Toast POS: Everything You Need To Know 2025

Toast is an all-in-one platform crafted for the dining sector. It covers everything from a point-of-sale system (POS) to advanced technology, facilitating digital orders, deliveries, and marketing strategies for businesses of different sizes, from independent cafés to bars, food trucks, and restaurant chains.

You’re adopting Toast, which will not just enhance your restaurant operations with an Android-based POS system. You're also driving efficiency and innovation in the sector, positioning your business for growth and success. Let’s delve into the benefits your business can reap from using this platform.

INTRODUCING TOAST

What is TOAST?

Toast POS system is a complete cloud-based software and hardware solution for restaurants. It encompasses point-of-sale systems and payments, digital operations, and team management software. It also offers advanced staff management tools and financing options through Toast Capital to foster business growth.

With its headquarters in Boston, United States, and founded in 2012, Toast has seen significant expansion, serving over 106,000 restaurants in markets across the U.S., Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.

Its outstanding performance is reflected in its inclusion in the Forbes Cloud 100 list for 2021 and recognition as one of the top POS systems by the G2 platform, known for its software reviews and comparisons.

TOAST PRICING

The pricing of Toast POS is designed with flexibility in mind to accommodate a broad range of establishments.

The cost determination for restaurants involves:

• Monthly Subscription Costs: A monthly fee covering hardware and software in monthly payment options.

• Payment Processing Charges: A percentage fee per transaction and an additional payment processing fee apply.

• Extra Costs and Add-ons: Restaurants can customize and add additional software and hardware solutions, which are payable monthly and add to the total monthly cost.

PLAN OPTIONS

Toast offers four plan options. The Starter Kit can be purchased directly from the website, while the other three require a demo request or a quote via the site, as they are customizable. The Toast pricing section provides a detailed feature comparison of each plan.

Toast’s Plans:

1. Starter Kit

2. Point of Sale

3. Build Your Own

4. Restaurant Special Offer

All plans come with regular updates, a cloud-based POS system, and 24/7 customer support via phone, email, or chat. Moreover, all plans offer payment processing with real-time fraud monitoring and training services.

TOAST Starter Kit

The Toast Starter Kit brings up to two terminals and is perfect for individual locations. It’s available in Pay-as-you-Go and Standard purchase options. 

The Starter Kit includes:

• Toast Flex POS Terminal

• Toast Tap Payment Device

• Router

• POS Software

• Free Installation support 

TOAST STARTER KIT - PAY-AS-YOU-GO

This option allows restaurants to start without upfront costs; it includes the necessary hardware and software. Three options are available for purchasing the kit, which has a fee based on transaction rates.

Option 1: Pay-as-you-Go

• Upfront: $0.00 

• Monthly fee: $0.00

• Transaction fee: 3.09% + 15¢

Option 2: Pay-as-you-Go Core

• Upfront: $0.00 

• Monthly fee: $0.00

• Transaction fee: 3.39% + 15¢

• It includes the Starter Kit benefits, plus online ordering and Integration Bundle with DoorDash, Grubhub, or Uber Eats.

Option 3: Pay-as-you-Go Growth

• Upfront: $0.00 

• Monthly fee: $0.00 Transaction fee: 3.69% + 15¢ It includes everything from Core, plus features like Gift Cards, Loyalty, Email Marketing, Websites, and Catering and events.

TOAST STARTER KIT - STANDARD

Purchasing this kit involves an upfront payment for hardware and monthly payments for software, including a transaction fee and a base monthly cost, which can increase with additional features.

• Upfront: $1,024.20

• Monthly fee: $69

• Transaction fee: 2.49% + 15¢ 

• This package allows you to install hardware and feature add-ons beyond what comes with the Starter Kit.

• Rates under this plan vary depending on the type of transaction and the manner of payment.

Note: Prices are based on U.S. rates. Select the country on the page to view plans in other countries; pricing and availability may vary.

REGISTERING AND SETUP

Obtaining Toast’s products is straightforward and customizable. You can incorporate add-on features or specific integrations tailored to your business needs.

As mentioned in the plans section, you can sign up directly on the web for the Starter Kit. However, to access the other three plans, you should follow these steps to request a demo or quote:

1. Visit the Toast website.

2. Fill out the registration form.

3. A Toast representative will contact you within 24 hours to provide a demo, answer your questions, and help you select the most suitable plan.

4. Once a plan is purchased, Toast will help you set up and train you and your staff. 

FEATURES / SOLUTIONS

Toast offers an extensive catalog of products ranging from software and hardware to financing options. We list the primary services in each of their categories below:

Software:

To enhance operations, customer interactions, cost management, and ultimately, profit margins and customer contentment, Toast offers a suite of Android-based software solutions, including:

• Point-of-sale System (POS)

• Inventory

• Reporting and Analytics

• Toast Delivery Services

• Payroll & Team Management

• Toast Mobile Order & Pay

Hardware:

Toast’s meticulously designed hardware offers versatility and efficiency, from mobile devices to robust workstations, suitable for various settings from the checkout to the kitchen.

