Switching restaurant POS: a migration checklist for Canadian operators

1. Get your menu and data in order

Export your current menu, modifiers, and pricing. Clean it up while you're at it — kill dead items, fix modifier groups, and decide on time-based menus (lunch vs dinner). A tidy menu makes the new system better from day one.

2. Decide on hardware

Plan for the devices your floor needs: smart POS terminals, server handhelds, a kitchen display, a cashier tablet, and a printer. Decide whether you'll buy outright or lease. Waitery ships and supports its own modern smart hardware Canada-wide — set up free, buy or lease over 48 months — so you don't have to source generic terminals separately.

3. Sort out payments

Confirm how card payments will work and what the all-in rates are before you sign. Make sure the terminals are cash-drawer compatible if you still take cash, and that the experience covers tap, chip, and mobile wallets out of the box.

4. Plan for Canada-specific needs

Make sure sales tax is configured per province (GST/HST/PST/QST). If you operate in Quebec, plan for French across the guest, kitchen, and receipt experience, and check your specific regulatory requirements with your provider and, where needed, a professional — don't assume any vendor is automatically compliant.

5. Train staff before go-live

Run a practice service. Walk servers through the new flow, show the kitchen the display and printer fallback, and make sure managers can handle voids, comps, and end-of-day. A 30-minute dry run prevents most opening-night problems.

6. Pick the right week

Switch during a slower week, not before your busiest weekend. Keep the old system accessible for a few days as a safety net.

Waitery's onboarding is built to make this painless — most restaurants are live in days. Book a demo and we'll map your migration to your exact setup.