How to Choose a POS for Your Farmers Market or Farm Store
How to pick a point of sale for farmers markets and farm stores: speed, weight pricing, SNAP/EBT, hardware, fees, and one inventory with your online store.
Updated October 2026
The short answer: The right point of sale for a farmers market or farm store is fast at a busy stand, prices products by weight, takes cash, cards, and SNAP, and shares one inventory and customer list with your online store and CSA. General-purpose apps like Square work well if you only sell in person. If you also sell online or run a CSA, a farm-specific register like GrownBy Register saves you from managing two systems.
What a farm POS needs to do
Need | What to look for |
|---|---|
Speed at a busy stand | Quick product buttons, barcode scanning for packaged goods, and fast change calculation |
Products by weight | Decimal weights and per-pound pricing |
Cash, card, and check | Automatic change, a cash drawer that stays locked, and card readers that take tap-to-pay |
SNAP and EBT | Your own FNS authorization with compatible equipment, or your market's token program |
Receipts | Printed or texted receipts |
One inventory | Market sales update your online store, so you never sell the same dozen eggs twice |
Shared customers and credit | CSA members can use farm credit at the stand |
Reports | Daily totals by payment type and exports for bookkeeping |
Step 1: Decide if your POS should connect to online sales
This is the biggest decision. If you only sell at one market, a standalone card reader is fine. If you also take pre-orders, run a CSA, or have an online farm store, a POS that shares your online inventory, customers, and reports will save hours every week and prevent overselling.
Step 2: Plan for SNAP and EBT
There are two ways to accept SNAP at a market:
Your market's token program. Many markets run SNAP centrally and give shoppers tokens to spend at your stand.
Your own authorization. Apply to USDA FNS as a SNAP retailer and use EBT-capable equipment. Some states offer free equipment.
If you sell online too, look for a platform that supports SNAP Online. GrownBy was the first farm platform approved by the USDA for SNAP Online, and GrownBy Register takes SNAP/EBT at your stand, so SNAP sales online and in person land in the same reports.
Step 3: Get the hardware right
A tablet or phone you already own (iOS or Android).
A receipt printer, barcode scanner, and locking cash drawer for a farm store.
A sturdy stand that looks good at market.
A backup connection, like a phone hotspot, for fields with weak signal.
Step 4: Compare the full cost
Feature | GrownBy Register | Square | Barn2Door POS | Local Line POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Software | $50/month ($540/year) for unlimited locations, 10% off for co-op members | Free plan available | Included with a Barn2Door plan ($119+/month) | Included with a Local Line plan ($87+/month) |
Device cost | Your own iOS or Android device with tap to pay; readers from the Stripe M2 to the PAX A920 for EBT, plus optional Star Micronics accessories | Card readers from $59 | $59 device, reimbursed after $1,000 in sales | $399 device |
In-person card rate | 2.6% + $0.10 with Fortis ($6/month) | 2.6% + $0.15 (Free plan) | 2.9% + $0.30 | Plan card rate |
SNAP/EBT at the stand | Yes ($0.10 per transaction with Fortis) | Beta on some hardware | Not listed | Not listed |
Platform fee on in-person sales | None | None | None | None |
Connected to your online store and CSA | Yes, one inventory | Square Online only | Yes | Yes |
Built for farms | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
How to accept SNAP/EBT at your stand with GrownBy Register
Get authorized by USDA FNS. Your farm needs its own SNAP retailer authorization. GrownBy's SNAP specialists will guide you through certification, or help you switch from your current provider.
Turn on payments through Fortis. SNAP/EBT in person runs through GrownBy Register with Fortis, at $0.10 per SNAP transaction.
Ring up SNAP at the stand. Take SNAP/EBT, cards, tap to pay, and cash in one checkout, and Register calculates change for cash.
Sell to SNAP shoppers online, too. The same farm can accept SNAP Online for free in its GrownBy store, so SNAP customers can pre-order for pickup.
Reconcile in one place. SNAP, card, and cash sales from every market and your online store land in the same GrownBy reports.
Why farms choose GrownBy Register
GrownBy Register is the first point of sale designed by and for farmers, and it's a native app, not a general-purpose POS adapted for farms. It works on iOS and Android, takes cards, SNAP/EBT, tap to pay, and cash, costs one flat $50/month no matter how many markets you attend, and works with card readers from the Stripe M2 to the PAX A920 for EBT, plus Star Micronics barcode scanners, Bluetooth receipt printers, and cash drawers. It shares inventory, customers, invoices, and farm credit with your GrownBy online store, CSA, and wholesale sales, so a CSA member can spend credit at your stand and every sale lands in one report. There's no co-op fee on Register, cash, or offline payments. GrownBy also partners with Freeform Made on handmade wooden tablet stands you can brand with your farm's logo.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best POS for a farmers market?
If you only sell in person, Square is a solid general option. If you also sell online, run a CSA, or sell meat by weight, a farm-specific register like GrownBy Register keeps one inventory and customer list across every sales channel.
Can I accept SNAP at my farmers market stand?
Yes, either through your market's token program or with your own USDA FNS authorization. Authorized farms can take SNAP/EBT at the stand with GrownBy Register.
Do I need internet at the market?
Card payments need a connection. Have a backup plan, such as a phone hotspot, plus cash for spots with weak signal.
How much does a farm POS cost?
Anywhere from free (plus card fees) to around $50/month for software, plus $0–$400 for hardware.
Book a Register demo to see GrownBy Register at your stand.