Tagpet shop POS software

The best POS software for a pet shop is built for repeat buying and mixed stock. It should remind customers when food or worming treatment is due, sell bulk food by weight, track live animals and microchip numbers, run grooming bookings and reward regulars. Add local support and no transaction fees to that list. Take the checklist below into every comparison.

Pet shops run on regulars. One customer buys a 20 kilogram bag of dog food every month. Another buys a scoop of birdseed, a box of crickets and a heat lamp. A third is collecting a freshly groomed poodle. A basic till can take the payment, but it usually can’t remember who is due for what.

Pet shop owners have helped shape the pet shop features in our software, and we’ve been making POS software for independent specialty retailers since 1981. The advice here comes from that work, and the checklist applies whichever system you choose.

When you can keep it simple

If you sell a small range of packaged food, toys and accessories, with no bulk lines, live animals or grooming, a general retail POS may do the job and cost less.

Things change once you add bulk food, livestock, a grooming salon or dog wash, or a base of regulars who buy the same food on a cycle. General systems leave those to a diary, a whiteboard and the owner’s memory. That’s where repeat sales slip away to the supermarket or an online store.

The ten features that matter in pet shop POS software

1. Remind customers when food is due. A customer who buys a 15 kilogram bag every five weeks should hear from you in week four. Look for reminders based on purchase history, for food, worming and flea treatment.
2. Sell bulk food by weight. Birdseed, treats and bulk kibble should sell by weight or measure, in whole numbers or fractions, so the customer pays for exactly what they take.
3. Track live animals. Fish, birds, reptiles and small animals need their own records, including where they came from and how they have been cared for while in the shop.
4. Record microchip and serial numbers. Microchip numbers should be recorded against the animal and the sale. Serial numbers matter too for higher-value items such as aquarium equipment.
5. Run grooming and the dog wash. Bookings, groomer schedules and a message to the owner when the dog is ready should sit in the same system as the retail sale. Ask whether this is included or charged as an extra.
6. Track service jobs. Aquarium pump repairs and clipper sharpening are small jobs that are easy to lose track of. Repair tracking should record the job, the customer and the cost.
7. Sell bundles. A tank, filter and starter food at one price is easier to buy and harder to price-compare online. The system should take each item out of stock when the bundle sells.
8. Reward regulars simply. Coffee card style loyalty, where the tenth bag earns a reward, is easy to understand. Buy-one-get-one offers and care tips printed on the receipt help too.
9. Import invoices from suppliers. Importing invoices from your wholesalers, including PDF invoices read by AI, saves hours of keying and keeps costs accurate.

• Report on your regulars. You need best sellers, gross profit by category and, just as important, a list of regular customers who have stopped coming. That list is where lost sales are won back.

Looking past the monthly fee

Price the whole system over two years. That means adding:

• Transaction fees. Some providers add a fee to every card payment. A pet shop runs on frequent repeat purchases, so the percentage is charged again and again.
• Fees per terminal. A second counter or a terminal in the grooming area shouldn’t bring a bigger invoice.
• Confirm phone support is part of the plan, and check its hours, including Saturdays.
• Add-ons. Grooming bookings, reminders, loyalty, ecommerce and accounting links are sometimes extra.
• Ask what it costs to leave. A long lock-in turns a poor choice into a costly one.

Tower Systems charges no transaction fees, and there’s no lock-in contract. As at November 2026, pricing plans start from $145 a month including GST, billed annually, with unlimited terminals at one location on Standard and above. For current prices and plan features, see our pricing page.

Testing a system in a demonstration

Ask to see your everyday tasks in the demonstration. These questions are a good start:

1. Show me a reminder going to a customer whose dog food is due.
2. Show me a sale of 750 grams of birdseed.
3. Show me a microchip number recorded against a puppy sale.
4. Show me a grooming booking, then the message telling the owner the dog is ready.
5. Show me a tank, filter and food bundle selling as one item.
6. What does support cost, and who answers the phone on a Saturday?
7. Where is your support team located?
8. What is the process for getting to speak to a human?
9. Where is the person providing training located?

• Can I speak with a pet shop that uses your software?

Switching without losing your regulars

Switching is easier than many owners expect. In a pet shop, the customer history is the valuable part. Plan for three things:

• Before you sign, have your existing data reviewed so you know what will come across, including customer purchase history, so reminders keep working from day one. Tower Systems launched a streamlined data conversion service in mid 2026, drawing on many past conversions, and it’s fast and accurate.
• Choose the timing. Avoid the weeks before Christmas, and plan the changeover around your busiest grooming days.
• Plan the training. With one-on-one sessions and videos available at any hour, staff go into the first busy weekend with confidence.

“A piece of software is only as good as the backup that is provided and Tower are first rate in this area. Their help desk staff fix problems quickly and help is just a phone call away.”

— Jeremy Maitland, Director, We Know Pets, August 2021

Australia and New Zealand

Whichever side of the Tasman you trade on, check three things: correct GST handling for your country, support in your time zone and local people on the ground. Tower Systems supports pet shops on both sides of the Tasman, with help desk staff in each country. The help desk is open six days a week, with after-hours help if a system goes down.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best POS software for a pet shop in Australia?

It’s software built for repeat buying: reminders when food or treatment is due, bulk food sold by weight, livestock and microchip records, grooming bookings and simple loyalty. Look at how each system handles those needs, its total cost over two years and its local support.

Can pet shop POS software remind customers when food is due?

Yes, if it tracks purchase history. Tower Systems reminds customers when worming treatment or food is due, based on what they bought and when.

Is there pet shop POS software for New Zealand?

Yes. Tower Systems supports pet shops on both sides of the Tasman, with help desk staff in each country. The New Zealand sales line is 0800 444 367.

What does pet shop POS software cost?

It depends on the provider, so compare the full cost, including transaction fees, terminal fees, support and add-ons. As at November 2026, a Tower Systems plan starts at $145 a month including GST, billed annually, and there are no transaction fees or lock-in contracts.

Book a pet shop demonstration

Book a live demo: We’ll show you Tower Systems set up for a pet shop like yours, answer your questions and record the session so you can watch it again. We start by learning how your business works. If it turns out our software can’t meet a need you mention, we’ll say so. Call 1300 662 957 in Australia or 0800 444 367 in New Zealand, or email sales@towersystems.com.au.