Restaurant POS Hardware Checklist (India)

Software Is Only Half the Setup

You can pick the best POS software and still have a slow counter if the printer jams, the router drops out every evening or the billing PC freezes during dinner. Hardware decisions are made once and then lived with for years, so it is worth getting them right.

Here is a practical checklist for an Indian restaurant counter.

1. The Billing Device

Choose based on your counter and service style:

• •Desktop PC or all-in-one — best for a fixed, busy billing counter; easy to connect USB printers and scanners
• •Laptop — good for small counters and owners who want to take it home; a built-in battery helps during power cuts
• •Android tablet or phone — good for table-side ordering, small cafes and mobile setups

A touch screen speeds up item selection, but a normal monitor with keyboard shortcuts works well too. Our post on cross-platform POS covers which devices can run together.

2. Receipt Printer

A thermal printer is standard because it needs no ink.

• •80 mm — the usual choice for restaurant bills; more text per line, faster printing
• •58 mm — compact and cheaper; fine for small counters and mobile billing
• •Connection — USB for a fixed counter, LAN for sharing, Bluetooth for mobile devices

Buy a model with an auto-cutter. Keep at least a week of paper rolls in stock. See our Bluetooth thermal printer guide for mobile setups.

3. KOT Printer or Kitchen Display

The kitchen needs orders as soon as they are taken.

• •KOT printer — a thermal printer in the kitchen, ideally on LAN so any billing device can print to it
• •Kitchen display (KDS) — a screen showing live orders, with no paper

Larger kitchens use one printer or screen per station — tandoor, Chinese, bar — so each section only sees its own items. Read about kitchen zones and KOT routing.

4. Cash Drawer

A cash drawer usually connects to the receipt printer and opens automatically when a bill is printed. Choose a drawer with enough note compartments for ₹10 to ₹500 and a lock for the end of the shift.

5. Barcode Scanner

Useful if you sell packed items — bakery products, beverages, retail shelves. A USB scanner works like a keyboard and needs no special setup.

6. Customer-Facing Display

A second screen facing the customer shows the items and total as they are billed, and can display a UPI QR code for payment. It reduces disputes and speeds up payment. See customer-facing displays.

7. Network and Internet

• •A good router placed close to the counter and kitchen
• •A primary broadband connection plus a mobile hotspot as backup
• •LAN cables for printers that must never drop out

A POS with offline billing keeps the counter running if both connections fail.

8. Power Backup

A small UPS for the billing PC, router and printers keeps you running through short cuts and protects equipment from voltage spikes. For longer outages, ensure the inverter covers the counter.

Hardware Checklist

• •Billing PC, laptop, tablet or phone
• •80 mm thermal receipt printer with auto-cutter
• •KOT printer or kitchen screen for each station
• •Cash drawer
• •Barcode scanner (if selling packed items)
• •Customer-facing display (optional)
• •Router, backup internet and LAN cables
• •UPS and spare paper rolls

Key Takeaways

• •Choose the billing device based on your counter and service style.
• •80 mm thermal printers are the standard for bills and KOTs.
• •Separate kitchen printers or screens per station reduce mistakes.
• •Backup internet and a UPS protect the counter during outages.
• •Buy hardware that your POS software supports before you pay for it.

How RasoeeCloud Helps

RasoeeCloud runs on Windows, macOS and Linux desktops, in the browser and on Android. It supports USB, network and Bluetooth thermal printers, kitchen zones that send each station its own KOT, barcode scanning at the counter and a customer-facing display. The desktop app also keeps billing running offline when the internet drops.

Related reading: Billing Software That Runs on Old PCs and Top 10 Restaurant POS System Features.

Start your 7-day free trial at rasoeecloud.com and test it on the hardware you already have.