Plain-language buyer guides for small retail and convenience store owners, from POS systems to cameras. Plus gift guides for the holidays.
No paid rankings
We pick what fits a small store's budget and day-to-day work, and say who should skip it.
Prices change fast. We never post a price we can't keep current.
Equipment and software for convenience stores, smoke shops and small retail.
Gift ideas that are easy to buy, ship fast and get used.
Holds thousands of books, and new books download in seconds over Wi-Fi.
Skip it if they prefer paper books or mostly read comics in color.
Paid plans are $49 and $149 a month and lower the card rate. Hardware: Stand $149, Terminal $299, Register from $799.
Skip it if you need features it does not support for your store, such as EBT on your setup. Ask Square first.
A small plug-in indoor camera, good for a front room, a nursery or a pet.
Skip it if they rent and their landlord or roommates object to cameras.
Tools we built and use. Two are free; Pixloud has a free plan.
Good for birthdays, holiday parties, weddings, school and community events.
After the event, the host gets every photo in one download.
Put a QR on the counter so customers can leave a review, join your Wi-Fi or follow you.
Handy for shelving, flooring and anything you order in metric.
We built these ourselves. They are not part of our rankings, and we do not earn a commission on them.
Deals Squad is run by Rizwan Prasla, a Houston web developer who also runs a wholesale business that supplies convenience stores. Store owners ask the same questions every week: which register, which cameras, what it really costs per month. These guides answer them in plain terms.
When we link to a product, we may earn a commission. It never changes what we recommend, and every guide says who should skip a product. Read our disclosure.
