Checkout and purchase size
Start with the average sale, number of transactions, and checkout lanes. A fixed charge matters more on smaller purchases. Compare the complete monthly total at your actual sales mix rather than choosing solely by the advertised percentage.
Products, returns, and receipts
Identify barcode, inventory, discount, and return needs. Ask which are payment functions and which require separate retail software. Test a partial return and the record it changes; a card refund does not automatically establish that inventory has been restored.
Store and online activity
If customers buy in more than one channel, confirm the reference used to match orders and refunds. A terminal at the store does not demonstrate a connection with your online shop. Verify the connector, permissions, and reconciliation for each channel.
Equipment and support costs
Compare purchase or lease obligations, software subscriptions, gateway costs, and transaction fees. Check training, support access, and a plan for connection interruptions. Confirm each feature in the proposed model and account before replacing a working checkout.