7 Best POS Software for Consignment and Resale Shops

The consignment and resale industry is booming. In fact, the global second-hand apparel market alone is projected to reach $350 billion by 2028, almost doubling from 2023. To thrive in this growing market, U.S.-based consignment shop owners need point-of-sale (POS) software that addresses their unique needs – from tracking items from multiple consignors and splitting sales revenue (often a 60/40 or 50/50 consignor/shop split) to managing one-of-a-kind inventory and online sales.

This updated guide will walk you through the 7 best POS systems for consignment and resale shops in 2025, including both cloud-based and locally-installed solutions. We’ll cover each system’s consignment-specific features (using terms like consignor, consignment agreement, payout, etc. to resonate with resale retailers), eCommerce capabilities, and pricing, so you can find the best fit for your store.

Consignment Store POS Requirements

Consignment stores have special requirements that general retail POS systems don’t typically handle out-of-the-box. Unlike standard retail, a consignment shop’s inventory comes from many individual consignors (sellers) – each of whom is usually owed a percentage of the sale when their item sells (a payout). A robust consignment POS needs to track all these details seamlessly. Key requirements include:

• Consignor Management & Payout Tracking: The system should attribute each sold item to the correct consignor and automatically calculate their split of the revenue (e.g. a 60/40 split per the consignment agreement). This means maintaining consignor accounts with up-to-date balances, so you know exactly how much to pay each consignor during payout periods. For example, if an item sells for $100 under a 60/40 split, the POS should allocate $60 to the consignor and $40 to the store automatically.
• Unique Inventory and Item Tracking: Consignment and resale shops deal in one-of-a-kind items rather than standard SKU-based stock. The POS must allow one-off item entries (often with unique tags or IDs) and prevent sales of an item once it’s sold. It should support detailed item descriptions, photos, and possibly expiration dates or markdown schedules for aging inventory.
• Multiple Consignors and Agreements: The software should handle unlimited consignors and different consignment terms or agreements. Some consignors might have special splits or fees (for instance, a charity on consignment might get a different percentage). The system should be flexible to accommodate such variations and store signed consignment agreements or terms.
• Consignor Portal & Communication: Leading consignment POS solutions offer a consignor portal where sellers can log in to see their inventory status, sales, and earnings in real time. Automated email or text notifications (e.g. an item sold notification or monthly statements) can greatly improve consignor satisfaction.
• Integrated Payout Options: Beyond tracking who gets paid what, the system should help issue payouts efficiently – whether by printing checks, applying store credit, or even direct deposit/ACH. This saves time when handling dozens or hundreds of consignors.
• Buy Outright & Trade Support: Many resale shops not only take items on consignment but also buy items outright or allow trade-ins/store credit. A consignment POS often includes tools to record outright purchases or trades, separate from consigned inventory.
• Basic POS and Retail Features: Of course, it must handle the core POS tasks: quick and easy checkout, barcode scanning or tag lookup, sales tax calculation, receipts, returns, and so on. Additionally, features like inventory reports, customer management (for shoppers as distinct from consignors), and the ability to run promotions or loyalty programs can be valuable.
• eCommerce Integration: Modern consignment stores often want to sell online. The best systems either include an integrated eCommerce storefront or integrate with platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce to sync inventory for online sales. This way, a one-of-a-kind item sold online is immediately marked sold in-store (and vice versa), preventing double-selling and keeping consignor accounts accurate. Prioritizing POS options with strong online selling integration is important for reaching a wider audience.

General-purpose POS systems (like Square or Shopify) excel at everyday retail tasks (sales processing, basic inventory, etc.), but they don’t natively track consignors or calculate payouts. Shop owners might start out using spreadsheets or manual methods to manage consignor inventory and earnings, but this gets cumbersome and error-prone as you grow.

Ideally, your POS should either have consignment features built-in or work with an add-on to handle it. Below, we’ll explore seven top POS solutions for consignment shops – some are dedicated consignment software and others are popular retail POS systems enhanced with consignment integrations – to see how they meet these requirements.

1. SimpleConsign – All-in-One Cloud POS for Consignment Stores

SimpleConsign (by Traxia) is a cloud-based consignment POS system designed specifically for consignment, resale, and thrift businesses. It’s a long-standing player in this niche and is trusted by many U.S. consignment shops. SimpleConsign provides an all-in-one solution covering point-of-sale, consignor management, and inventory in a single system.

Key Features

SimpleConsign tracks unlimited consignors and inventory items even on its base plan. Each item in inventory is linked to a consignor, so when it sells, the system automatically credits the consignor’s account with their percentage split.

The software supports flexible revenue split configurations and can handle different splits per consignor or per item if needed. It also includes consignor access tools – for example, you can optionally give consignors a login to view their item statuses and balances (available on higher plans). SimpleConsign also supports consignor scheduling (to manage drop-off appointments) and even has an AI-powered item entry feature that can suggest pricing and categories from a photo.

In terms of consignment payouts, SimpleConsign can record payouts and offers integration with QuickBooks for accounting. It supports various payout methods – you can print checks or record cash payouts, and the Standard plan adds ACH deposit support for paying consignors electronically.

Inventory management is tailored for consignment: each item is one-of-a-kind with fields for descriptions, and you can print custom price tags with barcodes. For multi-store operations, SimpleConsign can consolidate inventory across locations and track sales by location.

eCommerce and Integrations

While SimpleConsign is primarily an in-store system, it offers integration with Shopify for eCommerce – but note this is only included in the top-tier plan (Professional). With the Shopify integration, you can sync inventory to an online store so that online sales deduct from the same inventory and consignor accounts.

