Used by retailers and restaurateurs in over 100 countries, Lightspeed’s point of sale (POS) system is a popular choice for many types of businesses, including pet stores.
But Lightspeed isn’t your only option. If you’re looking for a new POS for your pet store, there are several viable providers worth considering, including eTailPet, Clover, Square, and Franpos.
From generic systems to specialized software, these are the top Lightspeed alternatives for independent pet stores.
Overview:
Lightspeed is a general retail POS headquartered in Quebec, Canada. It caters to a variety of business types, from golf courses to restaurants. While it has a relatively affordable monthly subscription cost, it locks many of its core features behind pricier plans.
Standout features:
Why pet stores choose it:
Some pet stores choose Lightspeed because its interactive and mobile-friendly reports make it easy to understand complex data. They might also be drawn to Lightspeed’s POS if they’re exploring its other products, like hardware or payroll tools.
Considerations:
Keep in mind that many of Lightspeed’s most useful tools — including customer loyalty programs, advanced reports, and a fully featured website builder — are exclusive to its higher-tier plans.
Pricing:
Lightspeed’s pricing ranges from $89–$289 per month, with per-transaction fees of 2.6% plus 10 cents.
Lightspeed is just one of many POS systems you can use to run your business. Here are the best alternatives to consider for your pet store.
Overview:
Designed specifically for independent pet stores, eTailPet is an all-in-one POS solution with an affordable price tag. It handles inventory management, subscriptions, service appointments, customer loyalty, payment processing, and employee time tracking, all from an easy-to-use dashboard.
Standout features:
Why pet stores choose it:
Pet stores choose eTailPet because it addresses their industry-specific needs while staying within budget. Its vast product catalog means that you can populate your inventory in seconds, and its built-in website builder makes it easy to start selling online.
Considerations:
eTailPet is the best choice for independent pet stores seeking a purpose-built POS. And while eTailPet doesn’t sell hardware like Square or Clover, you have the flexibility to use whatever hardware you want.
Pricing:
eTailPet’s pricing starts at $99 per month, with custom quotes available for higher-tier plans.
Overview:
Square is one of the most popular POS systems on the market. It’s simple, easy to set up, and relatively affordable, which makes it a top choice for retail stores and restaurants alike. Because of its versatility, it’s just as capable of working for a pet store as it is for a coffee shop.
Standout features:
Why pet stores choose it:
Some pet stores choose Square because it’s the simplest option available. Thanks to its widespread use, many pet store owners are already familiar with Square card readers and checkout terminals. And with its free software tier, Square makes it easy for prospective customers to get a feel for the Square ecosystem without any upfront commitment.
Considerations:
If you’re looking for a plug-and-play solution that you can get up and running in a single day, Square might be your best bet. But if you want pet store–specific features, Square’s simplicity won’t deliver.
Pricing:
Square’s pricing ranges from $0–$149 per month, with per-transaction fees of 2.4–3.3% plus 15–30 cents. Custom pricing is available for businesses that process over $250,000 per year.
Overview:
If Square is the ultra-accessible POS that anyone can use, Clover is the advanced workhorse that’s not quite as quick to deploy. It’s ideal for businesses that can take advantage of its sturdy hardware and advanced features (and can afford to pay a premium for them).
Standout features:
Why pet stores choose it:
Some pet stores choose Clover because its lower processing fees can result in considerable savings in the long run — provided they do enough business to make it a worthwhile investment. Plus, Clover’s high-quality hardware can withstand demanding retail environments.
Considerations:
Unless your pet store brings in over $5,000 per month, Clover’s lower processing fees might not provide a major benefit. And if you’re looking for features designed just for pet stores, Clover doesn’t offer them.
Pricing:
Clover’s pricing for retail stores ranges from $16–$240 per month, with per-transaction fees of 2.3–3.5% plus 10 cents.
Related Read: How To Choose a Pet Store POS System
Overview:
Originally designed for franchises, Franpos is geared toward hair salons, fast-food restaurants, general retail stores, and pet stores. Its starting price is significantly higher than that of all the other options on this list, but for pet stores with multiple franchised locations, it may be worth the cost.
Standout features:
Why pet stores choose it:
Some pet stores choose Franpos because their franchise-based business model demands specialized features. Franpos’ built-in payroll processing may also attract pet store owners who don’t already have a preferred payroll solution.
Considerations:
If you have a single, independent storefront or a multilocation pet store rather than a franchised brand, Franpos’ high price tag likely won’t pay for itself. But if you’re overseeing multiple franchisees, it could be worth the cost.
Pricing:
Franpos’ pricing ranges from $199–$249 per month, depending on whether you have a single location or a franchise.
Get answers to common questions about Lightspeed for pet stores.
What’s the biggest reason pet stores leave Lightspeed?
The biggest reason independent pet stores leave Lightspeed is its lack of pet store–specific features.
For example, while Lightspeed is good at handling inventory management, it doesn’t provide native appointment-booking features for services like grooming or training. Instead, pet stores must use third-party apps to get that functionality.
Does Lightspeed work well for pet stores with multiple locations?
Yes, Lightspeed can be configured to work for pet stores with multiple locations. Like most POS systems with multilocation support, it offers inventory management across locations, location-specific reports, and centralized e-commerce features.
Lightspeed doesn’t publish pricing information about its multi-store POS system. You’ll need to request a quote instead.
Does Lightspeed charge cancellation fees?
Yes, Lightspeed charges a fee for canceling before the end of a contract’s term. While it’s typical for POS providers to not offer partial refunds or prorated fees, Lightspeed is somewhat unique in its use of cancellation fees — other than Clover, none of the other POS systems mentioned above say that they charge these fees.
Which POS offers the best support for independent pet stores?
eTailPet provides the best ongoing support for independent pet stores. From your dashboard, click the chat bubble to talk with an expert, or submit a help ticket under the “Help” section.
You can also get in touch via email or phone. See eTailPet’s support page for details.
General-purpose POS systems like Lightspeed, Square, Clover, and Franpos work well for many retail stores. And if your needs are simple, they might work for your pet store too.
But if you want to save time and increase efficiency with pet store–specific features like native appointment booking, flexible order fulfillment options, and an exhaustive built-in product catalog, eTailPet is the solution you’re looking for.
Getting a quote is easier with eTailPet, too — use our Build and Price tool to create a POS that fits exactly what your pet store needs.