Your days at a tobacco store fill up fast — breaking packs, scanning inventory, managing deliveries, and helping customers.
While a point of sale (POS) system likely handles most transactions, it can also take on other daily tasks when you use the right features.
In this article, we cover seven ways a cigar POS system can improve your shop’s operations and highlight some of the most popular tobacco-focused providers in 2025, so you can find the right fit for your business.
7 Ways To Use Your Cigar POS System
Beyond processing payments, your POS system handles age verification, case breaking, and inventory tracking — as long as it fits cigar shops.
Industry-specific systems give you the features necessary to manage sales, run promotions, monitor inventory, and more. Let’s explore seven ways that your cigar POS system can help your day run more smoothly.
1. Track Inventory by Single, Pack, and Carton
You have a constant flow of inventory — cartons arriving from distributors, packs broken down for the counter, and singles sold one at a time. Without a system that keeps everything organized, it’s easy to lose track of stock or miscount your bestselling lines.
Related Read: 6 Best Practices for Tobacco Shop Inventory Management
Using a cigar-specific POS system, you can update inventory at the point of purchase. Sell a single cigar from a box, and the system adjusts counts without manual input.
Certain systems, like Cigars POS, also let you add or edit items straight from any mobile device, so your product database stays up to date even when you’re away from the counter.
How this helps your store:
- Case breaking: Split cartons into singles or partial packs and have your POS update inventory automatically.
- Real-time counts: Get up-to-the-minute data on what’s on the floor, what’s in the back, and what’s coming in your next order.
- SKU support: Manage dozens of brands, sizes, wrappers, and other accessories in an integrated system.
With a generic POS, selling a single cigar from a box usually means manually adjusting stock or creating separate SKUs for singles and packs — both of which are easy ways to make mistakes.
Cigar-specific software handles these updates automatically, keeping inventory accurate so you never sell more than you have or understock popular items.
2. Flag Restricted Sales at Checkout
Underage sales are likely always on your radar, and for good reason — one missed check can put your license at risk.
Reliable age verification software keeps your business compliant and makes the checkout process easy for both customers and staff.
With ID scanners and built-in age verification, a cigar POS system automatically flags age-restricted products at checkout. When a sale involves tobacco, vapes, or other regulated items, the system prompts for the customer’s date of birth and confirms eligibility before completing the transaction.
How this helps your store:
- Automatic prompts: Get an automatic age check for every restricted sale so your business stays compliant with tobacco laws.
- ID scanning: Quickly confirm a customer’s age without having to do manual calculations at the register.
- Staff alerts: Notify employees immediately if a sale fails verification to prevent accidental underage sales.
While compliance is the main reason for using age verification, it also helps staff feel confident at the register and keeps transactions moving smoothly. Even saving a few seconds per sale adds up over the day.
Using hardware and software designed for tobacco retail ensures your age-restricted sales are accurate, consistent, and hassle-free.
3. Forecast Demand for Top-Selling Cigars
Which products are your top sellers right now, and how do you know?
Maybe you’re looking at last quarter’s sales report, or just going with a gut feeling — either approach can easily miss important patterns.
And even if you know your top-sellers, how do you figure out how much to order? How can you predict if a new limited-edition release will push them out of the top spot next month?
A cigar POS keeps track of what sells and when, so you can plan orders using data on purchase history across brands, wrappers, and price tiers.
How this helps your store:
- Time-based views: Look at daily, weekly, and monthly sales to catch repeat buying patterns tied to paydays, weekends, or events.
- Product tracking: Identify which products run out quickly so you can adjust order quantities in advance.
- Sales history: Compare current sales to previous periods to monitor purchasing trends before they start impacting inventory.
- Plan for limited releases: Quickly see which new or special items are likely to sell out so you can adjust orders ahead of time.
For example, if the same box of Cuban blends sells out every Friday afternoon, a generic POS might not flag that pattern. A cigar-specific POS will highlight it in your reports, so you can place your next order before customers walk away empty-handed.
4. Set and Control Profitable Pricing
If you want your business to stay profitable long-term, broad markups likely aren’t your best bet.