• Kiosk

• Toast Flex

• Toast Flex for Kitchen

• Toast Tap

• Impact Printer

Toast Payments Solutions:

Toast payment solutions offer various services, including modern, contactless payment methods like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and tap-to-pay cards.
When calculating total operating expenses, it’s crucial to consider card interchange fees and Toast’s processing costs. The solutions are divided into:

• Payment Processing

• Scheduling

Toast Services:

Beyond hardware and software, Toast provides extensive support and implementation services, addressing technical concerns and offering insights into product utilization. Additionally, Toast offers accessible capital lending services for financial flexibility.

STANDOUT ADVANTAGES

Beyond its software and hardware benefits, Toast offers notable solutions that include:

Local Driver Network Delivery

Toast Delivery Services allows restaurants to conduct home deliveries utilizing an on-demand network of local drivers, removing the worry about driver availability. It facilitates real-time tracking and allows scheduling orders in advance, ensuring a smooth experience for restaurants and customers. This feature is accessible for online orders and Toast Takeout users.

Access to Loans via Toast

Restaurants can access loans through Toast Capital for various needs, such as renovations, inventory acquisition, or equipment purchases. With payment terms ranging from 90 to 360 days, restaurants can check their loan eligibility online. Once the process is complete and the application is approved, they can receive the funds the next business day. Loan repayments are a percentage of the restaurant’s daily card sales.

Real-Time, Accessible Reporting with Toast

Offering real-time visibility on any device, Toast’s mobile-friendly interface ensures convenience regardless of location. Features include receiving a daily email summary with crucial performance metrics each night, allowing for total and easy access to restaurant data.

Toast Now App

Offering swift access to real-time analytics, the Toast Now mobile app is downloadable from Google Play and the Apple Store using Toast Web login details. It allows for detailed sales and labor costs reports by the hour and includes a messaging dashboard for efficient staff communication.

POS INTEGRATIONS

Toast enables seamless integration with various leading applications and services, enhancing the restaurant’s operational capabilities from delivery platforms to loyalty and accounting solutions. These integrations can be acquired as add-on features to existing plans.

The partnership between Toast and Deliverect Restaurants centralizes orders from multiple delivery platforms into Toast’s POS system. This facilitates a unified view of all transactions, streamlined menu and inventory management, and the generation of insightful analytics reports that pinpoint strengths and improvement opportunities. This integration requires active subscriptions to both Toast and Deliverect Restaurants.

4 TIPS TO GET THE MOST OUT OF TOAST 

Tip 1: Enhance Hospitality with Reservation Management

Enhance your customers’ dining experience with Toast Tables, a powerful solution seamlessly integrated with Toast POS for efficient reservation and waitlist management. Guests can easily book their tables through Google and Maps, while communication is enhanced through personalized SMS notifications. Elevate the experience for your VIP customers by offering tailored attention, ensuring their visit is nothing short of extraordinary.

Tip 2: Engage Customers with Effective Email Campaigns

You can use thoughtful email marketing from Toast to ensure that people remember your restaurant. Deliver automated, personalized emails featuring enticing promotions and maintain a regular rhythm without overwhelming your subscribers. Based on Toast’s research, monthly updates tend to be well-received by most customers. Explore the effectiveness of your campaigns through A/B testing, audience segmentation, and comprehensive analytics tracking open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates.

Tip 3: Increase Revenue and Loyalty with Gift Cards

Strengthen customer loyalty and diversify your income with Toast’s gift cards. This feature, available as an add-on if not included in your current plan, simplifies the sale, tracking, and management of physical and electronic cards from the POS and online. Attract new customers and reward regulars.

Tip 4: Grow with Toast’s Comprehensive Resources

Make the most of all Toast resources, from insightful blogs and eBooks to free templates and business-specific webinars. These tools are crucial for training your team, optimizing your Toast usage, and gaining insights into the restaurant industry.

Implementing Toast will transform your restaurant, opening the doors to a comprehensive ecosystem to refine your business management. Its user-friendly interface and broad catalog of tools will help enhance operational efficiency. Toast’s ability to easily integrate with third-party apps, fully customizable loyalty and marketing programs, and the flexibility to adapt and expand your services as needed make It an essential ally.

The partnership between Toast and Deliverect Restaurants streamlines various tasks, particularly in delivery management, by consolidating orders from diverse platforms into one system via the POS. This integration provides a reliable and satisfying experience by reducing errors and consistently meeting their service and quality standards.

Explore the vast possibilities with Toast and take a step toward digital transformation for your restaurant.