Why UK Restaurants Are Leaving Epos Now
Epos Now is one of the UK's best-known EPOS providers, but it has a well-documented problem: the total cost of ownership is enormous compared to what you actually get. UK restaurant owners report:
- £800–£1,200 hardware packages for the till, card reader and receipt printer
- £99–£199/month software fees on top of hardware purchase or rental
- 12–36 month contracts with significant early termination fees
- Add-on costs for features like QR ordering, loyalty programmes and advanced reporting
- Customer service delays and offshore support teams that don't understand UK restaurant law
When you add it all up, Epos Now can cost a single-site restaurant £2,400–£3,600 in the first year alone. For restaurants that are already running on thin margins, this is a significant financial burden.
Bill Feeds vs Epos Now: The Full Comparison
Here is how Bill Feeds compares to Epos Now across every dimension that matters for UK restaurants in 2026:
| Feature | Bill Feeds | Epos Now |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly software cost | £19–£79/mo | £99–£199/mo |
| Hardware required | None — BYOD | £800–£1,200 |
| Contract length | Monthly rolling | 12–36 months |
| QR self-ordering | ✅ Included | Extra cost |
| Kitchen Display System | ✅ Included | Extra cost |
| Natasha's Law allergen labels | ✅ All 14 | Limited |
| Making Tax Digital (MTD) | ✅ Full | Basic |
| Multi-site management | ✅ Included | Extra cost |
| UK support team | ✅ Yes | Mixed |
| Estimated Year 1 cost | £228–£948 | £2,400–£3,600 |
What You Actually Get in Bill Feeds That Epos Now Charges Extra For
Many restaurants discover, after signing the Epos Now contract, that features they assumed were included are actually paid add-ons. Bill Feeds includes the following at no extra cost:
- QR self-ordering at tables — customers scan, browse and order from their phone, no app required
- Kitchen Display System (KDS) — orders fire instantly to a kitchen screen; no paper dockets
- Takeaway order management — full takeaway flow with delivery type and customer notes
- Natasha's Law allergen labels — all 14 required allergens plus vegan/vegetarian flags
- Making Tax Digital VAT reports — export-ready for HMRC quarterly submission
- Multi-site dashboard — manage all your branches from one login
- Real-time sales analytics — hourly charts, best sellers, payment method breakdown
- Inventory management — stock levels, supplier orders, low-stock alerts
The Epos Now Contract Problem
The most common complaint from UK restaurant owners about Epos Now is the contract. Most Epos Now agreements lock restaurants into 12–36 month terms with significant early termination fees.
This means if your restaurant closes, you pivot your concept, or you simply find a better solution, you're still financially obligated to Epos Now. Some restaurant owners report owing thousands in cancellation fees.
Bill Feeds has no contract at all. Your subscription is month-to-month. Cancel any time. No exit fees. No minimum term. If you don't love it, cancel — no phone call required.
How to Switch from Epos Now to Bill Feeds
Most UK restaurants switch in the same day. Here's how it works:
- Step 1: Sign up for a free trial at billfeeds.com — no card required
- Step 2: Enter your menu (or import via CSV for larger menus)
- Step 3: Set up your staff accounts and table layout
- Step 4: Open your tablet or laptop and start taking orders
You don't need to buy any hardware. Bill Feeds runs in the browser on any iPad, Android tablet, laptop or smartphone. If you have a device, you're ready to go.
Your Epos Now contract runs separately — check your terms and consider whether you're inside a cancellation window, or whether you can let the contract expire naturally while you run Bill Feeds alongside it for comparison.
Epos Now Hardware Lock-In: The Hidden Cost
Epos Now's primary business model relies on hardware sales and rentals. Their EPOS bundle (terminal, card reader, printer) typically costs £800–£1,200 upfront, or is bundled into a monthly payment plan that keeps you locked in.
Once you've bought the hardware, you're financially anchored to the platform. This is by design — it creates switching friction even when better software exists.
Bill Feeds uses a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) model. You use the tablet or laptop you already own. There's nothing to buy, nothing to rent, nothing to return. If you want a dedicated kitchen display, a basic 8-inch Android tablet from Amazon costs under £80.
Making Tax Digital: Where Epos Now Falls Short
HMRC's Making Tax Digital (MTD) for VAT is mandatory for all UK VAT-registered restaurants. Every transaction must be digitally recorded and VAT returns must be submitted digitally.
Epos Now provides basic VAT reporting, but many UK restaurant owners report having to export data to a spreadsheet and manually reconcile figures before their accountant can use it for MTD submission.
Bill Feeds generates a fully itemised digital VAT record on every transaction automatically. The quarterly VAT report is export-ready in HMRC-compatible format. No spreadsheets. No manual reconciliation. Your accountant will notice the difference immediately.
Natasha's Law Compliance: A Legal Requirement Epos Now Makes Complicated
Natasha's Law (the UK Food Information Amendment 2021) requires restaurants to label all 14 allergens on every menu item. Non-compliance carries fines and legal liability.
Bill Feeds includes full Natasha's Law allergen labelling built-in for all 14 allergens, plus dietary flags (vegan, vegetarian, halal). Epos Now's allergen compliance is limited and often requires a third-party integration.
What UK Restaurant Owners Say About Switching
Restaurants across the UK — from Birmingham curry houses to Bristol independents, Sheffield takeaways to Glasgow restaurant groups — have switched from Epos Now to Bill Feeds and reported:
- Average savings of £1,800–£2,400/year on software and hardware costs
- Setup and live service within the same day of signing up
- Better allergen compliance and MTD VAT reporting out of the box
- No more contract anxiety or exit fee threats
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best alternative to Epos Now for UK restaurants?
Bill Feeds is the highest-rated Epos Now alternative for UK restaurants. It costs £19–£79/month with no hardware, no contract and full MTD VAT compliance. It includes QR ordering, KDS and allergen labels that Epos Now charges extra for.
Can I switch from Epos Now to Bill Feeds without losing my data?
Yes. You can re-enter your menu manually (under 30 minutes for most restaurants) or use bulk CSV import for larger menus. Your order history from Epos Now is retained in Epos Now's dashboard — you don't need to migrate historical data to start fresh with Bill Feeds.
Does Bill Feeds have a contract like Epos Now?
No. Bill Feeds is month-to-month with no exit fees. Cancel any time. No questions asked.
Does Bill Feeds work on Epos Now hardware?
Bill Feeds runs in the browser on any device — including Epos Now hardware (which typically runs Android). If you already own Epos Now hardware, you can continue using it with Bill Feeds software.