Cash register with or without a subscription: 5-year cost comparison

Two models compete on the cash register market: subscription software (SaaS), billed every month, and a lifetime license, paid once. At the point of purchase, the subscription often looks cheaper. Over time, the math changes.

The subscription model: a cost that never ends

SaaS POS systems typically charge between CHF 69 and CHF 120 per month per terminal. As long as you pay, the till works. If you stop, it stops, and you own nothing. On top of that, you often depend on an internet connection to take payments, and face price increases decided unilaterally.

A worked example over five years

Take a CHF 80 per month subscription for one terminal, hardware not included:

• Subscription at CHF 80 per month: CHF 4,800 over 5 years
• LaKaisse lifetime license: CHF 590, paid once
• Difference: about CHF 4,210 over 5 years, before hardware

With an indicative price of CHF 89 per month, the lifetime license pays for itself in under seven months. Every extra terminal multiplies the gap.

The costs people forget to compare

• hardware (terminal, tablet, printer), bought or rented, in both models
• the payment terminal and its fees, which apply in every case
• modules or features reserved for higher-priced plans
• installation and training fees
• the cost of an internet outage if the cash register depends on the cloud

When a subscription can still make sense

A subscription can work for a very short-lived activity, a test of a few months, or if you want integrated online services that you will actually use. In other cases, especially for a lasting business, a lifetime license is almost always cheaper.

Questions to ask before you sign

• What happens if I stop paying: does the cash register keep working?
• Can I take payments without an internet connection?
• Which features are included in the base plan?
• Can the price go up during the contract?
• Can I get my data back at any time?

With LaKaisse, the license is paid once, payments work offline, and every feature is included in the base license. Hardware and the payment terminal are quoted separately by an authorized distributor in your region.

The subscription amounts quoted are market ballparks, not the prices of any particular provider. Always compare against current offers for your own setup.