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How to Set Up an iPad POS for Your Café: A Step-by-Step Guide
Setting up an iPad POS is mostly straightforward — the bit that trips people up is the menu and the go-live details. Here's a clear, ordered guide to get your café from box to first sale.
What you'll need
- An iPad (an older model is fine).
- A receipt printer — see our printer guide.
- A stand for the counter, and optionally a cash drawer.
- Your menu — items, prices, categories.
- PayNow Corporate (UEN) set up with your bank.
Step 1 — Prepare the iPad
Update iOS, connect to your café wifi (ideally a dedicated router), and mount it on the stand at the counter.
Step 2 — Sign up & create your store
Create your account and enter your store name, which appears on receipts and your QR menu storefront. With Shopways this is the onboarding flow — and we help with the next step.
Step 3 — Build your menu
This is where most setups stall, so do it properly: create categories (Coffee, Pastries, Mains), add items with prices, and keep names short for fast tapping. A clean menu makes the counter fast and your reports meaningful.
Step 4 — Connect the printer
Add your receipt printer (LAN or Bluetooth) and run a test print. Follow our Epson setup guide if you hit a snag, and reserve a static IP for reliability.
Step 5 — Set up payments
Display your PayNow / SGQR code and make sure every payment is recorded in the POS — see taking PayNow cleanly. This keeps your daily totals and GST correct.
Step 6 — Train your staff
A good iPad POS needs about ten minutes of training: take an order, take payment, print a receipt, void a mistake. Run a few practice orders before opening.
Go-live checklist
- Menu complete and prices correct
- Printer tested
- PayNow displayed and recording in the POS
- Staff have done a practice order
- Backup 4G hotspot ready
FAQ
How long does setup take? With your menu ready, a small café can go live the same day.
Will someone set up my menu? With Shopways, we help with menu setup — ask before you start.
The iPad POS built for Singapore cafés & restaurants
Counter and dine-in service, a live order board, built-in food-cost tracking, and PayNow-first checkout — one flat S$88/month, with no cut of your sales.
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