Blog / October 8, 2026
Month-to-month POSA no-contract restaurant POS, and what "no contract" should really mean
Ser.vi's POS software and online ordering have no contract and no monthly software fee. Per our pricing page, guests pay 5% on online orders. On in-store POS orders the fee is 3.0% + 20¢; you can pass it to customers with a cash discount program, and most of our POS restaurants do. Hardware is separate. If you choose hardware financing, that hardware comes with a term agreement; if you don't, there's no contract at all.
What "no contract" should cover
A month-to-month POS only helps you if every piece of the deal is month-to-month. When a vendor says "no contract", check four things:
- Software: no minimum term on the POS or ordering subscription.
- Payment processing: no separate multi-year merchant agreement hiding behind the "free" software.
- Hardware: whether terminals are bought, financed, or leased, and what you owe if you leave mid-term.
- Exit: what notice you need to give and how you get your menu and sales history out.
How Ser.vi handles each one
| Ser.vi | Where it says so | |
|---|---|---|
| POS software | No contract, no monthly software fee, no setup fee | Pricing |
| Online ordering | No contract, 0% commission to you; guest pays 5% at checkout | Online ordering |
| Processing | Included in the guest-paid rates when you use our merchant account | Pricing |
| Hardware | Separate. Buy it, or finance it on a term agreement | Integrated POS |
The hardware catch (ours included)
Hardware is where "no contract" usually turns into a contract. Financing spreads the cost of terminals over time, and that spread is a term agreement. Ser.vi is no exception: if you finance hardware with us, you'll sign a term agreement for that hardware.
Online ordering can run on your own compatible tablet and printers, so you can start without buying anything.
How other vendors describe it
Square says its free POS has "no setup costs, no monthly fees, no hidden fees, and no long-term contracts" (Square, checked October 2026). Terms change, so read each vendor's current agreement before you sign, especially the processing and hardware sections.
Questions to ask any POS vendor before you sign
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Is there a minimum term on software, processing, or hardware?
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Is there an early termination fee, and how is it calculated?
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Does the contract auto-renew?
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If I leave, can I export my menu, customers, and sales history?
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Who pays the card processing fee, me or the guest?
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Do I have to use your merchant account?
Bring this list to your demo. We'll answer every question on the call.
Questions restaurants ask
- Does Ser.vi have a contract?
- Online ordering and POS software have no contract. Hardware is separate; hardware financing comes with a term agreement.
- Is there a monthly fee?
- No monthly software fee for the POS or online ordering. Optional marketing plans are billed separately.
- What does Ser.vi cost then?
- Per our pricing page, guests pay 5% on online orders. On POS orders the restaurant pays 3.0% + 20¢ by default; you can pass it to customers with a cash discount program. Hardware is separate.
- Can I use my own hardware?
- Online ordering can use your own compatible tablet and printers. POS hardware is separate; we'll go over options on a demo.
- Is there a setup fee?
- No setup fee on the POS.
See the month-to-month setup for your restaurant
Book a free 20-minute demo and bring your current contract; we'll walk through what changes.
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