This is great for shops that want to sell consigned items online through their own website. SimpleConsign also partners with payment processing (via SimplePay) for integrated card payments, though some users have noted the rates (around 2.8%–3.0% per swipe) are a bit higher than generic processors. On the plus side, you’re not locked in – you can choose to use external processors if you prefer, but integrated payments make reconciliation easier.

Pricing

SimpleConsign’s pricing reflects its comprehensive features. Plans start at $159/month (Basic) for a single store, which includes unlimited consignors and items. The Standard plan is $259/month and adds features like ACH payouts, a consignor portal (standard access), and appointment scheduling.

The Professional plan is $359/month, which includes everything plus premium features like the Shopify integration, QuickBooks integration, a photo upload app, and advanced analytics. All plans come with unlimited support and backups included.

There are no long-term contracts (it’s subscription-based), and you can start with a free 15-day trial. Keep in mind: SimpleConsign merged with the older ConsignPro software, so ConsignPro users have been transitioned to SimpleConsign – meaning you get the benefit of an established platform with ongoing updates.

Overall, SimpleConsign is a top choice if you want a turnkey consignment POS that handles everything from consignor agreements and inventory tracking to checkout and payouts in one system. It’s particularly strong for multi-location consignment businesses (as indicated by some ratings: one source rated it “Best for Multiple Consignment Stores” in a comparison. The main downsides are the higher price point and that eCommerce integration is only in the highest tier – but for a busy consignment store, the time saved on manual tracking can justify the cost.

2. Ricochet Consignment POS – Best Overall for Consignment Features

Ricochet is another popular consignment-specific POS software that many consider the “best overall” for consignment shops. It’s a cloud-based system (launched in 2013) known for its user-friendly interface and powerful consignment tracking. Ricochet is built from the ground up for selling both consigned products and retail (store-owned) products side by side.

Key Features

Ricochet offers full consignor management with unlimited consignor accounts. You can assign commission splits on a per-consignor or per-item basis easily. When adding inventory, you specify if an item is consigned (and who the consignor is) or store-owned/wholesale. The POS will then automatically calculate payouts for consigned items.

Ricochet stands out for its Ricochet GO mobile app which allows consignors to log in and view their inventory and sales or even add items themselves remotely. This level of consignor self-service can save you time and engage your sellers (they love being able to see when something sells in real time).

At checkout, Ricochet’s POS works on PC, Mac, or iPad, giving flexibility in hardware choices. It supports standard POS functions: barcode scanning, receipts via print, email or text, item discounts, and a built-in customer rewards/loyalty program.

For inventory management, it allows product categories and even item variants for retail items, but each consigned item is uniquely tracked. It can handle sales tax, apply store commissions, and produce detailed reports. The reporting dashboard includes sales and profit analysis, and importantly, reports for consignor payouts.

At payout time, you can generate reports of what each consignor sold and the amount owed. Ricochet supports payout by checks, store credit, or direct deposit through an ACH integration (Ricochet ACH).

Integrated eCommerce

One of Ricochet’s strengths is its built-in eCommerce options. You have two main ways to sell online: use the Ricochet Web store or integrate with Shopify. Ricochet offers its own simple webstore feature where you can list items online (useful if you want a basic online storefront quickly). Alternatively, for a more robust solution, you can connect Ricochet to a Shopify website – inventory will sync and sales will flow back into Ricochet.

This means if you already have (or prefer) Shopify for your online sales, Ricochet can serve as your back-end inventory and consignment manager, keeping in-store and online operations unified. Ricochet sends alerts inside the app when online sales occur, so you’ll never miss an order.

It’s worth noting that Ricochet does not force you to use a particular payment processor: you can use their built-in Ricochet Pay or integrate Square Payments, or even continue using an external merchant account if you have one. This flexibility is great – you’re not locked into high processing fees.

Pricing

Ricochet keeps pricing simple with one plan at $159/month (no tiers). That flat fee includes all features (consignor app access, eCommerce integrations, etc.) and unlimited users/devices. There’s no contract required, and they offer a free trial.

In terms of value, $159/mo is competitive given that it doesn’t limit any features behind higher tiers – unlike some competitors. Also, because you can use your own processors, you might save on transaction fees compared to systems that bundle in processing at higher rates.

Why Choose Ricochet

Ricochet is often recommended as a top consignment POS because it hits the sweet spot of robust industry-specific features and relative affordability. It’s especially ideal if you want to fully immerse in consignment workflows – with things like a consignor login app, automatic split calculations, and integrated eCommerce built for consignment. U.S.-based stores will appreciate that it’s a well-supported domestic product (Ricochet is based in Idaho, USA).

The feedback from users is generally positive, citing ease of use and comprehensive functionality. If there’s a con, a few small stores find $159/mo a bit steep, but given it can run your whole shop and online storefront, many find it worthwhile. Overall, Ricochet is a top pick for consignment and resale shops seeking a modern, dedicated solution.

3. Liberty by Resaleworld – Powerful Locally-Installed Solution with eCommerce Integrations

Liberty (also known as Liberty REACT, by Resaleworld) is a consignment and resale POS software that has been an industry stalwart for decades. It’s a feature-rich system originally developed as a locally-installed Windows application, though it now also offers cloud-hosted options. Liberty is especially popular among established consignment stores that need robust on-premise software with tons of features and customization – it’s like the “enterprise” solution of consignment POS.

Key Features

Liberty offers comprehensive modules for Accounts (Consignors), Inventory, Point of Sale, and Payouts. In Liberty, each consignor has an account where all their items, sales, and payouts are tracked. The inventory management is very detailed – you can see at a glance all consigned items, their prices, sale status, and the net amount owed to each consignor.

