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General FAQ

Common questions about Brother POS, covering system capabilities, hardware requirements, data security, and general topics.

System & Platform​

What is Brother POS?

Brother POS is a cloud-hosted point-of-sale system designed for cannabis dispensaries and retail environments. It includes a touch-friendly POS register for cashiers, a full-featured admin panel for managers and administrators, and integrations with platforms like WooCommerce. See System Overview for a complete introduction.

Is Brother POS cloud-based or installed locally?

Brother POS is primarily a cloud-hosted SaaS platform. Each store gets its own subdomain (e.g., yourstore.brotherpos.ca), and all data is stored securely in the cloud. There is no software to install on your computers -- everything runs through a web browser.

What browsers are supported?

Brother POS supports the following browsers:

BrowserVersionNotes
Google Chrome90+Recommended. Full feature support including PWA installation.
Microsoft Edge90+Chromium-based. Works identically to Chrome.
Mozilla Firefox100+Supported. PWA installation not available.
Safari15+Partial support. Some features (Web Serial for scales) may not work.

Internet Explorer is not supported. For the best experience, use the latest version of Chrome or Edge.

Can I use Brother POS on a tablet or phone?

Yes. Brother POS works on tablets and phones, and the mobile-first POS interface is one of its standout features — it makes Brother POS a great option for small retail environments where a full register setup is not needed.

Native apps for iOS and Android are coming soon to the App Store and Google Play. For iPads and Android tablets, the native app will provide the best hardware integration.

In the meantime, the PWA (Progressive Web App) works great on any device. Install it from your browser for a full-screen, app-like experience with a home screen icon. See Installing as a PWA for steps.

The admin panel also works on tablets and phones.

Does Brother POS work offline?

Partially. The POS register can continue processing cash sales when the internet connection drops. Transactions are queued locally and automatically sync when the connection is restored. However, card payments, customer lookup, loyalty verification, and real-time inventory checks require an active connection. See Offline Mode for details.

Is Brother POS only for cannabis dispensaries?

No. While Brother POS includes cannabis-specific features (THC/CBD percentages, strain types, compliance reporting, daily purchase limits, quality tier pricing), all of these are optional and controlled by feature flags. With cannabis features disabled, Brother POS works as a general-purpose retail POS system.

Hardware​

What hardware do I need?

At minimum, you need a device with a modern web browser (computer, tablet, or phone). For a full POS setup, the recommended hardware includes:

HardwarePurposeConnection
Touchscreen display or tabletPOS register interface--
Receipt printerPrint receiptsNetwork (Ethernet/WiFi)
Barcode scannerScan product barcodesUSB (keyboard wedge)
Cash drawerStore cashRJ11/RJ12 to receipt printer
Label printerPrint product labelsNetwork (Ethernet/WiFi)
ScaleWeigh productsUSB (Web Serial API)

See System Overview for detailed hardware specifications.

Which receipt printers are supported?

Brother POS supports ESC/POS compatible receipt printers. The recommended model is the Epson TM-m30II. Printers connect through the Printer Bridge utility, which routes print jobs from your cloud-hosted POS to your local printer. See Receipt Printers for setup instructions.

How does the POS communicate with my printer?

Brother POS is cloud-hosted, so it uses the Printer Bridge utility to route print jobs to your local printer. The Printer Bridge is a small application that runs on a Windows PC on your network and forwards print data to your receipt and label printers (whether they are USB or network-connected). See Printer Bridge for setup details.

Do I need a special barcode scanner?

No. Any USB barcode scanner that operates in keyboard wedge mode (also called HID mode) will work. This is the default mode for most barcode scanners. The scanner acts as a keyboard -- plug it in, and it works immediately with no drivers or special configuration needed.

Multi-Store & Accounts​

Can I manage multiple stores with Brother POS?

Yes. Brother POS supports multi-store management. Each store gets its own subdomain and isolated data. Store owners can access the Owner Dashboard to view analytics across all their stores and switch between stores. Stock transfers between stores are also supported. See Multi-Store for details.

How many users can I have?

There is no hard limit on the number of users per store. You can create as many admin, manager, cashier, and driver accounts as needed. Each user has their own login credentials and can be assigned granular permissions.

Can multiple cashiers use the same register?

Yes. Cash drawer sessions are drawer-centric, not user-centric. A manager opens a session for a register, and any cashier can log in and process sales on that register during the session. Each sale records which cashier processed it. See Opening & Closing Cash Drawers.

Data & Security​

Is my data secure?

Yes. Brother POS implements multiple layers of security:

  • Store isolation -- each store's data is completely separated at the database level.
  • HTTPS/TLS -- all data in transit is encrypted.
  • Password hashing -- all passwords and PINs are securely hashed before storage.
  • Role-based access control -- granular permissions per role per store.
  • Audit trail -- all critical data changes are tracked with who, what, and when.
  • B2B encryption -- wholesale communications use end-to-end encryption.
Can other stores see my data?

No. Every piece of data is scoped to your store, and there is no mechanism for one store to access another store's data -- even though all stores share the same cloud infrastructure.

How are backups handled?

Brother POS creates automated database backups. The frequency and retention period depend on your plan. In the event of catastrophic data loss, contact Brother POS support for assistance with data recovery.

Can I export my data?

Yes. Brother POS supports data export in several areas:

  • Products -- CSV export from Admin > Products.
  • Sales reports -- PDF and CSV export from Admin > Reports.
  • Customer lists -- Export from Admin > Customers.
  • Compliance reports -- Export-ready regulatory reports from Admin > Compliance.

Integrations​

What integrations are available?

Brother POS integrates with:

  • WooCommerce -- Two-way product sync, order sync, inventory push, freebie campaign sync.
  • Brother Processing -- Integrated payment processing for card payments directly from the POS.
  • B2B Wholesale -- End-to-end encrypted distributor-retailer communication, wholesale ordering, and invoicing (feature-flagged).

See the Integrations section for setup guides.

Do I need an integration to accept card payments?

Not necessarily. Brother POS can record card payments manually (the cashier selects Debit as the payment method). For integrated card processing through the POS, you can configure a payment terminal. The terminal handles the actual card processing while Brother POS manages the sale.

Getting Help​

How do I contact support?

Your admin can submit a support ticket by clicking their name/avatar in the top-right corner and selecting Get Support. Include a description of the problem, any error messages, and steps to reproduce the issue. For urgent issues, contact Brother POS support through the channels provided during onboarding.

Where can I learn more about a specific feature?

Use the search bar at the top of this knowledge base to find documentation on any feature. The documentation is organized into sections: