Picking POS Hardware
You can run the POS with no hardware at all — cash, card (recorded), and check tenders all work from the screen. Add hardware when you want faster ringing and a more professional counter. Everything is configured under Point of Sale → Hardware, and those settings are stored locally on the device you're using.
What you can connect
HandyBook's Hardware page has four sections:
- Receipt printer — ESC/POS thermal printer (Star, Epson, Bixolon, Munbyn)
- Cash drawer — driven by the printer's kick port
- Barcode scanner — any USB HID-keyboard scanner (Honeywell, Zebra, Symbol)
- Card reader — Stripe Terminal (S700, BBPOS WisePad 3, etc.)
Minimum: just a device
A phone, tablet, or laptop running HandyBook is enough to ring sales and email or print receipts. Start here and add pieces as your volume grows.
Counter setup
For a fixed counter, the typical additions:
- A tablet on a stand
- A Stripe Terminal card reader (e.g. BBPOS WisePOS E / WisePad 3) for tap/dip/swipe
- A receipt printer (network ESC/POS, or any printer via PrintNode)
- A cash drawer that pops on cash sales
- A barcode scanner for fast ringing and lookups
Recommended kit
Tested and known to work:
- iPad (10th gen or newer) with an adjustable stand
- Star TSP143IIILAN ethernet receipt printer (or any ESC/POS printer via PrintNode)
- APG VBS320 printer-driven cash drawer
- Honeywell Voyager 1250g USB barcode scanner
- A Stripe Terminal reader for in-person cards
What to avoid
- Non-ESC/POS printers — HandyBook speaks ESC/POS; most "POS" thermal printers qualify, but inkjet/laser don't
- No-name Bluetooth card readers — use Stripe Terminal hardware for in-person cards
- Square / Clover hardware — locked to those platforms
Where to set it up
Open Point of Sale → Hardware, enable the pieces you have, fill in the details (printer mode, scanner options, card-reader mode), and Save settings. Each piece has its own help article. There's also a Recommended hardware link on that page to the public hardware guide.
FAQ
Do I have to buy hardware from HandyBook? No — HandyBook works with standard ESC/POS printers, USB barcode scanners, and Stripe Terminal readers you buy anywhere.
Will hardware I already own work? ESC/POS thermal printers and standard USB "keyboard wedge" scanners almost always work. For cards, you need Stripe Terminal hardware.
Do settings sync across my devices? No — hardware settings are saved locally on each device. Configure the printer/scanner/drawer/reader on every device that uses them.
Do I need WiFi? A network printer and the Hardware page's network mode need the printer and device on the same network. PrintNode works across networks. Scanners are USB/Bluetooth and don't need WiFi.