Liberty automatically calculates consignor splits and shows, for each item, both the sale price and what portion the consignor will receive. When it’s time to pay out, Liberty can generate settlements and print checks or process ACH (they have an add-on called ResaleWallet for electronic payouts).

Liberty supports multiple transaction types: consigned items, store-owned inventory, buy outright (with cost tracking), trade credit, even layaways. It also has advanced features like customizable price codes, automatic markdown schedules, and a built-in loyalty/rewards program (Resale Rewards) if you opt for that add-on.

The reporting in Liberty is very robust, covering sales, account balances, inventory aging, and more. Another specialty is it can manage unlimited accounts and inventory without a cloud subscription (if you own the software outright). Many large consignment stores with tens of thousands of items use Liberty due to its performance and depth.

Liberty’s interface might feel a bit dated to some (since it’s a Windows-based UI), but it’s powerful. It requires training to unlock its full potential, but Resaleworld offers extensive support, training, and even user forums. One key capability is consignor login (Consignor Center): with an add-on, consignors can log into a portal to check their account balances, recent sales, and even see unsold inventory. This is a big plus for keeping consignors happy and informed.

Integrated eCommerce

Despite being a traditionally local system, Liberty has kept up with eCommerce by offering several integration paths. Resaleworld provides an integrated web store solution called ShopRW (Resaleworld’s own eCommerce) which syncs directly with Liberty’s inventory. With this, you don’t have to enter inventory twice – your Liberty database updates the website automatically, and online sales reflect back in Liberty (updating consignor records and inventory in real-time).

Additionally, Resaleworld offers a Shopify Integration that allows Liberty to connect to a Shopify store, uploading inventory (with photos) and downloading orders. There’s also eBay integration available for shops that want to list consignment items on eBay. Essentially, Liberty can be the central hub for in-store and online channels.

Do note that these integrations might come as add-on services with separate fees, and setting them up can require some technical support. But the benefit is seamless multi-channel consignment – sell an item online and Liberty will mark it sold and remove it from the floor inventory, calculate the consignor’s payout, etc., with no manual steps.

Pricing

Liberty is typically sold as a software license plus optional support and hosting. For a locally-installed setup, pricing might be a one-time license fee (historically around $795 for a single user, though Resaleworld’s site shows packages like $395 for certain editions and up to $879 for others). Resaleworld now also offers Liberty Cloud at $159.95/month for those who prefer a subscription cloud-hosted model.

In fact, Liberty REACT (the latest version) starts around $159/month for a basic cloud subscription and can scale up for additional features or multi-store. Users have reported that some features (like certain integrations or modules) may incur additional costs, and support contracts might be separate.

Essentially, Liberty can be a larger upfront investment (or comparable monthly to other high-end systems), and it’s known that there can be extra fees for things like eCommerce integration or expanded support. However, once you own it, it’s a very powerful asset.

Why Choose Liberty

Liberty is best suited for consignment stores that are established or plan to be high-volume, and who need a very feature-rich system that can be run on-premises. Many thrift chains, large clothing consignment stores, and niche resellers (like sports gear or antique malls) rely on Liberty. It has a proven track record and covers nearly every scenario (accounts for estate sales, auctions, buy/sell/trade models, etc. are all supported).

The learning curve is steeper than cloud POS systems like Square, but Resaleworld provides training and the software is extremely robust and customizable. With integrated eCommerce and consignor portal options, Liberty also ensures you’re not left out of the online sales game. Just be prepared for a more involved setup and potentially higher cost – but if you want one of the most powerful consignment POS solutions in the U.S. market, Liberty is it.

As one review noted, Liberty “continues to define and shape industry standards” for resale software, especially in terms of its breadth of features for accounts, inventory, payouts, and online integration.

4. ConsignCloud – Modern Cloud POS with Modular Add-Ons and Online Focus

ConsignCloud is a newer cloud-based consignment software that positions itself as an easy-to-use, scalable solution for consignment and reseller shops. It’s known for a modern interface and a modular pricing approach that lets you pick the features you need. For U.S. shops that want flexibility and strong eCommerce integrations without a huge price tag, ConsignCloud is an appealing option.

Key Features

ConsignCloud covers all the basics of consignment management: you can manage an unlimited number of consignor accounts, each with their split percentages and contact info. The system will track inventory items and who they belong to, handle sales, and calculate consignor payouts.

It provides features like bulk workflows (useful for marking many items as expired or discounted at once), item expiration rules (automatically flag items that have been in store too long), and customizable inventory policies (e.g., automatic markdown schedules or fees). These features help save time in running day-to-day operations, especially when dealing with thousands of unique items.

ConsignCloud also has a consignor portal capability: you can offer a login to consignors where they can see sold items and payouts, and you can even automate emails to consignors for events like an item selling or a payout issued. Communication tools like that strengthen consignor relationships.

Another plus is multi-location support – ConsignCloud can handle multiple stores, tracking inventory per location and allowing you to transfer items or run consolidated reporting (multi-store is available with higher-tier add-ons). The POS checkout part (called “ConsignCloud Register”) includes all standard retail functions when enabled: customer tracking, gift cards, discounts, returns, tax management, etc., so it can fully replace a traditional POS system.

Integrated eCommerce & Omnichannel

ConsignCloud was built with online selling in mind. It offers integrations to cross-post inventory online via platforms like Shopify and Square’s online store. Specifically, you can integrate Shopify to sync inventory and track consignment sales on your Shopify eCommerce site. You can also integrate Square – not only for payments, but to use Square’s popular POS interface or online store in tandem with ConsignCloud.

