Question 1

What is Shift4 POS EPOS?

Accepted Answer

Shift4 POS is a complete, cloud-based EPOS (Electronic Point of Sale) system designed specifically for UK hospitality businesses. It includes hardware (terminal, card machine, printer, cash drawer), software, integrated payments, and 24/7 support—all for one monthly fee starting at £39.

Question 2

Who is Shift4 POS for?

Accepted Answer

Shift4 POS is built for UK hospitality businesses including restaurants, pubs, bars, cafes, coffee shops, hotels, food trucks, and takeaways. Whether you're a single-site independent or a multi-location group, Shift4 POS scales to your needs.

Question 3

Is there really no upfront cost for hardware?

Accepted Answer

Correct. Zero upfront cost. You receive a complete Shift4 POS POS terminal (15.6" touchscreen), integrated card terminal, thermal receipt printer, and cash drawer—all included. You just pay the monthly fee from £39. Subject to credit approval.

Question 4

What's included in the £39/month bundle?

Accepted Answer

Everything: Shift4 POS POS terminal, integrated card terminal, receipt printer, cash drawer, free professional installation, staff training, lifetime hardware warranty, 24/7 Support, and access to Customer Hub—our back office platform for analytics, inventory, and staff management.

Question 5

What's the contract length?

Accepted Answer

12 months—that's it. No 3-5 year lock-ins like legacy providers. This allows us to provide hardware at zero upfront cost while giving you time to see the full benefits. After 12 months, you have flexibility.

Question 6

How is Shift4 POS different from Dojo, Square, or Zettle?

Accepted Answer

Dojo, Square, and Zettle are primarily payment processors with basic POS functionality. Shift4 POS is a full-featured hospitality EPOS system with table management, kitchen printing, stock control, staff management, and enterprise-grade reporting—plus integrated payments. It's a complete solution, not just a card machine.

Question 7

Does Shift4 POS have table management?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Shift4 POS includes full table management with visual floor plans, table status tracking, covers counting, and the ability to move, merge, and split bills. Perfect for restaurants and gastropubs.

Question 8

Can Shift4 POS handle busy service periods?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. Shift4 POS's enterprise-grade infrastructure handles peak demand with 99.99% uptime. The system processes orders instantly, supports multiple terminals, and includes offline mode so you never miss a sale—even during your busiest Friday night.

Question 9

Does Shift4 POS work for pubs with food and drinks?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Shift4 POS excels in wet-led and gastropub environments. Features include quick-pour drink buttons, tab management, happy hour pricing, and seamless switching between food and drink orders.

Question 10

Can I use Shift4 POS for takeaway and delivery?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Shift4 POS integrates with Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats, channeling all orders through one terminal. It also supports click-and-collect, phone orders, and QR code ordering.

Question 11

Does Shift4 POS support kitchen printing and displays?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Shift4 POS sends orders directly to kitchen printers or display screens, with coursing support so starters, mains, and desserts fire at the right times. Modifications and special requests are clearly highlighted.

Question 12

Is there allergen management in Shift4 POS?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Full allergen tracking is built in with Natasha's Law compliance. Staff can quickly check allergens for any menu item, and this information can be displayed to customers on receipts or digital menus.

Question 13

How can Shift4 POS offer hardware with no upfront cost?

Accepted Answer

Shift4 POS is backed by Shift4, a $10+ billion payment processor. By integrating payments with EPOS, we recover costs through competitive transaction fees rather than upfront hardware charges. You get enterprise-grade equipment without the capital outlay.

Question 14

What are the transaction fees?

Accepted Answer

Transaction fees are competitive and fully transparent—no hidden charges. The exact rate depends on your business volume and type. Our team provides a complete breakdown during consultation so there are no surprises.

Question 15

Are there any hidden fees?

Accepted Answer

No hidden fees whatsoever. Your monthly cost is £39 plus transparent transaction fees (confirmed before you sign). No software licence fees, no support charges, no update costs, no maintenance fees.

Question 16

What happens if hardware breaks?

Accepted Answer

All hardware is covered by a lifetime warranty for the duration of your agreement. If anything fails, we replace it free of charge—including next-day delivery for critical components. No repair bills.

Question 17

Is there a credit check?

Accepted Answer

Yes, a soft credit check is part of the application process. This doesn't affect your credit score. Most hospitality businesses are approved. If there are concerns, we'll discuss alternative arrangements.

Question 18

What about the £100 sign-up bonus?

Accepted Answer

Once you process £1,000 through your Shift4 POS system, we pay you a £100 bonus. It's our way of saying welcome—and it usually happens within your first few days of trading.

Question 19

What happens if my internet goes down?

Accepted Answer

Shift4 POS continues operating in offline mode. All orders, payments, and data are processed locally and sync automatically when connectivity returns. You never miss a sale or lose data—even during extended outages.

Question 20

Do I need IT knowledge to use Shift4 POS?

Accepted Answer

None at all. Shift4 POS is designed for hospitality professionals, not IT experts. The interface is intuitive—most staff learn the basics in under 30 minutes. Our 24/7 support handles all technical issues.

