Operations · 8 min read
Choosing a POS: 12 questions every studio should ask
Ignore the marketing copy. The 12 questions below separate a POS that quietly runs your business from one you fight for three years.
Rowan Hayes · Founder, Wellhouse · 16 April 2026
Every POS demo looks great. The difference shows up in month three, when you are trying to reconcile a stylist commission, or issue a partial refund to a card that is no longer in date. Here are the twelve questions that predict whether you'll still be using this POS in year two.
- Can I take a partial payment (£20 now, £40 on the day)?
- Can a member of staff take a payment without a manager PIN?
- Does the tip flow support cash-out to the specific stylist at end of shift?
- Can I refund to the original card, and how many months back?
- Does a service refund automatically restock the product used?
- Can I sell a service bundle at a different total to the sum of its parts?
- Is there a proper cash drawer flow, or is it 'log it in notes'?
- How do commission calculations handle a service booked with two stylists?
- Does the reporting distinguish gross, VAT, tip, product cost, and stylist commission, automatically?
- Does the offline mode actually accept card payments if the WiFi drops?
- How is the daily Z-report generated and where does it live?
- Can I export a full CSV of transactions to my accountant, this month and any month?
