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The question is not whether a duka can survive without a POS. It is how much a notebook quietly costs in miscounts, untracked credit and shrinkage that only shows up at stock take.
A phone-based POS with a free terminal keeps the setup cheap while giving you real numbers, so you reorder on time and see your true margin.
Free tools for this
Related questions
Is a POS worth it for a small shop?
Usually yes. The savings from fewer stockouts, less shrinkage and faster reconciliation tend to outweigh a small monthly subscription within the first months.
Veira gives Kenyan shops one calm app for selling, M-Pesa, KRA eTIMS and stock, with a free terminal. Book a demo and see it set up for your trade.