The Right POS System for Mobile Food Service: TSE, Cashless, and GoBD-Compliant

A notepad and a drawer full of coins—that’s a thing of the past. Anyone running a food trailer today can’t do without a proper point-of-sale system. Not just for practical reasons, but because the law requires it.

The good news: The market for mobile point-of-sale systems has grown tremendously in recent years. Today, you can find streamlined, affordable, and—most importantly—legally compliant solutions designed specifically for takeout and delivery operations. This article explains what you need to look for.

What is the TSE—and why is it mandatory?

TSE stands for " Technical Security Device." As of January 1, 2020, the following rule applies in Germany: Every electronic point-of-sale system you use in a commercial setting must be equipped with a certified TSE.

The TSE records every cash register transaction in a tamper-proof manner—with a timestamp, transaction number, and digital signature. This is intended to prevent sales transactions from being altered or deleted retroactively.

What this means for you:

Your point-of-sale system must be TSE-certified (BSI certification)
Receipts must be provided to the customer (requirement to issue receipts)
Cash register data must be retained for 10 years
During tax audits, you must be able to provide the data in a structured format (GoBD-compliant export function)

Anyone caught using a non-compliant cash register risks fines and additional tax assessments from the tax office.

GoBD: What's Behind It?

The GoBD (Principles for the Proper Maintenance and Retention of Books, Records, and Documents in Electronic Form) are the accounting regulations that all business owners must follow.

Specifically, for your point-of-sale system, this means:

All cash register sales must be recorded in a way that cannot be altered and in a timely manner
Every cancellation must be logged
Daily closing reports (Z-reports) must be saved
Data must be exportable (e.g., DATEV format for the tax advisor)

A good point-of-sale system for mobile food service offers all of this. All you have to do is set it up and use it consistently.

What makes a good mobile point-of-sale system?

Not every point-of-sale system is suitable for mobile use. In a food trailer, you'll need:

Offline Capability

At events, markets, or remote locations, you don't always have reliable Wi-Fi or cell service. A point-of-sale system that works offline and syncs later is a must.

Durability and Ease of Use

No huge touchscreen that takes up too much space. Modern tablet solutions with a good card reader are compact, durable, and affordable.

Fast Service

During peak hours, every second counts. Your point-of-sale system should be set up so you can ring up orders with just a few taps—shortcut keys for the most popular dishes are a must.

TSE Integration

The TSE can be implemented as a hardware dongle (USB/SD) or as a cloud-based solution. A cloud-based TSE is often more practical for mobile use.

Statistics and Analyses

Sales by dish, by location, by time of day—good point-of-sale systems provide you with this information automatically. That’s worth its weight in gold when it comes to cost calculations.

Popular POS Systems for Mobile Food Service

An overview of common solutions (no advertising partnerships—purely a market overview):

System | Special Feature | Suitable for

SumUp POS | Affordable, easy to use, TSE-retrofittable | Beginners, small businesses

Orderbird | Designed Specifically for the Food Service Industry, DATEV Export | Growing Businesses

Lightspeed | Comprehensive, highly scalable | Multiple locations

Gastrofix | Designed specifically for the food service industry, works offline | Festivals, events

Hello Kassenbonus | Includes digital customer loyalty | Marketing-focused operators

Tip: Many providers offer trial versions. Try out the system under real-world conditions before you buy—ideally on an actual market day.

Cashless Payments at Fast-Food Restaurants: Not a Trend, but the Norm

Businesses that don't have a card terminal today are losing revenue. Studies show that cashless payments increase the average receipt amount by 15–20%—because people pay less attention to the price when using a card than when paying with cash.

In addition:

Fewer change errors
Faster Processing
Less cash handling, less shoplifting
Customers simply expect it

Mobile Payment Options:

EC Card / Girocard (Required – the largest volume)
Credit card (Visa, Mastercard) – via the same terminal
Apple Pay / Google Pay – works with most modern terminals
QR Code Payments – for regular customers or at markets without electricity

When choosing a card reader, pay attention to the transaction fees: Most providers charge 0.9–2.5% per transaction. Factor this into your calculations—if you have high transaction volumes, a flat-rate plan is worth considering.

An Overview of the Most Important Responsibilities

Just to be on the safe side:

✅ **TSE-certified point-of-sale system** in use
✅ **Offer a receipt** (even if many guests decline it—you still have to offer it)
✅ Create and save **daily cash register closings** (Z-report)
✅ **All cancellations** are recorded in the system
✅ Keep the **cash book** accurate when accepting cash payments
✅ **Retain data for 10 years** (even after operations have ceased)
✅ **Cash Register Audit** Prepared – The Tax Office May Conduct an Unannounced Audit

Conclusion: The right point-of-sale system pays off

A good point-of-sale system isn't a chore—it's a valuable tool for your business. You'll process payments faster, make fewer mistakes, provide your tax advisor with accurate data, and sleep better knowing that you're operating in full compliance with the law.

Take the time now to choose and set things up properly—and you'll save yourself a lot of trouble later on.

At AVB Manufaktur, we build your counter so that your point-of-sale system is seamlessly integrated—outlets in the right places, space for the printer and terminal, and reliable cable management. Because a well-thought-out design makes the entire operation easier.