Guides
Restaurant POS Setup Cost in India (2026): Hardware, Printer & Software
3 November 2026 · 6 min read
Short answer: a small café that already owns a laptop can set up a POS for about ₹6,000 to ₹13,500 in hardware, a printer and a cash drawer. A full-service restaurant buying a new billing computer, a kitchen printer and a UPS usually spends ₹40,000 to ₹74,500. The software is a separate monthly cost: SynexPOS is ₹749 per billing device, with no setup fee.
Below is each item, what it typically costs, and whether you need it at all. Hardware prices are typical Indian retail ranges in November 2026, rounded. Check with a local dealer before you buy.
The hardware, item by item
| Item | Typical cost | Do you need it? |
|---|---|---|
| Billing computer | ₹25,000 – ₹45,000 new | Nothing to buy if you use a laptop or desktop you already have |
| Android tablet (instead of a computer) | ₹10,000 – ₹20,000 | Good for a small counter or table-side ordering |
| Thermal receipt printer, 3-inch | ₹4,000 – ₹9,000 | USB for one counter; LAN if it sits away from the computer |
| Kitchen printer (LAN) | ₹6,000 – ₹10,000 | Only if the kitchen works from printed KOTs |
| Kitchen display screen | ₹0 – ₹15,000 | An old tablet or monitor works; a new tablet costs more |
| Cash drawer | ₹2,000 – ₹4,500 | Opens from the receipt printer |
| Barcode scanner | ₹1,500 – ₹4,000 | Bakeries and counters that sell packaged items |
| UPS for computer and printer | ₹3,000 – ₹6,000 | Keeps billing running through short power cuts |
| Thermal paper rolls | ₹25 – ₹45 per roll | A running cost; a busy counter uses several a week |
Three sample budgets
| Outlet | Hardware (one time) | SynexPOS software |
|---|---|---|
| Small café or kioskExisting laptop, 3-inch printer, cash drawer | ₹6,000 – ₹13,500 | ₹749 a month |
| QSR with a kitchen screenNew tablet, printer, cash drawer, old tablet as kitchen display, UPS | ₹19,000 – ₹39,500 | ₹749 a month |
| Full-service restaurantNew billing computer, counter printer, kitchen printer, cash drawer, UPS | ₹40,000 – ₹74,500 | ₹749 a month per billing device |
The software cost
POS software is a monthly or yearly subscription. Before comparing two quotes, check whether each is per outlet or per device, whether there is a setup or training fee, and which features are add-ons. Our guide to restaurant POS cost in India sets out what seven POS companies publish.
SynexPOS is ₹749 per billing device a month. Setup, menu import and staff training are free, and the kitchen display, QR ordering, inventory, loyalty, reports and AI features are all included. It runs in any browser, and the Windows desktop app keeps billing when the internet drops.
Where you can save
- Use the laptop or desktop you already have. A cloud POS does not need a special machine.
- Use an old tablet or monitor as the kitchen display instead of buying a kitchen printer.
- Buy the UPS before anything else if power cuts are common. A dead counter costs more than the UPS.
- Ask whether setup and training are free before you sign. With some vendors they are a separate fee.
- Start on a free trial with the hardware you have, then buy only what the trial shows you need.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to set up a POS in a restaurant in India?
A small café that already has a laptop can start for about ₹6,000 to ₹13,500 in hardware: a thermal receipt printer and a cash drawer. A full-service restaurant with a new billing computer, a kitchen printer and a UPS typically spends ₹40,000 to ₹74,500 on hardware. Software is separate; SynexPOS is ₹749 per billing device a month with no setup fee.
Do I need to buy a special POS machine?
No. A cloud POS such as SynexPOS runs in a web browser on a laptop, desktop or tablet you already own. Proprietary POS terminals are optional, not required.
Which printer do I need for restaurant billing?
A 3-inch (80 mm) thermal receipt printer is the usual choice for the billing counter, typically ₹4,000 to ₹9,000. If the kitchen works from printed KOTs, add a second printer there, ideally a network (LAN) model so it can sit away from the counter.
Is there a setup or installation fee for SynexPOS?
No. Setup, menu import and staff training are free. You pay ₹749 per billing device per month, with every feature included, after a 15-day free trial that needs no card.
Do I need a kitchen printer or a kitchen display?
Either works. A kitchen printer prints each KOT on paper. A kitchen display shows orders on a screen, which can be a tablet or an old monitor, and lets the kitchen mark dishes ready. SynexPOS includes the kitchen display at no extra charge.
Start on the hardware you already have
₹749 per device a month, setup free. Try it for 15 days, no card needed.
Start free trial