Essentially, ConsignCloud can act as the consignment-focused backend while Square or Shopify handle the consumer-facing sales channel, and they keep each other in sync. This is a similar philosophy to the “hybrid” approach some shops use (as described earlier: using a general POS + a consignment system together).

ConsignCloud facilitates that by providing official integrations. Additionally, ConsignCloud has an integration with NearSt to publish your inventory to local Google searches and social media for local shoppers – a nice marketing touch for increasing foot traffic.

For those who prefer an all-in-one, ConsignCloud also offers its own built-in POS register and you could run your entire store just on ConsignCloud (with their own integrated card processing, etc.). However, the flexibility to mix and match with other platforms is a highlight. Another integration to note: ConsignCloud can integrate with QuickBooks for accounting and has an open API for tech-savvy users to build custom connections.

Pricing

ConsignCloud’s pricing is modular. The base package “ConsignCloud Complete” is $119/month, which includes the core consignment and inventory management features and two add-ons of your choice. If you need more features, you can upgrade: at $149/month you get up to five add-on modules, and at $179/month you get all features/add-ons included.

This means a small shop could start at $119 and later scale up as needed. The add-ons include things like the Shopify integration, Square integration, ConsignCloud Register (POS interface), Email notifications, Multi-user and Multi-location support, etc. Notably, the base $119 tier does not include the POS Register add-on by default (you could choose to use Square’s POS for free instead, for example).

If you want ConsignCloud to be your complete in-store POS, you’d enable that add-on (which likely means moving to a higher tier or using one of your two add-on slots). ConsignCloud’s approach lets you avoid paying for features you don’t use – e.g., if you only sell in-store, you might not need the Shopify integration; if you already have a payment solution, you might not need theirs, etc. There’s also no extra charge per consignor or transaction; even the base plan supports unlimited items and accounts.

Pros and Cons

The advantages of ConsignCloud are its ease of use (modern web-based interface), affordability for what you get, and the focus on online integration which is great for shops wanting to expand their digital presence. It also emphasizes customer support and onboarding – they have a chat support built into the app and resources to help stores transition smoothly.

One possible drawback is that because it’s newer and smaller-scale than, say, SimpleConsign or Liberty, some extremely advanced features might not be there yet, and you’ll rely on their integration with other software for certain functions (which is actually by design).

However, many stores find that refreshing – you can use best-in-class tools in combination. For example, you can use Square’s excellent front-end for checkout and ConsignCloud for the back-end consignment logic – a combo that some find more intuitive than using one monolithic system.

In summary, ConsignCloud is a compelling choice for small to mid-sized consignment shops that want flexibility and strong eCommerce capabilities without breaking the bank. It shows that you can manage consignor splits, unique inventory, and even cross-list inventory online across platforms from one central hub. If you’re tech-savvy or willing to integrate systems for an optimal solution, ConsignCloud provides the building blocks to do so, all while speaking the language of consignment.

5. Shopify POS – Best for Consignment Stores with Strong Online Sales

Shopify POS isn’t a consignment-specific system, but it’s a powerful retail POS and eCommerce platform that consignment stores can leverage (with some help from apps) if online selling is a big part of their strategy. Shopify is best known for eCommerce websites, but it also offers point-of-sale apps for in-person sales, making it a true omnichannel solution.

For a consignment shop that wants to build a robust online presence while still selling in a brick-and-mortar store, Shopify can be an attractive option – provided you integrate consignment tracking via add-ons or workarounds.

Key Features (Retail Side)

Shopify POS (especially the POS Pro version) includes a full suite of retail features: mobile checkout on iPads or smartphones, inventory management with multiple locations, barcode scanning, discount and promotion handling, and a unified product catalog between online and in-store. If your inventory is all unique (consigned items), you can still list each item in Shopify’s system (with photos, descriptions, price, etc.) just as you would list products on an online store.

Shopify will track stock (each item as quantity of 1). The challenge is that Shopify by itself doesn’t know about consignors or revenue splits – it treats all inventory as owned by the store. So, by default, Shopify cannot compute payouts or keep consignor accounts. However, Shopify’s ecosystem is very extensible. There are consignment apps in the Shopify App Store, such as Vendor Consignment by Visceral and others, which add a consignor tracking layer to Shopify.

With an app like Vendor Consignment (around $24.99/month) or more advanced ones like Aravenda Consignment (around $289/month), you can essentially plug the gap: these apps allow you to record consignor info for products and generate payout reports inside Shopify.

For example, the Vendor Consignment app lets you assign a vendor/consignor to each product and a commission percentage; it then runs reports on sales by consignor and what’s owed. Aravenda is a higher-end consignment platform that can integrate with Shopify to sync inventory and manage consignors (Aravenda can also be used with Lightspeed, etc.).

Another integration option: ConsignCloud (mentioned above) can actually integrate with Shopify – meaning you could use ConsignCloud as the backend and Shopify as the online storefront.

eCommerce Superpowers

Where Shopify shines undeniably is online sales. With Shopify, you get a top-tier website with built-in shopping cart, secure payments (Shopify Payments or others), and marketing tools (SEO, gift cards, discount codes, integrations with social media, etc.).

Consignment shops that want to list their inventory online will appreciate how easy it is to create a professional-looking site and even sell on Instagram/Facebook or other channels via Shopify. Your in-store and online inventory sync automatically, since it’s one system.

For example, if you sell an item in the store using Shopify POS, that item’s stock goes to zero and it will show as sold out on the website – preventing double selling. Shopify can also handle things like multichannel sales (in-store, online, even online marketplaces if integrated) and centralize the orders.

Hardware and Payment Processing

Shopify POS can run on iPads, iPhones, or Android devices, and they offer hardware like card readers, receipt printers, etc., directly. Many small shops use an iPad with the Shopify card reader (which is Bluetooth) for a sleek setup.

