Restaurant POS Lite - Complete Documentation

Introduction

Restaurant POS Lite is a comprehensive, feature-rich restaurant management system designed specifically for WordPress. It provides a complete solution for restaurants, cafes, food trucks, and any food service business to manage their operations efficiently from a single WordPress dashboard.

The plugin offers a modern Point of Sale (POS) system, inventory management, customer relationship management (CRM), sales tracking, accounting, and detailed reporting - all integrated seamlessly into your WordPress admin area.

Dashboard Overview – Main admin dashboard displaying key business metrics and summaries

Key Benefits

Complete Restaurant Management: Everything you need in one place
Easy to Use: Intuitive interface designed for busy restaurant environments
Real-time Operations: Live inventory updates and sales processing
Professional Reporting: Comprehensive sales and financial reports
Cost-effective: Free solution with premium features
WordPress Integration: Seamless integration with your existing WordPress site

Installation

Installing Restaurant POS Lite is simple and straightforward. Follow these steps to get started:

Method 1: WordPress Admin (Recommended)

Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard
Navigate to Plugins → Add New
Search for "Obydullah Restaurant POS Lite"
Click Install Now next to the plugin
After installation, click Activate

Method 2: Manual Upload

Download the plugin ZIP file from WordPress.org
Go to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin
Click Choose File and select the downloaded ZIP file
Click Install Now
Click Activate Plugin after installation

Database Setup

Upon activation, the plugin automatically creates the necessary database tables. You'll see a success message confirming the setup.

Note: The plugin creates the following database tables:

orpl_categories (Product categories)
orpl_products (Menu items)
orpl_stocks (Inventory)
orpl_customers (Customer database)
orpl_sales (Sales records)
orpl_sale_details (Sale line items)
orpl_accounting (Financial records)

System Requirements

To ensure optimal performance, your server should meet these minimum requirements:

Component	Minimum Requirement	Recommended
WordPress	5.0 or higher	6.0 or higher
PHP Version	7.4 or higher	8.0 or higher
MySQL	5.6 or higher	5.7 or higher
Memory Limit	128MB	256MB or higher
Browser	Chrome 60+, Firefox 55+	Latest Chrome/Firefox

Important: The plugin uses modern PHP features. Using PHP versions below 7.4 may cause compatibility issues.

Quick Start Guide

Follow this quick setup guide to get your restaurant POS running in minutes:

Step 1: Configure Settings

Go to OBY Restaurant POS → Settings
Enter your shop information (name, address, phone)
Set your currency and tax/VAT rates
Configure date format and other preferences
Click Save Settings

Settings Panel – Configure taxes, receipts, and system preferences

Step 2: Create Categories

Go to OBY Restaurant POS → Categories
Add your menu categories (e.g., Appetizers, Main Course, Desserts)
Set status to "Active" for visible categories

Product Categories – Create and manage product categories for better menu organization

Step 3: Add Products

Go to OBY Restaurant POS → Products
Add your menu items with names and categories
Upload product images for better visual appeal

Product Management – Add, edit, and organize menu items with categories

Step 4: Manage Stock

Go to OBY Restaurant POS → Stocks
Add initial stock quantities for your products
Set buy price and sale prices

Stock Management – Monitor product stock levels and inventory availability

Step 5: Start Taking Orders

You're now ready to use the POS system! Go to OBY Restaurant POS → POS and start processing orders.

Dashboard

The dashboard provides a comprehensive overview of your restaurant's performance with real-time metrics and insights.

Dashboard Overview – Main admin dashboard displaying key business metrics and summaries

Key Metrics

Metric	Description	Importance
Stock Value	Total value of current inventory	Inventory investment tracking
Today's Sales	Number of completed orders today	Daily performance indicator
Monthly Sales	Total orders this month	Monthly performance tracking
Today's Income	Revenue generated today	Daily cash flow
Monthly Income	Total revenue this month	Monthly revenue tracking
Today's Expense	Expenses incurred today	Daily cost monitoring
Monthly Expense	Total expenses this month	Monthly cost analysis
Monthly Profit	Net profit (Income - Expense)	Overall profitability

Data Interpretation

Green metrics indicate positive financial indicators
Red metrics indicate areas needing attention
All data updates in real-time as transactions occur
Click any metric card for detailed breakdown

Product Categories

Organize your menu items into logical categories for better management and customer navigation.

Product Categories – Create and manage product categories for better menu organization

Creating Categories

Navigate to OBY Restaurant POS → Categories
Enter a category name (e.g., "Beverages", "Main Course")
Select status (Active/Inactive)
Click Save Category

Best Practice: Create broad categories first (Appetizers, Main Course, Desserts, Beverages) then add sub-categories if needed.

