We learned through the 2024 EstateSales.NET Seller Survey, that 83% of companies are accepting credit cards at in-person sales. 26% charge a fee for the service and 17% set minimum amounts. As such, Point of Sale (POS) tools are extremely important for collecting payments from shoppers efficiently and securely at an event.

Picture this; a house filled with unique antiques, valuable art, furniture, and knick‑knacks. Shoppers are moving through room to room, you’re checking out dozens of customers, rapidly entering one‑off items, and suddenly your Wi‑Fi drops out or the credit card machine slows. That’s a scene estate sale teams know all too well. You need a POS system that doesn’t just technically work, but handles these emergency situations with ease.

Here are three standout POS systems to consider:

Square POS

54% of sellers on EstateSales.NET use Square as their premier terminal at in-person sales. It’s one of the most widely used POS systems for small and mobile businesses. It’s simple to set up, works well on mobile devices, and doesn’t require a monthly subscription. According to Square’s own platform information, their POS system allows for manual item entry, barcode scanning, and real-time inventory updates. It also has an offline mode that lets you keep selling even if the internet drops out, which is a common challenge at estate sale locations.

Payments can be taken through chip, swipe, or contactless methods like Apple Pay. You can even split tenders, offer digital or printed receipts, and set up custom taxes. Square reports are accessible from any device and include data on sales, items, and team activity. It's a strong fit for estate sale companies looking for low overhead and high reliability during on-site events.

Square is fully integrated with EstateSales.NET, so if you have items you’d like to sell online, you can simply connect your Square account and get to listing promptly. Learn how to set up Square.

Lightspeed (formerly Vend)

Lightspeed is aimed at growing retail businesses and offers a very customizable POS experience. On its website, Lightspeed describes its X-Series POS system as a cloud-based platform with built-in tools for advanced inventory tracking, multi-user access, and detailed sales reporting.

One of the major benefits is that you can set up unlimited users and registers, which is useful for estate sales with multiple checkout stations or teams. Lightspeed also supports offline sales, which sync automatically when the internet connection is restored. Its inventory tools allow you to import lists, create product categories, and track stock in real time. You can also assign staff roles and view performance metrics by employee, which is valuable if you work with multiple sellers or part-time help.

Lightspeed is best suited for estate sale companies that have grown beyond the basics and need deeper control over inventory, analytics, and team management. The platform is subscription-based and requires more setup than simpler systems like Square, but it offers flexibility and scalability in return.

Shopify POS

According to Shopify’s official product details, the system allows you to easily enter custom sale items, apply discounts, and accept a variety of payment types including chip cards, tap-to-pay, mobile wallets, and cash. It runs smoothly on tablets or smartphones, making it a flexible option when you're working out of different locations.

One of its strengths is how well it handles unique or one-of-a-kind items. You can quickly enter new products at checkout without having to pre-load inventory, which is a big plus for estate sales. The platform also supports staff logins using PINs, customizable tax settings, and detailed sales reporting to help you track performance after the event.

While Shopify POS requires a monthly subscription, and some advanced features are only available on the higher-tier POS Pro plan, it’s a polished and dependable option for handling in-person estate sale transactions.

The Right Solution for You

Ultimately, your POS system should work with you, not against you. It should feel like a reliable team member that helps you stay organized and keeps sales moving smoothly, even during the busiest parts of the day.

The right system depends on how your estate sale business operates. Think about the size of your team, how you manage inventory, and the types of payments your customers typically use. A smaller company may need something simple and mobile, while a larger operation might benefit from more advanced features such as detailed reporting and multi-user access.

There is no single solution that fits everyone. The best POS system is the one that fits naturally into your workflow and supports the way you do business.

References Used

Square. “Point of Sale Features.” Square, Inc.,. Accessed 27 July 2025.

Lightspeed. “Lightspeed Retail POS (X-Series).” Lightspeed Commerce Inc., . Accessed 27 July 2025.

Shopify. “Shopify POS: Point of Sale System for Retail.” Shopify, Inc., s. Accessed 27 July 2025.