Payment processing through Shopify Payments for in-person sales ranges from 2.4% to 2.7% (depending on your plan) with no additional fee – quite competitive. If you use an external processor, Shopify adds a 0.5%–2% fee, so it’s usually best to use their integrated payments.

Pricing

To use Shopify POS, you need a Shopify retail plan. The Basic Shopify plan is $39/month (when paid monthly), which gives you an online store and basic POS. The Shopify (formerly “Grow”) plan is $105/month (monthly) and Advanced is $399/month – these higher plans reduce credit card rates and add more advanced reporting.

On top of that, if you want the full POS Pro features (like unlimited register staff PINs, in-store analytics, and some advanced omnichannel features), Shopify charges $89/month per location for POS Pro (Shopify Basic includes a free POS Lite with limited features). Many consignment shops could operate with POS Lite just fine, but it’s worth noting.

Additionally, budget for the consignment app: as mentioned, something like Vendor Consignment is about $25/mo. So, a typical setup might be around $64/month (Basic $39 + $25 app) plus card fees – quite affordable. If you need more advanced consignment capabilities (Aravenda at $289/mo) it gets pricier and might only be justified for larger operations.

Pros for Consignment Shops

The biggest reason to choose Shopify is if online sales are a major focus. If you plan to create a strong eCommerce presence for your resale shop – showcasing your one-of-a-kind items to online shoppers and maybe even shipping nationwide – Shopify is arguably the best platform for that. It handles the tech side of online selling beautifully and integrates your in-person and online inventory.

Another pro is that Shopify has a huge range of third-party integrations and add-ons: email marketing tools, loyalty programs, accounting, etc., which you can plug in as needed. As noted by experts, Shopify’s ability to “harmonize in-store and online sales into one cohesive system” is a key reason it’s ranked among top consignment software options.

Cons and Considerations

The drawback is that Shopify is not consignment-aware natively. You must use workarounds or additional apps to manage consignors and payouts, and that adds a layer of complexity. For a very small store with few consignors, one could theoretically do manual consignor settlements outside Shopify (e.g., monthly Excel report of sales by vendor), but that doesn’t scale. The consignment apps available do help but can have limitations (make sure to test any app for things like handling returns or split percentage variability).

Also, keep in mind that if you have hundreds of new items each week, adding them with photos to Shopify can be time-consuming (though necessary for online selling). Some consignment-specific POS systems automate item entry or have photo apps – with Shopify you’d likely do it through the Shopify admin or a third-party lister app.

Just ensure you set up clear processes for consignor tracking. If done right, you’ll enjoy a seamless operation where your physical store and online store work in tandem – customers can shop your ever-changing inventory anywhere, and you can still fairly manage payouts to your consignors.

6. Square Point of Sale (with Consignment Add-On) – Best Low-Cost Option for New Shops

Square POS is a widely-used, user-friendly POS system known for its free software and affordable hardware. By itself, Square (including Square for Retail) is not built for consignment tracking – however, it can be a good starting option for new or small consignment shops due to its zero monthly fee and simplicity.

With the help of a third-party integration (such as Rose for Square by ConsignorConnect), Square can handle consignment workflows at a fraction of the cost of dedicated systems. This makes it a notable option for budget-conscious shops or those just dipping their toes into consignment retail.

Core POS Features

Square provides everything you need for basic store operations: a sleek POS app for phone or iPad, inventory management (tracking quantities of items, etc.), sales reports, and integrated credit card processing. It excels at ease-of-use – staff can learn it in minutes, and you can quickly ring up sales, apply discounts, and email or print receipts.

Square also has a free online store feature, so you can list items online (though manually managing one-of-a-kind consignment items on the online store might be labor-intensive). Hardware like the Square Reader (for cards and contactless payments) is inexpensive (often free for the first reader or $49 for a chip reader), which is great for a new business. The credit card processing rates are flat and fairly competitive (generally 2.6% + 10¢ for in-person sales on the standard plan).

Consignment via Add-On (Rose for Square)

Square’s retail POS does not have a consignor module natively – meaning it won’t track which consignor brought an item in, or what payout is owed. However, Square’s system can be augmented by external software. One popular solution is Rose for Square (offered by ConsignorConnect).

Rose is a cloud-based consignment tracking software that integrates with Square: you continue to use Square for the actual sales and checkout, and Rose connects via the cloud to pull those sales and inventory data to manage consignors and payouts.

Essentially, you would enter your inventory into Rose (with consignor attribution) and also have the items in Square (they can be synced or imported). When a sale happens in Square, Rose records which consignor’s item sold and updates their account. At payout time, Rose for Square can tell you exactly how much to pay each consignor and even provide a portal for consignors to login and see their sales.

According to the provider, Rose for Square works with just the free version of Square – no need for Square’s paid Retail subscription. The cost for Rose is about $65–75 per month per location, which combined with Square’s $0 monthly fee, is still very affordable (roughly $65 total per month). For that price, you get inventory and payout management, a consignor/vendor portal, and integration with Square’s POS.

In Square itself, you might treat each consignor as a “vendor” or tag items with consignor IDs, but Rose takes care of the heavy lifting behind the scenes. The integration means you don’t have to double-enter sales; the two systems talk to each other. It’s worth noting Square also integrates with other consignment management tools (some shops use ConsignCloud’s Square integration, as mentioned earlier, or other custom solutions).

Pros of Square for Consignment

The biggest advantage is cost and simplicity. Square’s POS app is free and very intuitive, and adding Rose still keeps the monthly cost relatively low compared to full-featured consignment POS systems. This is ideal for a small shop just starting, where saving money is crucial and you might not yet need the complexity of a system like Liberty or SimpleConsign.

