Point of Sale

Pawn and Retail POS in One System

Write a pawn, ring a retail sale, take a buy, run a layaway — all from the same screen, the same inventory, the same customer file. No split databases, no double entry.

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A pawn shop point-of-sale (POS) system is a register and transaction platform that handles pawn loans, retail sales, buy-outright purchases, layaway and store credit from one unified database, rather than the single retail-sale function of a generic cash register. It tracks an item from intake through redemption or sale, computes interest and due dates by state, and captures the data needed for police reporting at the moment of the transaction. PawnSmarts is a full pawn POS built this way: scan a barcode, take the tender, and the change due, tax and receipt are handled for you, with pawn and retail sharing one ledger, one customer file and one inventory count.

Speed is the point. A new pawn takes about 30 seconds. Scan a driver's license to auto-fill the customer, scan a barcode to pull up an item, and let PawnSmarts compute the totals. A new hire is ringing sales in about ten minutes.

Transaction types it handles

Retail Sales

Sell shop inventory with accurate tax, change due and a printed or emailed receipt. Barcode scanning pulls up the item and price instantly. Pawn and retail share one inventory, so forfeited collateral flows straight onto the sales floor.

Buy & Resale

Purchase merchandise from individuals and resell it. PawnSmarts records the seller and item details needed for police reporting and prints price labels on plain paper or thermal stock.

Pawn Loans

Write a pawn ticket, take a payment, renew or redeem — interest, fees and due dates calculated using your state's rules. Every pawn is a POS transaction, fully integrated with the cash drawer.

Layaway & Store Credit

Set up layaway, track payments and balances, and issue or redeem store credit at the register. The Professional plan adds layaway scheduling; store credit is in every plan.

Built into every sale

One system, not two. Cobbling together a generic retail register and a separate pawn program creates compliance gaps and reconciliation headaches. PawnSmarts keeps pawn, retail and resale on one ledger, with one customer file and one inventory count.

What it costs

PawnSmarts is $89/month for the Essential plan or $129/month for Professional — month to month, no contract, no setup fee. Prefer to own it? Professional is also a one-time purchase for $2,995. If you run your card processing through us, the software is free. Either way the retail POS, pawn tickets, barcode scanning and daily close are included from day one.

Where POS fits in the bigger picture

A register can't operate in isolation — it has to plug into the rest of your shop. See our overview of what pawn shop software does for the full picture. Every pawn and purchase has to support mandatory police reporting, typically through LeadsOnline, and the rules vary — review the US state licensing guide or Canadian provincial guide.

High-value categories need more from the register: our jewelry pawn software guide covers karat tracking, stone documentation and barbell labels. Firearms run through the ATF gun log on the Professional plan. And security is part of the deal — user roles, PIN lock and audit trails support your theft-prevention strategy. Compare options in our reviews and rankings, and see why free pawn shop software rarely delivers a real POS.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a pawn shop POS system?

A pawn shop POS system is a point-of-sale platform that handles pawn loans, buy-outright purchases, layaway, store credit and retail sales from one unified database, instead of the single retail function of a generic cash register. It computes interest and due dates by state, captures police-reporting data at intake, and tracks collateral from pawn through redemption or sale without re-entry. PawnSmarts is a pawn POS built this way, with retail POS and pawn tickets included on every plan from $89/month.

How does a pawn shop POS system work?

At intake the clerk scans the customer's ID to auto-fill their record, scans or enters the item, and the system computes the loan, interest, fees and due date or rings the retail sale with tax and change due. Every transaction posts to one ledger and cash drawer, so inventory, customer history and reports update in real time. In PawnSmarts a new pawn takes about 30 seconds and a forfeited item flows straight from the loan record onto the retail floor.

Can I run pawn and retail sales from the same system?

Yes. A true pawn POS keeps pawn loans, retail sales, buy-outright and resale on one ledger with one customer file and one inventory count, which a separate retail register cannot do. PawnSmarts unifies all of them, so there is no double entry and no split databases between your pawn program and your register.

What hardware does a pawn shop POS need?

A pawn POS needs a device with a browser; optional peripherals are a 2D barcode scanner for item and license scanning, a thermal receipt printer, a label printer for price tags and jewelry barbell tags, and a cash drawer. PawnSmarts runs in any browser on the Windows PC, Mac, iPad or Android device you already own, and none of those peripherals are required to get started.

How much does pawn shop POS software cost?

Pawn POS software typically runs from a few hundred dollars to several thousand depending on the vendor. PawnSmarts is $89/month for the Essential plan or $129/month for Professional, month to month with no contract or setup fee, and $2,995 to own Professional outright. Professional adds reminders, online payments, staff roles with PIN lock and a gun log.

No Credit Card · No Installation · No Sales Call

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Open the live demo and ring a sale. If it looks right, sign up and we'll move your data for $395.

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Questions? [email protected] · 800-710-6184