Managing Categories

Action	Description	When to Use
Edit	Modify category name or status	When menu changes or seasonal updates
Delete	Remove unused categories	Cleaning up old categories
Status Change	Activate/Deactivate categories	Temporarily hiding seasonal items

Tips for Effective Category Management

Keep category names short and descriptive
Use consistent naming conventions
Arrange categories in logical order (appetizers → main course → desserts)
Set seasonal items to inactive when out of season
Regularly review and update categories

Product Management

Add and manage your restaurant's menu items with detailed information and images.

Product Management – Add, edit, and organize menu items with categories

Adding New Products

Field	Required	Description	Example
Product Name	Yes	Name of the menu item	"Margherita Pizza"
Category	Yes	Product category	"Main Course"
Product Image	No	Visual representation	Upload pizza image
Status	Yes	Active/Inactive state	"Active"

Product Images

Adding images to your products enhances the POS experience and helps staff identify items quickly.

Recommended size: 300x300 pixels
Supported formats: JPG, PNG, GIF
Maximum file size: 2MB
Images are automatically optimized and resized

Product Search & Filtering

The products table includes powerful search and filtering capabilities:

Instant Search: Type to filter products by name
Pagination: Navigate large product lists easily
Status Filter: Show active/inactive products

Pro Tip: Use descriptive product names that are easily searchable. Include key ingredients or characteristics (e.g., "Spicy Chicken Burger" instead of just "Chicken Burger").

Stock Management

Track your inventory levels, costs, and availability with real-time stock management.

Stock Management – Monitor product stock levels and inventory availability

Adding Stock Entries

Field	Required	Description	Purpose
Product	Yes	Select product from dropdown	Link stock to menu item
Buy Price	Yes	Cost price per unit	Calculate profit margins
Sale Price	Yes	Selling price per unit	Customer pricing
Quantity	Yes	Number of units in stock	Inventory tracking
Status	Yes	In Stock/Low Stock/Out of Stock	Availability indicator

Stock Status Indicators

Status	Color	Meaning	Action Required
In Stock	Green	Adequate inventory available	No action needed
Low Stock	Orange	Inventory below threshold	Consider reordering
Out of Stock	Red	No inventory available	Immediate reorder needed

Profit Calculation

The stock management system automatically calculates:

Unit Profit: Sale Price - Buy Price
Total Profit: Unit Profit × Quantity
Profit Margin: (Profit ÷ Sale Price) × 100
Total Stock Value: Buy Price × Quantity

Inventory Management: Regular stock updates ensure accurate menu availability and prevent selling items that are out of stock.

Stock Adjustments

Manually adjust stock quantities for inventory corrections, waste tracking, or special circumstances.

Stock Adjustment – Adjust stock quantities manually with reason tracking

Adjustment Types

Type	Icon	Description	Common Reasons
Increase		Add stock to inventory	New delivery, production, returns
Decrease		Remove stock from inventory	Spoilage, waste, damage, staff meals

Creating Adjustments

Select the product to adjust
View current stock level
Choose adjustment type (Increase/Decrease)
Enter quantity to adjust
Add notes explaining the adjustment
Click Apply Adjustment

Important: Large stock decreases may indicate inventory issues. Always add detailed notes explaining the reason for significant adjustments.

Adjustment History

All stock adjustments are logged with:

Date and time of adjustment
Adjustment details (type, quantity)
Notes explaining the reason
Stock levels before and after

Customer Management

Build and maintain a customer database for better service and marketing in future.

Customer Management – Manage customer records, contact details

Adding Customers

Field	Required	Description	Best Practices
Name	Yes	Customer's full name	Use proper capitalization
Email	No	Email address	Use for receipts and promotions
Phone	No	Mobile number	For order updates and alerts
Address	No	Physical address	For delivery orders
Notes	No	Additional information	Preferences, allergies, special requests

Customer Search & Filtering

Quickly find customers using:

Name Search: Partial name matching
Phone Search: Find by phone number
Email Search: Search by email address
Status Filter: Active/Inactive customers

Customer Relationship Tip: Use the notes field to remember customer preferences (e.g., "Prefers booth seating", "Allergic to nuts", "Regular takeaway customer").

POS System

The Point of Sale interface is the heart of your restaurant operations, designed for speed and efficiency.