Square also gives you access to a broad ecosystem of features: integrated card processing (with fast payouts to your bank), basic customer loyalty (available as an add-on), marketing tools, and even payroll or other services if you grow into them. The analytics and dashboard in Square are excellent for basic sales tracking. Moreover, if you do events or pop-ups, Square is very portable (use your phone to sell anywhere).

Cons and Limitations

The main drawback is that this is a two-part system, which can be less seamless than one dedicated platform. You’ll need to get comfortable with the Square interface for sales and the Rose (or other) interface for consignor management. There could be occasional sync issues or a learning curve in making sure inventory data stays consistent between the two.

Also, while Square handles the sales side fine, any consignment-specific nuance (like adjusting a consignor’s split on one particular item, or handling an item that was returned and re-stocked) will require that your consignment add-on handles it correctly – ensure the integration supports such cases.

Another limitation: Square’s free online store is geared toward simple product sales, and it might not be robust enough for a large consignment inventory online. You might outgrow this combo as your store expands significantly in volume or needs.

However, many resale shops operate happily on Square + Rose or similar. It’s a great entry-level solution that covers the essentials. In fact, industry discussions often mention this approach; for example, one shop owner noted using Square POS with Rose as a more affordable alternative when finding dedicated consignment software too expensive.

And Square was highlighted as having “good software integration” possibilities for consignment via add-ons. Plus, if you start with Square and later decide to move to a different POS, you haven’t sunk large costs into long contracts – it’s flexible.

In summary, Square POS (with a consignment integration like Rose) offers a low-cost, low-commitment path to get a consignment shop up and running with modern POS capabilities. You get Square’s top-notch retail and payment features and supplement them with consignment tracking as needed.

As your business grows, you can evaluate if this setup continues to meet your needs or if transitioning to an all-in-one consignment system makes sense. But for many small U.S. consignment shops, this hybrid solution hits the right notes of affordability and functionality.

7. Lightspeed Retail – POS with Built-In Consignment Features and Advanced Retail Tools

Lightspeed Retail is a powerful cloud-based POS system primarily known for serving retail stores and boutiques. Unlike Square or Shopify, Lightspeed actually introduced some built-in consignment features and also supports integrations with consignment-specific apps, making it a strong candidate for consignment shops that want a full-featured retail POS foundation.

Lightspeed is best for mid-sized stores or those that need professional retail management capabilities (inventory, analytics, multi-store) along with consignment tracking.

Key Consignment Features

Out of the box, Lightspeed Retail allows you to designate items as “consignment.” You can manually add consigned products to inventory (or even use purchase orders to intake consignments in bulk) and mark which consignor or vendor they belong to.

The system can then track what you owe consignors for sold items – essentially providing reports on unpaid consignor balances. This is a more native approach than Shopify or Square, since Lightspeed’s interface itself has accommodations for consignors. However, these built-in features are relatively basic (it tracks and reports, but might not handle everything like notifying consignors, etc., without help).

To extend consignment capabilities, Lightspeed integrates with third-party consignment software such as Aravenda and the Hyperspace Consignment App. These integrations can automate and enhance the consignment workflows in Lightspeed. For example, Aravenda (a consignment management platform) can plug into Lightspeed to facilitate consignor intake, contract management, automated consignor portal, and more, while Lightspeed handles the checkout and inventory database.

Hyperspace is another app that can sync Lightspeed with consignment processes. By integrating, you essentially get the best of both worlds: Lightspeed’s robust POS and a dedicated consignment system’s features working in tandem.

General POS Strengths

Lightspeed Retail is known for its strong inventory management and analytics. It can handle thousands of SKUs (or one-off items) with ease, support matrix products (useful if you have any new retail items like multiple sizes/colors), and it has excellent reporting tools for sales, profitability, and employee performance.

It also supports multi-store operations out of the box – you can track inventory across locations and transfer items. For consignment shops that expand to multiple branches, this is invaluable. Lightspeed also has built-in modules for things like a loyalty program (though at higher plan levels) and integrates with accounting software (e.g., QuickBooks) and eCommerce.

Speaking of eCommerce, Lightspeed offers its own Lightspeed eCom webstore (or you can integrate with Shopify via an official integration). The “Core” plan and above in Lightspeed includes eCommerce features. If you use Lightspeed’s eCom, you can easily list inventory online – but note that if you have many one-of-a-kind consignment items, managing photos and descriptions is still effort. Nonetheless, Lightspeed eCom will sync directly with your POS inventory.

Alternatively, Lightspeed’s integration with Shopify (via Hyperspace or other connectors) could allow you to use Shopify for the front-end sales. So, Lightspeed is quite flexible for an omnichannel approach.

Hardware and Payments

Lightspeed Retail runs on iPads or computers (including Mac). Many stores use iPad-based registers with Lightspeed – the company sells hardware bundles, or you can use your own compatible equipment. One thing to be aware of: As of recent policies, Lightspeed requires you to use Lightspeed Payments (their integrated processor) for new customers in the U.S. and Canada.

Their rate is around 2.6% + 10¢ for in-person transactions, which is similar to Square/Shopify rates. But if you wanted to use your own processor, that’s generally not allowed now for new accounts. Lightspeed’s contract is also a bit stricter – often requiring a year commitment (month-to-month is available at higher price, and early cancellation may incur fees). This is a difference from the more flexible month-to-month systems.

Pricing

Lightspeed Retail is a premium service. The plans (if paid monthly) start at $109/month for Basic (which covers core POS for one register). The Core plan is $179/month, which adds eCommerce and accounting integration capabilities, and the Plus plan is $339/month with loyalty and advanced analytics. These prices can reduce by ~20% if you pay annually (e.g. $89, $149, $289 monthly equivalent).

