Recommended gear for small shops

What to look for when you buy a UPI soundbox, a receipt printer, a label printer or a barcode scanner. General buying guidance, not paid rankings.

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UPI soundbox

A small speaker that reads out each UPI payment as it arrives, so you do not have to check the customer's screen.

Ask your bank or UPI app first. Many banks and payment apps give soundboxes to merchants on a monthly rental, linked to your merchant QR.
Check which UPI apps and banks it announces. Some only announce payments made to their own QR.
Language: look for announcements in Hindi, Telugu or your local language.
Connectivity: SIM-based (4G) models work without your phone. Check who pays for the data.
Battery backup for power cuts, and a speaker loud enough for a busy shop.

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Thermal receipt printer

Prints bills without ink on thermal paper rolls. Useful with billing apps on a phone or computer.

Paper width: 58 mm (2 inch) is compact; 80 mm (3 inch) fits more columns and looks more like a full GST bill.
Connection: Bluetooth for phone billing apps, USB for a computer. Check that your billing app supports the printer.
Look for ESC/POS support, which most billing software understands.
An auto-cutter saves time at a busy counter. Battery models suit mobile sellers.
Check the price and local availability of paper rolls before buying.

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Label printer

Prints price stickers, barcodes, expiry dates and shelf labels.

Direct thermal is simplest (no ribbon) but labels fade in sunlight. Thermal transfer lasts longer but needs ribbons.
Check the label sizes it supports and whether it prints barcodes from your billing or inventory app.
Resolution: a higher dpi prints small barcodes more reliably.
Count the running cost of label rolls, not just the printer price.

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Barcode scanner

Speeds up billing and stock entry if your products have barcodes.

1D scanners read normal product barcodes. Choose a 2D scanner if you also want to read QR codes.
Wired USB is cheapest and most reliable. Wireless or Bluetooth suits larger counters and works with some tablets and phones.
Most scanners act like a keyboard (USB HID), so they work with almost any billing software. Confirm with your billing app.
A stand (hands-free mode) helps when you bill quickly.

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Before you buy anything

Check the warranty and whether there is a service centre or seller in your city.
Read recent reviews from Indian buyers, especially about after-sales support.
Make sure it works with the billing app or phone you already use.