The kiosk price is only the starting point. Before you buy, add the one-time cost of getting power and network service to the location, securing the unit, making the space usable for guests, and checking that the finished setup works. Ask who will perform each job and what happens if the site needs more work than expected.
A useful comparison puts the vendor’s equipment and setup charges beside local contractor quotes. It also sets an acceptance standard: the specific results you need to see before signing off. That gives you a better basis for comparing offers than a hardware price alone.
Inventory the work at the kiosk location
Start with the actual spot on the floor plan, not a general description of the restaurant. Mark the kiosk footprint, the nearest power source and network connection, the guest approach, and the path to the counter. Walk the route with the people who will quote the work.
Power and network
Ask the kiosk vendor for the equipment’s power requirements and the location of its connections. Then ask a qualified local contractor whether the existing outlet and circuit can serve the unit. A nearby outlet may still be awkward to use if a cable must cross a walkway or run where it can be damaged.
For the network, establish whether the quoted configuration uses a wired connection, wireless connection, or both. Ask where the cable would run, who supplies it, and who configures and checks the connection. If walls, ceilings or finished floors must be opened, get the repair work priced too.
Do not assume the kiosk will keep taking orders or payments during an outage. Ask the vendor what happens when the connection fails and how staff should handle guests until service returns.
Mounting, circulation and accessibility
Find out whether the proposed unit is freestanding, counter-mounted or fixed to a wall or floor. Request its dimensions, weight, mounting requirements and any clearance needed for maintenance. A mounting quote should say whether anchors, surface preparation and removal of packaging are included.
Consider how a guest approaches the screen, reaches controls, pays and moves away after ordering. A queue must leave room for other guests and staff. Ask the vendor what accessibility features and configuration options are available, and have a qualified local professional assess the physical layout and applicable requirements. Include any resulting site changes in the quote rather than treating accessibility as a last-minute software setting.
Also look behind the kiosk. Can someone reach the connections without moving heavy equipment? Can staff clean around the base? Small layout choices can affect both the installation bill and daily use.
Separate vendor charges from local work
Request an itemized kiosk offer that identifies the hardware, delivery, assembly, software setup and any on-site installation. Ask whether the payment device, stand, mounting parts and cables are included. If an item is optional, specify whether your restaurant needs it in order to open with the workflow you expect.
Then request local quotes using the same floor plan and equipment specifications. Electrical, network, mounting and finish work may fall to different contractors. Assign each task to one party so that two quotes do not charge for the same cable run—or both leave it out.
For each line, record who supplies the materials, who performs the work, and whether the price includes cleanup and repairs. Ask whether delivery means placement inside the restaurant or only delivery to the door. If work must happen outside service hours, request that price separately.
Keep recurring costs out of the one-time installation subtotal, but record them alongside it. Software subscriptions, payment processing, support and future maintenance can affect the operating decision. For current Fleksa plan pricing, see Fleksa plans; pricing information was checked in November 2026. Confirm the applicable charges and setup in your written offer.
Also ask how the kiosk will connect to your existing order and payment workflow. If you use a restaurant POS system, identify who is responsible for configuring it and verifying that an order reaches the right destination. Do not treat a quoted device as proof that every existing component is compatible.
Build low and high installation scenarios
The following worksheet is hypothetical. It shows how an owner might compare site conditions, not what any vendor or contractor charges. The low case assumes nearby usable connections and straightforward mounting. The high case assumes longer runs, more mounting work and additional finish repairs. Both use the same quoted hardware and setup charges.
| One-time item | Low case | High case | What the amount covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kiosk hardware | $1,800 | $1,800 | Equipment in the hypothetical vendor quote |
| Delivery and setup | $400 | $400 | Placement and initial setup |
| Electrical work | $300 | $900 | Connection work at the selected location |
| Network work | $150 | $550 | Connection and cable routing |
| Mounting | $250 | $600 | Labor and mounting materials |
| Accessibility-related site changes | $200 | $500 | Quoted adjustments to the surrounding space |
| Finish repairs | $100 | $350 | Patching after installation work |
| Total | $3,200 | $5,100 | One-time items listed above |
Read the two totals as different scopes, not as a promise that the final bill will fall between them. Hardware and setup are fixed at the hypothetical quoted amounts. Site-work amounts vary by scenario; the higher figures include the stated longer runs and extra repairs. Other exceptions are not included.
Both totals exclude permits, taxes, recurring software charges, payment processing, financing, lost sales during work and later maintenance. Ask for those costs separately where relevant. Processing fees are not the all-in operating cost, and sales are not a cost. If a vendor requires a deposit, record when it is due and whether it is part of the quoted total; do not add it again as a separate expense.
In this example, the high case is $1,900 more than the low case. An owner who can accommodate only the low total should resolve the connection and mounting questions before ordering, not assume the cheaper scope will apply. If a site visit confirms the high scope and the budget cannot cover it, another location or installation approach may be worth quoting.
Use the same categories for each offer, but replace every hypothetical amount with a written quote. If an offer leaves out a necessary task, add the separate quote rather than counting that task as free. For a separate look at recovery of the investment, see the kiosk break-even guide.
Set acceptance and warranty responsibilities
Before placing the order, ask each party to identify what completion means. A useful acceptance checklist describes observable results, who demonstrates them and who fixes a failure. It should cover the physical installation as well as the order workflow.
- Site: The unit is in the agreed location, secured as specified, and cables are routed as quoted. The guest approach and staff route match the agreed layout.
- Order entry: A guest can browse the agreed menu, customize a representative item and review the order. Confirm which optional prompts, such as suggested add-ons, are intended to appear.
- Order handoff: A representative order reaches the agreed POS or kitchen destination with the item and customization intact. Agree on who checks each end.
- Payment and receipt: The quoted payment device and any desired receipt option are configured for the intended workflow. Agree on how to verify them without sending a real guest message or making a real card payment during practice.
- Fallback: Staff know what to do when the kiosk or connection is unavailable, including how to direct guests to an alternative ordering point.
Run practice checks in a simulated or designated test mode agreed with the vendor. The scenario must not trigger a real payment, guest message or courier dispatch. If the parties later conduct a live service pilot, plan that separately: define the staff oversight, the real transactions involved and how problems will be handled.
Ask for a written responsibility map. Who supports the kiosk hardware, payment device, network connection and software? If an order fails to appear where expected, who is the first contact and who coordinates with the other parties? For each warranty, note the covered equipment or work, the start date, exclusions and the process for reporting a fault.
Finally, agree on how unresolved items affect sign-off. A contractor may finish mounting while the order handoff still needs configuration. Record the open item, responsible party and correction date rather than treating one completed job as acceptance of the whole setup. For contract questions, consult a qualified adviser.
Take the worksheet to your vendor
Choose the intended location, collect the equipment specifications, and ask for itemized vendor and contractor offers against the same scope. Bring the resulting worksheet and acceptance checklist to Fleksa’s restaurant kiosk team; confirm the relevant order, payment and kitchen workflow before buying.
Frequently asked questions
What installation costs are easiest to miss?
Cable routing, mounting materials, finish repairs, after-hours labor and changes to the guest approach can be missed when an offer lists only the kiosk. Ask each contractor to state what is included and excluded.
Should a kiosk purchase quote include installation?
It should clearly say whether installation is included and define the work. If electrical, network or mounting work is excluded, obtain separate quotes and add those amounts to your comparison.
How can I check the order workflow before accepting a kiosk?
Agree on representative order and customization checks, the expected destination, and who verifies the result. Use a simulation that does not cause a real payment, guest message or courier dispatch; plan any live service pilot separately.