Cigar pricing is more complicated than that — manufacturers set different MSRPs, and your regulars, lounge members, or bulk buyers all expect tailored rates.
A cigar-specific POS lets you set rules based on real costs, customer types, and ongoing promotions, then applies them automatically at checkout so prices stay consistent and accurate on every sale.
How this helps your store:
- Custom customer pricing: Assign specific prices or discounts to regulars or wholesale clients without manually adjusting each sale.
- Case breaking: Charge different prices for singles, packs, and cartons while keeping calculations accurate and fast.
- Automatic promotions: Apply bulk discounts, event specials, or box deals at the register without extra work.
- Account tracking: Keep track of store credit, on-account balances, or loyalty points while applying correct pricing.
With a cigar POS system, everything happens automatically at checkout, regardless of customer type. Have a lounge member coming in to buy a box, or a wholesale client ordering a few cartons? Either way, you don’t have to worry about manually adjusting prices or giving out inconsistent discounts.
5. Run Auto-Apply Promotions Without Manual Discounts
Speaking of automatic pricing, a cigar POS system can do the same with ongoing sales and promotions.
Whether you run a mix and match deal on singles or special event pricing for lounge nights, all you need is to set up the rules in your system once and let it handle the rest. At checkout, your POS automatically applies the relevant discount or loyalty benefits so staff don’t have to worry about pricing inconsistencies.
Related Read: 5 Cigar Promotions To Try in Your Tobacco Shop
How this helps your store:
- Bundle deals: Automatically discount a set number of singles, partial packs, or cartons in a mix and match bundle.
- Box and bulk discounts: Apply reduced prices for full boxes, multiple packs, or bulk purchases for regulars or wholesale clients.
- Customer-specific pricing: Combine promotions with loyalty points, membership perks, or targeted discounts without staff manually adjusting anything.
- Promotion tracking: Attach notes to each transaction so you can see which deals perform best and which products sell faster during specific sales.
Automating promotions lets your staff spend more time assisting customers, while helping you feel secure when testing new deals or adjusting pricing — the system enforces the same rules every time.
6. Manage Staff Access and Shift Activity
Your staff are the heart of your business, so properly tracking their time, training, and user permissions matters. A cigar POS system lets you control which employees have access to specific register features, as well as records who handles certain tasks during every shift.
If a new employee doesn’t feel confident handling price overrides or high-value sales, for example, you can set permissions in your system to restrict those actions until they're ready.
How this helps your store:
- Employee permissions: Limit actions like issuing refunds, changing prices, or applying discounts to the employees who should have that authority.
- Time tracking: Record shift start and end times in the system to easily review hours and attendance.
- Shift visibility: Check what each employee sold or processed during their shift, making handoffs between staff clear and organized.
The system records every override, refund, and discount, so you can review mistakes quickly and target training where it actually improves performance on the floor.
7. Review Sales Data Without Manual Reports
No one wants to spend hours staring at numbers on a spreadsheet, which is why generating reports via your cigar POS system can save you so much time.
How this helps your store:
- Sales patterns: Track peak hours, slow periods, and trends around weekends, paydays, or special events.
- Top-selling products: Identify which cigars, packs, or accessories drive the most sales.
- Actionable insights: Use the data to plan orders, adjust promotions, and make day-to-day operational decisions.
For example, if you want to compare your top-selling products to the ones actually generating the most revenue, you can pull a report showing both units sold and total sales value. This way, you might see that a cigar moving 50 units might bring in less compared to a higher-priced bundle selling 20.
Bonus Resource: Tobacco Shop Product Ranking: What It Is & Why You Need It
These reports also help you spot seasonal trends (e.g., certain limited-edition cigars selling more around holidays or lounge events) so you can adjust stock levels and display space to prioritize your most profitable products at certain times of the year.
5 Best Cigar POS Providers in {{year}
Not every POS system supports tobacco sales out of the box. With the essential features in mind, here are some of the most popular providers designed specifically for cigar and tobacco shops.
1. Cigars POS
Nothing gets more industry-specific than Cigars POS. This system caters directly to tobacco shops, including everything you need to better manage inventory, sales, promotions, and compliance. It understands what store owners deal with every day and provides all the tools you need for your daily tasks.
