Till System Finance

Q: Is a till system the same as a full EPOS system for finance purposes?

Not always. A basic till system, such as a cash register or simple tablet-based setup, is typically a smaller and simpler purchase than a full EPOS platform with stock control, staff management and multi-site reporting. Both can be financed the same way, but a basic till purchase is usually a smaller amount and a quicker application, since there's less hardware and often a simpler software arrangement behind it.

Q: Can I finance a tablet-based till setup?

Yes, the tablet, stand, card reader, cash drawer and printer can be financed as hardware in the usual way. Any till software running on the tablet, if it's billed as a monthly subscription rather than a one-off purchase, is treated as a running cost rather than an asset and is paid separately from the finance agreement. Ask your supplier to confirm whether the tablet itself is being sold outright or supplied under a device rental agreement tied to the software, since that changes what asset finance can actually cover.

Q: Will a lender finance a till system for a brand new shop or market stall?

Yes, this is generally one of the more accessible categories for a newly trading business, since the amounts involved are small and till hardware is common and easy for a lender to understand. Expect standard checks on your trading history and credit profile, and for a very new business a modest deposit may be requested. If you're trading from a market stall or pop-up unit rather than a fixed shop, mention this to your broker, since some lenders have specific criteria for mobile or seasonal trading.

Q: How quickly can till system finance be approved?

Most applications are approved within 24 hours, and till system purchases under £30,000 are often approved the same day, provided the business has a clean credit history and the supplier's quote is straightforward to review. Larger orders, multi-site rollouts, or purchases bundled with other equipment on the same agreement can take a little longer, since the lender needs to review the full specification and how the purchase fits with what the business already has in place.

Spread the cost of a till system from £400 to £20,000+ with flexible finance options: HP, lease or refinance. Compare rates from 40+ lenders.

Can you finance a till system?

Yes, till systems are financed as a standard asset purchase, usually on hire purchase or a lease, with the machine itself acting as the security. UK prices typically run £400 to £20,000, and most deals are written over 24–36 months with a deposit of around 10–20%. Decisions typically take 24 hours. Used machines are financeable too, usually with a shorter term.

Typical Cost

£400 – £20k

Approval Speed

24 hours

Same-day for < £30k

Rates From

6.0% APR

What would a till system cost per month?

Till System price (ex VAT) £3,000

Deposit 10%

Agreement term 60 months

Annual interest rate 9%

Balloon payment £0

Your estimate

Indicative only. Not a quote and not an offer of finance.

Pre-filled with a typical till system price. Indicative only, not a quote.

Finance options

Hire Purchase (HP)

Rate: From 6.4% APR
Term: 24–36 months
Deposit: 10–20%
Ownership: Yours at the end
Best for: Independent shops keeping the same till hardware for several years

Finance Lease

Rate: From 6.0% APR
Term: 24–36 months
Deposit: None required
Ownership: Return or buy (balloon payment)
Best for: Deducting the hardware cost against profit separately from any till software subscription

Operating Lease

Rate: From 6.8% APR
Term: 24–36 months
Deposit: None required
Ownership: Return at end
Best for: Small chains standardising and refreshing till hardware across sites

Representative example

On a purchase price of £3,000: a 10% deposit of £300, then 48 monthly payments of £63 at 5.9% APR representative (fixed). Total amount payable £3,324, including the deposit. The rate you are offered depends on your business and the asset.

What buyers actually specify

Guide prices for sizing a finance agreement, not quotes. Manufacturers in this market mostly price on application, so where a current UK list price could not be confirmed the row describes a specification class rather than naming a model. Your supplier quote is what the agreement is written against.

Machine or specification	Guide price	Type
Compact Cash Register/Till Terminal	£300 – £700	Single-Till Setup
Tablet-Based Till with Stand & Reader	£400 – £900	Tablet Till
Cash Drawer, Receipt Printer & Barcode Scanner	£150 – £400	Till Peripherals
Multi-Till Shop Fit-Out (x3)	£2,500 – £7,000	Multi-Terminal Setup

Tax benefits

Till hardware, cash drawers, printers and scanners qualify for the Annual Investment Allowance, so a purchase or HP agreement can be deducted against taxable profit in the year of purchase, and lease payments are deductible in full as they are paid. If the till runs cloud-based sales or stock software on a subscription, that software cost is a running expense and sits outside the finance agreement.

Market context

The typical buyer is an independent shop, café or market trader setting up a new till or replacing hardware that's ageing, unreliable, or no longer able to run current card payment security standards. Till hardware at this end of the market is relatively inexpensive compared with a full EPOS platform, and many small businesses now run a simple tablet-based till with a card reader rather than a traditional cash register, which changes the balance of the quote towards software and payment processing fees rather than the hardware itself. Because the amounts involved are modest, this is one of the more accessible categories of technology finance for a small or newly trading business.

Frequently asked questions

Is a till system the same as a full EPOS system for finance purposes?

Not always. A basic till system, such as a cash register or simple tablet-based setup, is typically a smaller and simpler purchase than a full EPOS platform with stock control, staff management and multi-site reporting. Both can be financed the same way, but a basic till purchase is usually a smaller amount and a quicker application, since there's less hardware and often a simpler software arrangement behind it.

Can I finance a tablet-based till setup?

Yes, the tablet, stand, card reader, cash drawer and printer can be financed as hardware in the usual way. Any till software running on the tablet, if it's billed as a monthly subscription rather than a one-off purchase, is treated as a running cost rather than an asset and is paid separately from the finance agreement. Ask your supplier to confirm whether the tablet itself is being sold outright or supplied under a device rental agreement tied to the software, since that changes what asset finance can actually cover.

Will a lender finance a till system for a brand new shop or market stall?

Yes, this is generally one of the more accessible categories for a newly trading business, since the amounts involved are small and till hardware is common and easy for a lender to understand. Expect standard checks on your trading history and credit profile, and for a very new business a modest deposit may be requested. If you're trading from a market stall or pop-up unit rather than a fixed shop, mention this to your broker, since some lenders have specific criteria for mobile or seasonal trading.

How quickly can till system finance be approved?