For consignment use, you’d likely want at least the Core plan if you need eCommerce. Importantly, these costs are for the POS itself; if you integrate something like Aravenda, that will have its own subscription fee. For instance, Aravenda’s Shopify integration was mentioned at $289/month (likely standalone if you used it fully). But you might not need the full Aravenda if Lightspeed’s basic consignment tracking meets your needs or if you only use a simpler app. In any case, Lightspeed is on the higher end pricing-wise, aimed at established businesses.

When to Choose Lightspeed

If your consignment shop is fairly large or you need a very comprehensive retail solution in addition to consignment, Lightspeed is a top contender. It’s particularly good if you also carry new inventory alongside consigned goods (many stores do a mix – for example, a furniture consignment store might also sell new accessories; Lightspeed can manage both seamlessly).

The system is scalable and fast for high-volume checkout, and it offers great multi-channel sales management. Reviews highlight that Lightspeed is “designed to accommodate consignment businesses with advanced needs” and offers a “sophisticated feature set for complex operations”. That rings true – features like multi-location, purchase orders, extensive analytics, etc., set it apart from simpler systems.

On the flip side, a small single-location boutique might find it overkill and expensive – you’d be paying for a lot of power you might not fully use. Also, be mindful of the payment processing lock-in; while the rates are fine for most, you don’t have negotiating leverage if your volume is high (though Lightspeed has been known to buy out existing processing contracts to ease the switch).

Overall, Lightspeed Retail with its consignment features and integrations is an excellent solution for a consignment store that operates like a full-scale retail business and wants everything from inventory purchasing to loyalty programs under one roof. It’s a pro-grade system that, with a bit of integration, will ensure you can handle consignors and payouts as well. Choose Lightspeed if you value a multichannel POS with strong built-in tools and don’t mind a more complex setup (and higher budget) to get a robust solution.

With these seven platforms – SimpleConsign, Ricochet, Liberty, ConsignCloud, Shopify, Square (with Rose), and Lightspeed – consignment and resale store owners in the U.S. have a range of excellent options. Some are turnkey consignment solutions with every bell and whistle for tracking consignors, while others leverage integrations to combine the strengths of general retail POS with consignment management. In the next section, we’ll address some common questions to help you further in choosing the right POS for your consignment business.

FAQs

Q1: What is consignment POS software and how is it different from regular POS?

A: Consignment POS software is a point-of-sale system specifically designed to support the resale and consignment business model. In addition to ringing up sales like a regular POS, it includes features for consignment sales tracking, consignor (vendor) tracking, and managing consignor payouts.

In practical terms, a consignment POS lets you record who brought in each item, tracks when that item sells, calculates the split (commission) owed to the consignor, and often can generate payout reports or even print checks. Regular POS systems typically assume the store owns all inventory and thus lack these consignor management features.

For example, consignment POS will have a notion of consignor accounts, payout due dates, and maybe even a consignor portal – things a standard retail POS doesn’t include. If you run a consignment or resale shop, using software that accounts for consignors will save you countless hours versus trying to do it manually in spreadsheets.

Q2: Can I use a general POS system (like Square or Shopify) for a consignment store without additional software?

A: You can, but it’s not recommended once you grow beyond a very small operation. Out-of-the-box, systems like Square, Shopify, or PayPal Zettle do not automatically attribute sales to specific consignors or calculate payouts. Some very small stores start by treating consignors as suppliers or using hacks (e.g., adding consignor codes to SKU or using vendor fields) and then manually calculating payouts from sales reports.

This might work with a handful of consignors, but it becomes error-prone and time-consuming at scale. You would constantly be cross-referencing sold items to figure out who gets paid what. Therefore, while you can ring up sales with a standard POS, you’ll likely want to either adopt a POS that supports consignment or integrate an add-on.

For Square, for example, there’s Rose for Square that fills this gap. For Shopify, you can install consignment apps or use a backend like ConsignCloud. Many consignment shops use a hybrid approach: continue using a user-friendly POS like Square or Shopify for the sales interface, but pair it with consignment software that runs in parallel and syncs data.

This way you get the benefits of both – you just have to maintain the integration. In summary: yes, you can use general POS systems, but plan for how you’ll handle consignor tracking, either through careful manual processes or by adding the appropriate software tools.

Q3: What are typical consignment splits and can POS software handle different split arrangements?

A: A common consignment split is 60/40 – where 60% of the sale price goes to the consignor and 40% to the store – but this varies. Some stores do 50/50, others 40/60, and often it can depend on item type or sale price (e.g., some shops give a higher percentage to consignors for high-value items).

Good consignment POS software will allow you to set a default split percentage (commission rate) and also override it per consignor or per item. For instance, you might have a VIP consignor who always gets 70%, or you might run a promotion where for one month you offer consignors a higher split on certain goods. The software should let you configure that easily when entering the item.

All the systems we reviewed (SimpleConsign, Ricochet, Liberty, etc.) do support customizing splits/commissions. They will then use those percentages in calculating payouts. Additionally, some software supports tiered splits or fees – for example, deducting a handling fee or item fee before splitting, or giving an extra percentage if an item sells above a certain price.

Before choosing a POS, consider your consignment agreement terms and ensure the software can accommodate them. Most dedicated consignment systems are quite flexible in this regard, whereas if you’re using a generic POS + app, you’ll need to check the app’s capabilities.

Q4: How do consignor payouts work in these systems?