Top features include:
- Product categories: Organize singles, packs, and cartons for fast and accurate sales.
- Case breaking and inventory tracking: Automatically update stock as products move from cartons to the floor.
- Age verification at checkout: Scan IDs at the register and flag non-compliant sales before the transaction completes.
- Mix and match promotions: Set bundles, event deals, or starter kits once and let the system apply them automatically.
- Loyalty points and custom pricing: Reward regulars, members, or wholesale clients without manual adjustments.
- Mobile access: Add, edit, or search for products from a smartphone or tablet, keeping your database accurate wherever you are.
Pricing: Plans start at $69/month with flexible options and no hidden fees. Use the Build and Price tool to get an instant, custom quote for your business.
2. Lightspeed
Lightspeed supports stores with larger inventories or multiple locations, including online sales for nonrestricted products. Its system tracks inventory across stores and provides automated reorder suggestions, helping managers keep stock levels appropriate without manually reviewing reports.
Top features include:
- E-commerce integration: Sell accessories and non-restricted products online with search engine optimized (SEO) pages.
- Reorder suggestions: Receive automated recommendations based on sales trends across your catalog.
- Multilocation visibility: Track inventory and sales across multiple stores in real time.
- Unified payments: Accept cards and digital payments without a separate processor.
Pricing: Plans start at $89/month, increasing to $149/month and $289/month for advanced features, additional registers, and locations.
3. KORONA POS
KORONA POS works for stores that need flexible employee controls and multilocation inventory visibility. Its built-in loyalty feature tracks repeat customers without extra modules, while automated alerts notify staff when stock is low or needs reordering.
Top features include:
- Multilocation cloud access: Check inventory and sales across several stores in real time.
- Cashier permissions: Set user roles with specific access to actions like refunds or price adjustments.
- Loyalty rewards: Track and reward repeat customers without additional modules.
- Automated inventory alerts: Receive notifications when stock is low or needs reordering.
Pricing: Plans start at $59/month for their Core plan, with optional hardware and add-ons available at an additional cost.
4. FTx POS
FTx POS focuses on security and promotional management for stores handling restricted products. Its system allows stores to limit employee actions with biometric access while automating certain manufacturer loyalty programs, reducing errors and administrative work.
Top features include:
- Digital signage integration: Display promotions and product info at the register to help guide customer purchases.
- Biometric and permission controls: Restrict access to sensitive functions with fingerprint scanning and customizable user permissions.
- Remote inventory and sales access: Monitor stock and sales across multiple locations in real time.
Pricing: Plans start at $99/month for Core, $179/month for Pro, with Enterprise pricing available by quote. Add-ons include e-commerce, loyalty, and digital signage.
5. National Retail Solutions (NRS)
NRS provides tools for stores that need compliance and security features alongside basic inventory management. Its system handles age verification, manufacturer promotions, and stock tracking by pack, carton, or custom items, helping owners maintain oversight over operations.
Top features include:
- Automated age verification: Scan IDs at checkout to confirm compliance with age-restricted sales.
- Inventory tracking: Manage stock by carton, pack, and custom vape products for accurate reporting.
- Manufacturer promotions: Automatically apply rebates and special pricing tied to supplier programs.
- Security integration: Use panic buttons, cashier permissions, and camera syncing for added oversight.
Pricing: Plans start at $19.95/month for Basic, with optional add-ons for e-commerce, loyalty programs, and additional POS terminals. Hardware packages start at $599.
Choosing the Right Cigar POS for Your Shop
Cigar shops face specific rules, inventory setups, and customer expectations that general retail systems often don’t address. Selecting a cigar POS built for your store’s needs keeps you compliant, profitable, and more organized — all while encouraging repeat visits.
Cigars POS includes all the features required for your day-to-day operations, from tracking singles, packs, and cartons to managing loyalty programs and promotions. With mobile access and real-time inventory updates, it keeps your store organized and responsive without extra manual work.
See how Cigars POS can support your business — schedule a personalized demo to see the system in action and find the setup that fits your shop.
{{cta('5e0bc5cd-242b-4c89-9fa8-6e971f6fd8d1')}}
