Printable checklist
Business software selection checklist
A printable checklist for choosing billing, POS or business software: fit, data, reliability, cost, support and the questions to ask before you pay.
The checklist
Take this into every demo. Ask each vendor the same questions and write down the answers, including ones that are “not yet”.
Fit
- Built for your kind of business, not adapted from another
- Handles your busiest hour without slowing down
- Covers your real workflow: returns, credit, deliveries, staff
Your data
- Where your records are kept, and who can reach them
- How you export everything if you leave
- How backups work, and whether they are checked
Reliability
- What happens when the internet drops
- What happens when the computer fails
- How updates are delivered and rolled back
Cost
- The price per month or year, and what each plan includes
- Whether taxes are included
- Costs for extra counters, stores or users
- Hardware you need to buy
- Cancellation and refunds
Support
- How to reach support, and when
- Who installs and trains
- Written documentation and release notes
Proof
- A demo on your own products and a real bill
- A trial before you commit, if available
- Claims you can check, not just adjectives
Related
Useful next.
- Guide · 9 min readHow to Choose Business Software Without Overbuying: A Step-by-Step MethodSoftware decisions go wrong when a feature list replaces a clear picture of the work. Define the problems, the people and the conditions first, then make every product prove itself on the same test.
- Guide · 8 min readHow to Choose Billing Software for a Small ShopStart from your own counter, not from a feature list. Map how your shop works, decide what is essential, test shortlisted software with your own products and hardware, and compare the full cost over several years.