Its software comes with industry-specific features but you won’t find its fees listed anywhere.
ShopKeep’s point-of-sale (POS) solutions include payment processing and conveniently bundled hardware packages, but applicants must agree to a software demo before processing rates are disclosed.
Choose this provider if you run a small- to medium-sized brick-and-mortar business seeking POS software.
Consider something else if you operate a large business and require a robust payment processor.
Current offer: Merchants using ShopKeep who refer fellow business owners receive $300 if their referral signs up.
ShopKeep reaches beyond its POS solutions to offer an all-in-one processing service:
Payment processing. ShopKeep Payments allows you to accept a number of payment methods, including cash, credit and debit cards, EMV-chip cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Merchant account. No need to source your merchant account from a third-party — ShopKeep’s payment processing includes an integrated merchant account.
Point-of-sale software. ShopKeep’s POS software comes with reporting and analytics, inventory management, staff management and QuickBooks Online integration.
Point-of-sale hardware. ShopKeep offers a range of POS hardware options on its website, including terminals, card readers, printers, barcode scanners, cash drawers and more.
Features
From niche industry offerings to merchant cash advances, ShopKeep has a unique collection of features available:
Industry POS solutions. ShopKeep advertises a range of niche industry solutions for both the retail and food- and beverage-service industries, including gift shops, pet stores, bakeries, food trucks and clothing boutiques.
Inventory management. Track, manage, update and reorder inventory with ShopKeep’s inventory management features.
Employee management. Stay on top of your team with employee clock-in capabilities, scheduling and labor-tracking features.
QuickBooks integration. ShopKeep integrates with QuickBooks Online to keep your business’ POS solution and accounting under one roof.
ShopKeep Loyalty. Use ShopKeep’s points-based programs to encourage customer loyalty and repeat business.
ShopKeep Capital. ShopKeep advertises cash advances on future sales with ShopKeep Capital. While this is easier to qualify for than traditional business loans, it’s more expensive and daily repayments can be difficult during slow seasons. You might want to see if you can qualify for financing with monthly repayments before committing to this type of funding.
ShopKeep PocketApp. Keep track of business data in real-time using the ShopKeep PocketApp for Android and iOS.
What hardware is available?
ShopKeep is built to run on an iPad, and it also sells and integrates with the following POS hardware providers:
iDynamo
Ingenico
Epson
APG
Zebra
ShopKeep pricing and fees
ShopKeep doesn’t disclose rates or fees for its POS software or processing service on its website. After contacting its customer service team by email, live chat and phone, we managed to uncover monthly fees for its software, but ShopKeep declined to provide any information about its processing rates. In fact, one rep told us that only ShopKeep Account Executives can offer information about rates — but that you must agree to a demo of ShopKeep’s software first.
To use ShopKeep’s POS software, you’ll spend between $69 to $199 monthly, depending on the features you select.
Pros and cons
Pros
24/7 support. ShopKeep advertises day-and-night tech support by phone for its merchants.
Month-to-month billing. ShopKeep’s services are available monthly so you don’t need to sign up for a contract or worry about cancellation fees.
Unlimited users and inventory. ShopKeep’s POS software allows you to add unlimited users and inventory items.
Cons
Lack of transparency. ShopKeep isn’t forthcoming about its rates or fees — even after multiple conversations with its customer service for more information.
No free trial period. While a free demo video is advertised on ShopKeep’s website, you won’t be able to explore the software unless you pay for it.
Long wait times. Multiple customer reviews across the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot report tech support wait times in excess of 30 minutes.
ShopKeep reviews and complaints
As of October 2020, ShopKeep is a Better Business Bureau (BBB) accredited business and boasts an A+ BBB rating — but its 24 customer reviews award it 1.2 out of 5 stars. On Trustpilot, ShopKeep maintains a TrustScore of 3.4 out of 5 based on 793 reviews.
Customers speak highly of its convenient POS software features and easy onboarding. But multiple complaints report long wait times to speak with customer service guidance and buggy POS hardware.
What I thought of ShopKeep’s customer service
I called ShopKeep to ask if it charges a cancellation fee. I found the phone number in the top right corner of its home page. While not able to fully answer my question, the rep I spoke to was quite pleasant and wished me luck in opening my store. Here’s a breakdown of the call:
Did I get an answer? Sort of — the rep confirmed there are no cancellation fees for ShopKeep’s month-to-month service but wasn’t sure about fees for yearly plans. The rep suggested we talk to a product specialist to find out.
How long did it take? The call lasted 2 minutes and 27 seconds.
Was there an automated system? Yes, press 1 for sales. I was placed on a brief hold but ShopKeep’s hold music is surprisingly fun.
How do I open an account?
To open an account, head to ShopKeep‘s website and click Get Started:
Select your estimated monthly sales.
Enter the number of locations your business has.
Tell ShopKeep how many registers you require. Click Next.
Tell ShopKeep how long you’ve been in business and what type of POS system you currently use. Click Next.
Select how soon you’d like to install your ShopKeep POS system.
Enter your business email address, full name, business name and phone number.
Click Get My Free Quote.
A ShopKeep rep will be in touch within one business day to discuss your POS options.
What other products will I need?
While ShopKeep offers POS solutions and payment processing, you’ll need an additional account before you can accept customer payments:
Checking account. You’ll be asked to link a business checking account to your ShopKeep account for transaction funds to be deposited.
What is ShopKeep?
ShopKeep was founded in 2008 in New York City as a desktop point-of-sale solution. In 2015 it acquired Payment Revolution, allowing it to offer payment processing in addition to its POS system.
Today, it supports over 25,000 merchants across the US and processes over $289 million in transactions annually.
How do I contact ShopKeep support?
The ShopKeep customer service team can be contacted by:
Phone. Call 800-820-9814 to speak to a member of the ShopKeep team weekdays from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and weekends from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., ET.
Email. Fill out a secure online form on ShopKeep’s website for a reply from the support team within one business day.
Live chat. ShopKeep support is available through the live chat feature on its website weekdays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
ShopKeep bundles POS systems with a payment processing service to offer a cohesive merchant service with niche offerings for those in the retail and service industries. But it’s not up front about rates and fees and there’s no option to try the software before purchasing.
For the most part — yes. ShopKeep’s software can handle cash sales, and Clover devices with enabled offline payments can continue to accept credit cards without Internet connectivity. But for all other processing, you’ll need an active Internet connection to accept customer payments.
ShopKeep is currently only available to merchants located in the US and Canada.
You can run ShopKeep’s POS software on the following devices:
Shannon Terrell is a writer for Finder who studied communications and English literature at the University of Toronto. On any given day, you can find her researching everything from equine financing and business loans to student debt refinancing and how to start a trust. She loves hot coffee, the smell of fresh books and discovering new ways to save her pennies.
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