Cigar lounges are increasingly popular with people seeking to enjoy high-quality cigars in a social environment. It’s a great time to start a cigar lounge — and the right technology can keep your business running smoothly.
But finding a cigar lounge point of sale (POS) system is easier said than done. Due to the high-risk nature of the business, cigar lounges don’t have as many choices as traditional retailers. To make matters more complicated, many POS systems built for general retail don’t have the specific features cigar lounges need to thrive.
We’re here to help. In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about cigar lounge POS systems, including:
- What to look for in a modern POS system
- Important industry-specific POS features to look out for
- Top POS systems and pricing
The right POS system makes great cigar lounges even better by improving the customer experience, eliminating manual processes, and maximizing profits.
The Most Important Features of a Cigar Lounge POS Solution
Modern point of sale systems do much more than process payments. They simplify every aspect of your business operations. A comprehensive POS system can make running a successful cigar lounge a breeze thanks to features like:
- Contactless payments and quick checkout
- Customer relationship management (CRM)
- Sales, inventory, and other custom reports
- Inventory management and real-time stock tracking
- Streamlined vendor management
- Employee management and performance tracking
- Built-in customer loyalty programs
- Custom label printing and SKUs
However, most POS systems are built for general retail and lack the specific functionality cigar lounges need to stay compliant and efficient. When choosing a cigar lounge POS system, look for these industry-specific features:
- Age verification tools: Ensure your cigar lounge stays in legal compliance and speed up purchases by using a system that can scan IDs.
- Carton-pack inventory: Use a system that lets you track cases of products, as well as packs, cigars, and other individual items, for a granular and accurate view of inventory.
- Scan data support: Take advantage of tobacco scan data promotions by using a compatible system that can accurately track and export sales data.
- High-risk payment processing: Because tobacco stores sell age-restricted goods, they are considered high-risk. This means you need to work with a high-risk merchant account or a POS that offers in-house high-risk payment processing.
Related Read: What Makes a Cigar Shop POS Unique? 4 Key Examples
Cigar Lounge POS Systems: 4 Top Providers
Choosing the right POS system for your cigar lounge is a big decision — so take your time to ensure your hardware and software are a good fit for how you operate.
To help get you started, we’ve assembled a list of some top providers in 2024.
1. Cigars POS
Cigars POS is our top-rated POS solution built specifically for cigar lounges, tobacco shops, and vape shops. By catering exclusively to tobacco-related industries, we offer helpful features that many general retail POS systems don’t.
Notable Features
- Custom SKUs and carton-pack inventory: Track inventory by the case or individual cigars for accurate stock levels and pricing analysis. Get creative with the ability to enter custom SKUs into your system and create unique product pairings for visitors.
- Built-in customer loyalty: Keep track of your best cigar lounge guests and offer them exclusive discounts with a customizable loyalty program.
- In-house high-risk processing: Simplify your transactions using a fully integrated high-risk payment processor. Cigars POS offers high-risk merchant services at a competitive rate.
- Automated reorder notifications: Set a stock threshold for popular items and get automatically notified when you’re running low.
- Simplified age verification: Cigars POS supports ID scanning, minimizing your risk while smoothing out the customer experience.
Pricing
We offer customized pricing based on the size of your business, the number of locations, and more. Try out our build and price tool to get started.
2. KORONA POS
Korona POS is a cloud-based point of sale solution with features tailored for smoke shops and tobacco retailers. Where Korona stands out is its omnichannel sales support and advanced analytics, making it a solid choice for large or rapidly growing cigar lounge businesses.
Notable Features
- Multi-location and franchise management: Korona POS is built with scale in mind and has features that help you manage multiple locations.
- Promotional and discount pricing support: Korona provides various options to customize deals and promotions. It can also print tailored promotions onto receipts to encourage repeat visits.
- Loss prevention features: Korona offers features that reduce the risk of shrinkage, scams, and employee theft.
Pricing
Korona POS’s retail package starts at $69/month with optional add-ons that range from $10-50 a month.
3. POS Nation
POS Nation is a top-rated retail POS system that includes features for tobacco stores and cigar lounges. In addition to their powerful and user-friendly software, they offer numerous hardware options for businesses that are just starting out.
Notable Features
- Carton-pack inventory tracking: POS Nation automatically tracks the status of cartons, packs, and boxes when individual units are sold.
- 24/7 support: POS Nation offers robust support, ensuring that you’ll always have someone to help if something goes wrong.
- Prebuilt and custom reports: View reports on various aspects of your business to help you improve your pricing strategies, product selections, and more.
Pricing
POS Nation offers flexible pricing tiers starting as low as $69/month.
4. Square POS
Square is a popular POS solution for general retail that is easy to set up and use. One important note: Square does not support online sales of tobacco products. It may not be a good fit if you plan to set up an online store.
Features
- Mobile POS Terminal: Square’s POS hardware is sleek and mobile, allowing you to process transactions at the counter or anywhere else in the store.
- User-friendly interface: Square is designed to be as easy to use as possible, minimizing the time spent on training staff.
- Customizable with add-ons: Square’s system is highly customizable with various add-ons and integrations with other systems.
Pricing
Square’s retail plans are $29/month plus the cost of hardware.
Want More Tips For Running a Successful Cigar Lounge?
The right technology will go a long way in simplifying the day-to-day processes at your cigar lounge — but technology isn’t everything.
Successful cigar lounges combine expert knowledge, exceptional customer service, and a unique atmosphere. For more helpful tips on starting and running a successful cigar lounge, have a look at some of our other blog posts.
- Cigar Lounge Checklist: 10 Steps To Open a Successful Lounge
- 4 Cigar Lounge Ideas To Maximize Your Space
- Cigar Lounge Start-Up Cost Breakdown: 4 Factors That Impact Cost
- [ANSWERED] Are Cigar Lounges Profitable?
Also, to help you navigate the tricky tobacco marketing landscape and reach more customers, we’ve put together a free marketing guide for smoke shops and tobacco stores.
H3: Do More With a POS System Built for Cigar Lounges
Finding the right technology partner isn’t easy — but we’re here to make it stress free. Cigars POS is an industry-specific solution built for cigar lounges, cigar shops, and other types of smoke shops.
We combine expertise in navigating cigar lounge regulations with powerful features like reporting, age-verification tools, a customizable UI, tobacco scan data support, and more. With Cigars POS, you can build and grow your cigar lounge business with confidence.
Ready to get started? Talk with one of our cigar lounge experts today.
