As a music store owner, you probably feel like you’re juggling several priorities at once.
You need to keep your inventory levels consistent, handle online orders, and manage instrument rental and repairs — all while talking to customers, answering questions, and resolving issues. If you’re trying to manage all of these tasks on your own, something is likely to slip through the cracks.
Luckily, with music retail management software, you don’t have to keep track of all of these tasks on your own. These platforms, also called point of sale (POS) systems, offer a suite of digital tools that help you perform tasks, keep records, and automate processes that keep your music store running on a daily basis.
As more business operations go digital, a POS system can help you keep up with the competition, while saving time and money by streamlining complicated workflows.
In this blog, we’ll go over the most important features to look for in music retail management software, and present the top five providers.
Key Features To Look For in a Music POS System
POS systems are designed with the needs of business owners in mind, giving you and your employees a framework to perform business functions as efficiently as possible.
While some systems are built to offer general business features, music-specific POS software includes features tailored for music stores. Let’s explore the most important features to look for in music retail management software.
Payments
Ringing up a customer is the most basic function of a POS system. These systems quickly calculate the price of a customer’s purchase and accept multiple forms of payment. These include cash, cards, and digital payment methods like Apple Pay and Google Pay. Quickly processing transactions helps you avoid lines and crowds at your music store, improving your customers’ experience.
Music Inventory Management
Efficiently managing inventory is crucial for the success of your music store. A POS system keeps an accurate count of all of your instruments and accessories, and automatically adjusts when you make sales or purchase new inventory. Plus, cloud-based systems allow you access this information from any internet-connected device at the touch of a button.
Understanding how your inventory levels fluctuate helps you determine the optimal amount of inventory to purchase to prevent overstock and stockouts. A music store-specific POS system also gives you access to a large catalog of music suppliers, so you can do industry research and purchase inventory right from your system.
Website and E-Commerce
Selling music merchandise online in addition to your brick-and-mortar location increases revenue and allows more people to find your business. POS systems include tools to help you with your website — in fact, some providers even design a website for you. These systems seamlessly integrate your online store with your physical store, allowing you to access all of your data in one place.
POS systems also include tools for managing e-commerce, so you can make sure each customer receives the right item in a timely manner. Plus, customer communication tools help you resolve customer service issues over text or email, so you can help each customer have the best experience possible.
Related Read: 9 Ways To Build a Music Store Website With Users in Mind
Music Lesson Scheduling
It’s common for music stores to offer music lessons, creating an additional stream of income and encouraging students to buy or rent instruments while in the store. A POS system makes managing music lessons easier, with features for scheduling lessons, tracking student progress, and sending reminders to cut down on missed lessons.
Related Read: How To Schedule Music Lessons at Your Retail Store: 10 Tips
Instrument Repair
Instrument repair can be a complicated process. Some repairs take longer than expected, and it’s important to keep customers in the loop so they don’t get frustrated. POS systems facilitate easy communication with customers to keep them informed. These systems also create work orders to keep track of the repairs an instrument needs, parts that need to be ordered, and any other necessary repair information.
With a POS system, you can easily track instrument owners, the order in which instruments were brought in, and what repairs have been done in the past, creating a simple process for both you and your customers.
Related Read: How To Become a Musical Instrument Repair Technician
Data Reporting
The best businesses make decisions based on data, and the best insights can be found when your business’ data is accurately compiled and clearly presented. POS systems have tools for reporting key metrics like costs, revenue, profit, and inventory levels, so you can understand how your business is performing.
These features are also useful for presenting data to investors, business partners, and other stakeholders.
Related Read: How To Increase Your Music Store Revenue in 2025
Top 5 Music Retail Management Software Providers
These are our top five picks for music retail management software providers. Each has its own strengths and is known for different helpful features.
1. Music Shop 360
Best for: Small music stores who sell instruments and/or provide services
Music Shop 360 is an all-in-one POS system designed specifically for music stores. It includes both general and music-specific features. Users can manage inventory, process payments, manage multiple business locations, and analyze data with comprehensive reporting tools.
Unique selling points: Music-specific features include lesson scheduling, instrument rentals, repair work orders, and access to the best music suppliers in the business. Music Shop 360 is also integrated with popular music platforms Reverb and My Music Staff. Users have access to unlimited training and customer support.
Pricing: Contact for custom pricing.
2. AIM by Tri-Tech
Best for: General retail stores in a variety of industries, including music stores
AIM by Tri-Tech is a POS equipped with retail features that work well for small businesses — generally, and for music stores specifically. This software allows you to easily take payments and track inventory, and offers insightful reporting and analytics.
Unique selling points: AIM offers lesson scheduling and automated customer communication.
Pricing: Contact for custom pricing.
3. Lightspeed
Best for: Well-established businesses with multiple locations, including retail, restaurants, and golf courses
Lightspeed is a general POS solution that offers payment processing, inventory management, multi-location management, and other general retail features.
Unique selling points: Lightspeed is known for its comprehensive data reporting. Users can generate 40 different sales reports. Lightspeed also offers 24/7 customer service.
Pricing:
Basic: $89
Core: $149
Plus: $289
Hardware sold separately.
4. Square
Best for: Retail stores and restaurants
Square is a general POS solution with a simple, intuitive interface. With Square, you can sell online, in store, or both.
Unique selling points: Square offers features for staffing and payroll, gift cards, and banking.
Pricing:
Free Plan
Plus: $29 per month
Premium: Custom pricing
5. Shopify
Best for: General retail stores
Shopify is a general POS solution known for its e-commerce capabilities.
Unique selling points: Shopify has a large library of apps users can download to use in conjunction with their system. Shopify also allows you to sell products on external sites.
Pricing:
Basic: $29 per month
Shopify: $79 per month
Advanced: $299 per month
Plus: $2,300 per month
Music Shop 360: The Ultimate Music Retail Management Software
There are many POS platforms on the market with general retail features, but Music Shop 360 has the music-specific features you need to manage the many tasks you’re juggling as a business owner.
With general features like marketing tools, e-commerce, and data analysis, plus music features like lessons, rentals, and repairs, you’lll be ready to serve all of your customers’ music needs.
To see what Music Shop 360 can do for your business, schedule a demo today!