Question 21

How do software updates work?

Accepted Answer

Updates deploy automatically overnight when you're closed. No manual installation, no disruption to service, no IT required. You always have the latest features and security patches without lifting a finger.

Question 22

Can I access my data remotely?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Customer Hub, our cloud management platform, is accessible from any device with internet. Check real-time sales, review reports, update menus, and manage staff from your phone, tablet, or laptop—anywhere in the world.

Question 23

Is my data secure?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Shift4 POS is PCI DSS Level 1 certified (the highest level). All data is encrypted in transit and at rest, backed up continuously to secure UK data centres, with enterprise-grade security managed for you.

Question 24

Do I need servers or special equipment?

Accepted Answer

No. Shift4 POS is truly cloud-native—no back-office servers, no special routers, no network configuration. Just connect to your existing WiFi. We handle all infrastructure in the cloud.

Question 25

How does Shift4 POS handle multiple locations?

Accepted Answer

Shift4 POS's Customer Hub platform provides a central dashboard where you can view real-time sales, inventory, and staff data across all locations. Push menu updates, pricing changes, and promotions to all sites instantly—or customise per venue.

Question 26

Can I see consolidated reports across all venues?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Customer Hub aggregates data from every terminal across your group. Compare site performance, identify top-performing locations, track group-wide KPIs, and drill down into individual venue metrics—all from one login.

Question 27

How quickly can you add a new site?

Accepted Answer

We can have a new site fully operational within 5-7 working days. For urgent openings, we offer expedited rollout. Your new venue inherits your master menu, pricing, and settings automatically.

Question 28

Does Shift4 POS support franchise operations?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We support franchise models with customisable access levels. Franchisees see only their data, while head office maintains oversight. Royalty reporting, brand compliance, and centralised menu control are built in.

Question 29

What SLA guarantees do you offer?

Accepted Answer

Enterprise clients receive a 99.99% uptime SLA with financial penalties for any breach. This includes 4-hour priority response for critical issues, dedicated account management, and 24/7/365 support.

Question 30

Can Shift4 POS integrate with our existing systems?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Shift4 POS integrates with major platforms including Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, Deliveroo, Just Eat, Uber Eats, and more. Enterprise clients can access our API for custom integrations.

Question 31

I'm stuck in a contract. Can I still switch?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Many of our clients switch mid-contract. We'll review your current agreement and help you understand your options. In many cases, Shift4 POS savings cover exit fees within months. Book a consultation and we'll do the maths.

Question 32

Will I lose my data when switching?

Accepted Answer

No. We migrate your menu, pricing, and product data to Shift4 POS as part of our free installation service. Historical sales reports should be exported from your current system for your records before cancellation.

Question 33

How long does switching take?

Accepted Answer

Most businesses switch in a single day. We install during quiet hours, migrate your menu, and train your staff. You can be taking payments on Shift4 POS within 24 hours of our visit.

Question 34

Will my staff need extensive retraining?

Accepted Answer

Shift4 POS's interface is intuitive—most staff learn the basics in 30 minutes. We provide comprehensive free training during installation. Many businesses find Shift4 POS easier than their previous system.

Question 35

What happens to my old hardware?

Accepted Answer

Your old equipment can be returned to your current provider (check contract terms), sold, recycled, or repurposed. Shift4 POS provides all new hardware—we don't require you to use old equipment.

Question 36

Can you help me understand my current contract?

Accepted Answer

Yes. During your consultation, we'll review your existing agreement, identify break clauses and notice periods, and calculate whether switching now or at a specific point saves you the most money.

Question 37

How does installation work?

Accepted Answer

Our professional engineers visit your venue, install all hardware, configure your menu and settings, connect to your WiFi, and train your staff—usually in a single session. The service is completely free.

Question 38

Is support really 24/7?

Accepted Answer

Yes. UK-based phone support is available around the clock, 365 days a year. No waiting until Monday morning if something goes wrong during Saturday night service.

Question 39

Are there callout fees for support?

Accepted Answer

No callout fees—ever. 24/7 phone support is included, and if hardware needs replacing, we ship it next-day free. On-site visits for critical issues are also included when needed.

Question 40

How do I get started with Shift4 POS?

Accepted Answer

Contact us by phone (07786 235819), book a discovery call through our website, or complete a quick enquiry form. We'll discuss your needs, provide a quote, and if you proceed, installation is typically within 5-7 days.

Question 41

Can I see a demo before committing?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. We offer free demonstrations where you can see Shift4 POS in action, ask questions, and get a feel for the system. Book a discovery call and we'll arrange everything.

Question 42

What training is provided?

Accepted Answer

Comprehensive training is included free during installation. We cover daily operations, end-of-day procedures, reporting, and admin functions. Additional training sessions can be arranged if needed at no extra cost.

EPOS System FAQsEverything You Need to Know

General Questions

Hospitality Features

Pricing & Costs

Cloud & Technology

Multi-Site & Enterprise

Switching & Migration

Support & Installation

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