POS Interface – Point of Sale screen with product grid, cart, and order panel

Product Grid Interface

Category Tabs: Quick navigation between product categories
Product Cards: Visual representation with images
Stock Indicators: Real-time availability status

Order Processing Workflow

Select Customer: Choose existing or walk-in
Choose Sale Type: Dine-in, Takeaway, or Pickup
Add Products: Click items from the grid
Adjust Quantities: Use +/- buttons in cart
Apply Modifiers: Discounts, special instructions
Review Totals: Check calculations
Complete Sale: Finalize

Sale Types

Type	Required Fields	Use Case
Dine-in	Table Number	Customers eating at the restaurant
Takeaway	Customer Name, Phone	Delivery or pickup later
Pickup	Customer Name	Customer collects order

Real-time Calculations

The POS automatically calculates:

Subtotal: Sum of all items
Discounts: Manual or percentage discounts
Tax/VAT: Based on configured rates
Delivery Charges: For takeaway orders
Grand Total: Final payable amount

Speed Tips: Use keyboard shortcuts for faster order processing. Memorize product positions for quick selection during busy periods.

Order Management Options

Button	Action	When to Use	Result
Clear	Reset current order	Wrong order started	Empty cart, reset form
Save	Save order for later	Pending payment or modification	Order saved in system
Complete	Finalize and process	Order ready for payment	Stock updated, receipt generated

Sales Management

Track, analyze, and manage all your restaurant's sales transactions with comprehensive reporting tools.

Sales History – View, search, and filter completed sales with receipt printing options

Advanced Filtering Options

Filter Type	Options	Purpose	Business Use
Date Range	Today, Yesterday, Custom Range	Time-based analysis	Daily/Weekly/Monthly reports
Sale Type	Dine-in, Takeaway, Pickup	Service type analysis	Optimize service channels
Status	Completed, Saved, Canceled	Order status tracking	Monitor order flow

Sales Data Columns

Each sales record includes detailed information:

Invoice ID: Unique transaction identifier
Date & Time: When the sale occurred
Customer: Who made the purchase
Items: Products purchased
Quantities: Number of each item
Subtotal: Before tax/discount
Discount: Any discounts applied
Tax/VAT: Tax amounts
Total: Final amount paid
Status: Current order status

Receipt & Invoice Printing

Generate professional receipts and invoices with multiple options:

Print Type	Content	Use Case	Customization
Customer Receipt	Basic transaction details	Customer copy	Shop logo, thank you message
Kitchen Ticket	Order items only	Kitchen preparation	Cooking instructions, table number
Detailed Invoice	Full transaction breakdown	Business records	Tax details, terms & conditions
Summary Report	Multiple orders summary	End of day reporting	Custom date ranges, filters

Reporting Tip: Use the date range filter to generate custom period reports. Compare different time periods to identify growth trends and seasonal patterns.

Accounting Module

Track your restaurant's financial health with comprehensive income, expense, and profitability tracking.

Accounting Module – Track income, expenses, and overall financial summaries

Financial Dashboard

Metric	Calculation	Importance	Healthy Range
Total Income	Sum of all revenue	Revenue tracking	Consistent growth
Total Expenses	Sum of all costs	Cost control	Below 70% of income
Net Profit	Income - Expenses	Profitability	Positive and growing
Profit Margin	(Profit ÷ Income) × 100	Efficiency measure	15-30% for restaurants
Average Daily Revenue	Income ÷ Days	Performance tracking	Industry benchmark

Expense Categories

Organize expenses for better financial management:

Category	Examples	Typical % of Revenue	Management Tips
Food Cost	Ingredients, supplies	25-35%	Monitor waste, negotiate prices
Labor Cost	Salaries, wages	25-35%	Optimize scheduling
Rent & Utilities	Rent, electricity, water	5-10%	Fixed cost, monitor usage
Marketing	Advertising, promotions	3-5%	Track ROI on campaigns
Maintenance	Repairs, equipment	2-4%	Preventive maintenance
Miscellaneous	Office supplies, fees	1-2%	Review regularly

Financial Reporting

Generate various financial reports:

Daily Sales Report: End-of-day summary
Weekly Performance: Week-over-week analysis
Monthly P&L: Profit and Loss statement
Quarterly Review: Seasonal performance
Annual Summary: Year-end financials

Financial Health Tip: Regularly review your food cost percentage. Industry standard is 28-35% of food sales. Higher percentages may indicate waste, theft, or pricing issues.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Monitor these essential restaurant metrics:

Food Cost Percentage: (Food Cost ÷ Food Sales) × 100
Labor Cost Percentage: (Labor Cost ÷ Total Sales) × 100
Prime Cost: Food Cost + Labor Cost
Table Turnover Rate: Guests per table per day
Average Check Size: Total Sales ÷ Number of Guests
Sales per Square Foot: Total Sales ÷ Restaurant Area

Settings & Configuration

Customize the POS system to match your restaurant's specific needs and preferences.

