and a restaurant can be live within 24 hours. See everything it includes on the restaurant POS page.
Questions to ask any POS vendor
- Can I export all my data if I leave?
- What happens to sales taken while the internet is down?
- Is the exchange rate saved on every bill?
- Who installs it, who trains my staff, and who answers at night?
- What will I pay in year two?
Want a demo on your own menu? Contact us and we will set it up for you.