PLN 700 tax relief for the purchase of a cash register
March 29, 2026
Virtual cash register or POS system?
June 20, 2026
Cash register for gastronomy
Restaurant, food truck, coffee bar. How to choose?
The food service industry is one of the industries where a cash register is mandatory from the very first transaction—without exceptions and regardless of annual turnover. Restaurants, food trucks, cafes, bars, and catering companies must have an online cash register before accepting their first paying customer. The question is not if, but what. In this article, we explain the differences between a cash register and a POS system, show what a cash register for a restaurant, food truck, or cafe should have, and show how to efficiently organize a purchase with a service provider in Warsaw.
Does a restaurant have to have a cash register?
Yes, and from the very first transaction with a private customer. The catering industry (restaurants, bars, cafes, food trucks, catering for individuals) is explicitly listed in § 4 of the Regulation of the Minister of Finance as an activity subject to the mandatory online cash register requirement.
- The obligation does not depend on the amount of turnover - the limit of PLN 20,000 does not apply here
- From January 1, 2020, only ONLINE cash registers are in force - old cash registers with paper copies are not allowed
- The cash register must be operational before accepting the first paying customer.
- Food truck selling alcohol (even beer): cash register required from the first sale
- Food truck without alcohol, low turnover: theoretically possible exemption up to PLN 20,000, but with one alcoholic beverage - an absolute obligation.
More about who must have a cash register: fiscal cash register obligation 2026 - full rules.
Cash register or POS system – what to choose for a restaurant?
This is a question we hear most often from property owners. The answer depends on the size of the property, the number of stalls, and how you want to manage sales.
| Characteristic | Cash register (with gastro software) | POS system (tablet + fiscal printer) |
| Entry price | Lower (from ~1,500 PLN) | Higher (from ~2,500 PLN per set) |
| Service | Simple, dedicated keys | Touchscreen, intuitive interface |
| Gastrointestinal functions | Limited (depending on model) | Expanded: tables, kitchen voucher |
| Offline work | YES | YES (e.g. Dotykačka) |
| Scaling | More difficult with multiple conditions. | Easy - Multiple terminals on the network |
| Remote management | Limited | YES - Online Reports, Cloud |
| For whom? | Small cafe, bar, food truck | Restaurant, bistro, place with waiters |
Have questions? Ask our expert!
Cash register for a restaurant – what should it have?
A restaurant is a demanding environment—a large menu, a rotating waitstaff, cash and card payments, kitchen vouchers, and reporting to the owner off-premises. Here's a list of features you'll need:
Essential cash register features for restaurants
- Large PLU database – hundreds of items with different VAT rates (5%, 8%, 23% depending on the product)
- Table service and bill splitting - assigning orders to specific seats
- Payment terminal integration - customers pay less and less often with cash
- Kitchen voucher printer (boniarka) - the order goes to the kitchen without the waiter running around
- Online Sales Reports - Owner Checks Sales Off-Premise with Smartphone
- Online cash register with transmission to CRK - a legal requirement, all new cash registers meet it.
For restaurants with waiters and multiple tables, the best solution is a POS system with an online fiscal printer—it provides full control over the dining room and kitchen. For smaller bistros and eateries, an all-in-one cash register (SAIO) with a touchscreen will work well.
1,899.00 PLN (2,335.77 gross)
1,999.00 PLN (2,458.77 gross)
2,199.00 PLN (2,704.77 gross)
Cash register for a food truck - mobility first
A food truck is a completely different environment than a restaurant—small countertops, field work, variable weather conditions, and lack of constant internet access. The cash register needs to work wherever you do.
What do you need from a food truck cash register?
- Built-in battery - 8-12 hours of operation without charging (festival, fair, parking lot)
- Built-in GSM modem - data transmission to CRK without Wi-Fi, via the cellular network
- Mobile payment terminal - customers pay by card or phone; without a terminal, you lose sales
- Compact dimensions and low weight - every centimeter of the countertop counts
- Dust and moisture resistance - working outdoors is a reality
Remember: if you sell alcohol from a food truck (even one beer on offer), an online cash register is mandatory from the first transaction – regardless of turnover.
1,699.00 PLN (2,089.77 gross)
1,899.00 PLN (2,335.77 gross)
1,999.00 PLN (2,458.77 gross)
Cash register for cafes and coffee bars
A coffee shop is fast-paced, with many product variants (sizes, toppings, milk substitutes), and customers who value convenient payment. The cash register must keep up with the barista.
What makes a good fiscal setup for a coffee shop?
- All-in-one with touchscreen - quick typing without searching for a key in the menu
- Order modifiers — 'oat milk instead of cow's milk', 'large espresso', 'no sugar''
- Loyalty program - collecting stamps or points, increasingly required
- Small size - centimeters count behind the bar, the cash register cannot dominate the space
- Payment terminal integration - fast contactless payment without handing over the device
Compact all-in-one cash registers perform significantly better than traditional keyboard-based cash registers. Examples for cafes include the Elzab T10 and Posnet Vero Online.
1,449.00 PLN (1,782.27 gross)
1,699.00 PLN (2,089.77 gross)
1,625.00 PLN (1,998.75 gross)
Have questions? Ask our expert!
Cash register + payment terminal - do they need to be integrated?
Since 2025, a regulation requiring the integration of online cash registers with payment terminals (ECR-EFT protocol) has been in effect. For restaurants, where card payments are standard, integration also has practical benefits:
- One device sends the amount to the terminal - no manual entry, no mistakes
- Faster checkout service – the customer swipes their card seconds after confirming their order
- At a certain turnover: obligation to have a terminal regardless of the industry
The Cash Register Center offers payment terminals compatible with Elzab, Novitus, and Posnet cash registers. We configure integration during installation—no need to do it yourself. More: Payment terminal and cash register—mandatory integration.
How to buy a cash register for a restaurant? Cash Register Center - 3 steps
- Contact us — Tell us what kind of establishment you run and how many employees you have. We'll select a POS model or set tailored to your kitchen and dining room.
- Delivery and installation at your premises — A service technician arrives at your restaurant or food truck in Warsaw, Gdańsk, or Łódź. On-site fiscalization and configuration
- Training and service — will train employees on how to operate the cash register. Mandatory inspections every 24 months — we'll come to you