Settings Panel – Configure taxes, receipts, and system preferences

Shop Information

Setting	Required	Description	Appears On
Restaurant Name	Yes	Your business name	All receipts and reports
Address	Yes	Business location	Receipts, invoices
Phone Number	Yes	Contact number	Receipts, customer communications

Currency & Pricing

Setting	Options	Default	Impact
Currency Symbol	$ € £ ₹ ¥ etc.	$	All price displays
Currency Position	Left, Right, Left with space, Right with space	Left	Price formatting

Tax & VAT Configuration

Setting	Description	Default	Calculation
VAT Rate (%)	Percentage VAT rate	0%	VAT = Subtotal × Rate
Tax Rate (%)	Percentage tax rate	0%	Tax = Subtotal × Rate

Receipt & Printing

Setting	Options	Default	Purpose
Receipt Header	Custom text/HTML	Shop name	Top of receipt
Receipt Footer	Custom text/HTML	Thank you message	Bottom of receipt
Print Automatically	Yes/No	No	Auto-print after sale

Date & Time

Setting	Options	Default	Format Example
Date Format	YYYY-MM-DD, DD-MM-YYYY, MM/DD/YYYY	YYYY-MM-DD	2024-12-15

Notifications & Alerts

Setting	Description	Default	Alert Method
Low Stock Alert	Notify when stock is low	Enabled	Dashboard warning
Alert Threshold	Quantity for low stock alert	10	Customizable
Daily Sales Report	Email end-of-day report	Disabled	Email notification
New Order Sound	Play sound for new orders	Enabled	Browser notification
Print Sound	Play sound when printing	Enabled	Browser notification

Configuration Tip: Test your receipt settings with a few test prints before going live. Ensure your printer is properly configured and the receipt layout matches your requirements.

Security Settings

Setting	Description	Default	Security Level
User Roles	Who can access POS	Administrator only	High
Password Protection	Require password for voids	Enabled	Medium
Session Timeout	Auto-logout after inactivity	30 minutes	Medium
IP Restriction	Allow specific IPs only	Disabled	High
Audit Log	Log all transactions	Enabled	Medium

Frequently Asked Questions

Installation & Setup

Q: Is the plugin free?
A: Yes, Obydullah Restaurant POS Lite is completely free with all core features included.

Q: What are the system requirements?
A: WordPress 5.0+, PHP 7.4+, MySQL 5.6+. See the System Requirements section for details.

Q: Can I use it with any WordPress theme?
A: Yes, the plugin works with any WordPress theme. It uses its own admin interface.

POS Operations

Q: How do I handle discounts?
A: In the POS interface, enter discount amount or percentage in the discount field before completing the sale.

Inventory Management

Q: Does the system prevent overselling?
A: Yes, the POS automatically checks stock levels and prevents sales when items are out of stock.

Q: How do I track waste/spoilage?
A: Use the Stock Adjustments feature to decrease stock quantities and add notes explaining the reason.

Reporting & Analytics

Q: Can I compare sales between different periods?
A: Yes, use the date range filters in the Sales section to compare performance across different time periods.

Receipt & Printing

Q: What printers are supported?
A: Any standard thermal receipt printer (Epson, Star, etc.) that works with Windows printers.

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Issue	Possible Cause	Solution
Plugin not installing	PHP version too old	Upgrade to PHP 7.4 or higher
Database errors	MySQL version incompatible	Upgrade to MySQL 5.6 or higher
POS not loading	JavaScript conflicts	Deactivate other plugins to test
Slow performance	Large database or low memory	Increase PHP memory limit to 256MB
Printing issues	Printer not configured	Check printer settings and drivers
Stock not updating	Cache issues	Clear browser and server cache

Maintenance Tips

Regular Backups: Always backup your database before updates
Clear Cache: Clear browser cache if experiencing display issues
Update Regularly: Keep WordPress and plugins updated
Monitor Logs: Check error logs for troubleshooting clues
Test Updates: Test updates on staging site first
Clean Database: Archive old sales data periodically

Important: Always create a full backup of your WordPress site and database before making major changes or updates.

Support & Resources

Getting Help

Resource	Description	Best For	Response Time
WordPress.org Forums	Official support forum	General questions, installation help	1-3 days
GitHub Issues	Bug reports and feature requests	Technical issues, suggestions	2-5 days
Documentation	This documentation site	Self-help, tutorials, guides	Instant

Additional Resources

Video Tutorials: Step-by-step video guides
User Guide: Comprehensive PDF manual
API Documentation: For developers and integrators
Community Forum: User discussions and tips
Blog: Tips, updates, and announcements

Community Support

Join our community for additional support:

Share Tips: Learn from other restaurant owners
Feature Requests: Suggest new features
Bug Reports: Help improve the plugin
Translations: Help translate the plugin

Support Tip: When requesting support, always include:

WordPress version
PHP version
Plugin version
Error messages (if any)
Steps to reproduce the issue