A: Consignor payouts are handled differently depending on the system, but generally the POS will generate a report of what’s owed to each consignor over a period. In many consignment POS systems, you can accumulate each consignor’s earnings and then when it’s payout time (say, at month-end or when the consignor requests), the system either marks it paid and resets the balance or keeps a running balance.

For example, you might run a “Settlement” or “Payout” function that lists each sold item and the amount due to the consignor, then you issue payment (check, cash, store credit, electronic) and record it. Some software can print checks directly, or apply the payout as store credit if the consignor chooses to shop with their earnings.

A few systems, like Ricochet or SimpleConsign (with higher plan), even support ACH direct deposit – where you can pay consignors via bank transfer and the system notes it. If you use integrated solutions (like Liberty’s ResaleWallet or ConsignCloud’s checkbook integration), you may get more automation in payouts.

If not, you might be exporting a report to Excel and doing the banking manually. But crucially, the POS keeps track of what’s owed so you don’t have to. It’s also common for systems to allow withholding payouts below a minimum threshold (e.g., only cut a check if the consignor is owed at least $X, otherwise roll it over) – check if the software supports this if it’s in your policies.

Q5: Do any of these consignment POS systems integrate with online marketplaces like eBay or social selling?

A: Yes, some do. For instance, Liberty has an eBay integration module that lets you list items on eBay directly from the POS and sync sales. This can be huge for shops that want to tap into eBay’s audience for certain items (collectibles, etc.). Other systems like ConsignCloud offer integrations with services like NearSt to show products on Google for local shoppers.

While not a direct marketplace, it’s a way to get your inventory seen online. Shopify (if you use that route) obviously can integrate with Facebook/Instagram shopping, and with additional apps you can list Shopify products on eBay, Etsy, etc., though managing unique items on many platforms can be challenging. Aravenda (third-party software) touts multi-channel listing, including to a proprietary marketplace.

There’s also a consignment software called ResaleAI (often used with buy-outright chains like Plato’s Closet) which focuses on cross-posting to online channels – though that’s more for franchise environments. If selling on multiple online marketplaces is key, you might need a combination of tools. But the integrated eCommerce capabilities of the POS systems in our list are mainly about your own online store.

That said, being able to efficiently list items online (either on your website or marketplaces) from your POS inventory is a great feature to look for so you avoid duplicate data entry. Always verify if an integration is built-in or requires additional cost.

Q6: What hardware do I need for a consignment store POS?

A: Hardware needs are similar to any retail store: at minimum, a device to run the POS (an iPad, a Windows PC, or a Mac, depending on the software), a card reader for payments, a receipt printer, and optionally a barcode scanner. For consignment, a barcode scanner is helpful because you’ll likely print barcode price tags for each unique item so you can scan at checkout.

Most systems support standard USB or Bluetooth scanners. If you go with a provider like Square or Shopify, you might buy their branded hardware (they offer all-in-one iPad stands, scanners, etc.). For SimpleConsign, Ricochet, or others, you can often use third-party hardware – many consignment shops use a Windows PC with a USB scanner and a Star or Epson receipt printer, for example.

Liberty, being Windows-based, will connect to traditional peripherals like cash drawers, tag printers (for printing price tags with barcodes, often on small labels or hang tags), etc. Some cloud systems like Ricochet and ConsignCloud also allow printing tags via regular printers or specialized ones. Also consider a tag/barcode label printer – consignment stores print a lot of price tags, and using a dedicated label printer (thermal) makes this efficient.

For example, Resaleworld sells dedicated tag printers and supplies for Liberty users. SimpleConsign and others might let you print on Avery labels via a normal printer if you’re small-scale. In summary, you don’t need exotic hardware: a register device, printer, scanner, and cash drawer. Just ensure the POS software supports the hardware you choose (check their support pages for compatible models). If using iPads, stick to compatible Bluetooth printers/scanners recommended by the POS company for smooth operation.

Conclusion

Choosing the best POS software for a consignment or resale shop comes down to balancing your store’s specific needs with the system’s capabilities. Consignment stores thrive on unique inventory and strong relationships with consignors – so your POS must deftly handle consignor accounts, commission splits, and payouts, all while making checkout and inventory management easy. The seven solutions covered – ranging from dedicated consignment systems like SimpleConsign, Ricochet, and Liberty, to hybrid approaches using Shopify, Square, or Lightspeed – each offer a path to streamline your operations.

For a small boutique focused on local sales, a cost-effective combo like Square + Rose or an upstart cloud solution like ConsignCloud might cover all bases without heavy investment. If you’re running a large, multi-location enterprise or need deep inventory control, Liberty or Lightspeed integrated with consignment tools could be worth the higher price for their robust feature set. And if online selling is as important as your physical storefront, Shopify POS (with the right consignment app) can empower you to sell everywhere under one platform.

All the top consignment POS systems now offer ways to integrate eCommerce, whether through built-in web stores or syncing with platforms like Shopify – an essential in today’s retail environment where selling online can significantly boost revenue. They also use the terminology and workflows familiar to resale businesses (consignors, intake, price books, payouts), which means less jury-rigging and more time focusing on growing your shop.

As you evaluate options, take advantage of free trials and demos. Involve your team and even some of your consignors (for systems with consignor portals) to get feedback. Ensure the reporting meets your accounting needs and that the interface makes sense for your day-to-day tasks.

The ideal consignment POS will save you time, reduce manual errors (no more missed payouts or forgotten inventory), and provide an updated, professional experience for both your staff and your consignors.

With any of the seven solutions above, you’ll be well on your way to managing your consignment store more efficiently – leaving you free to focus on sourcing great inventory and making sales, rather than wrestling with spreadsheets. Here’s to a smoother consigning process and continued success in the thriving resale marketplace!