On this opportunity, Ed shares his experience of starting a new business in a new country, moving from Canada to Mexico, where, with an investment of time, heart, and energy, the business has brought its rewards.

Could we start with a brief introduction to your business?

We are in San Miguel, Mexico. We opened our business on October 31st, 2024. We struggled for a couple of months with the opening and were extremely busy until we found Loyverse. It has been an absolute game-changer for us. It has helped streamline operations, control costs, and improve the business flow.

When we first opened in Cozumel, there were roughly 800 different places to eat. We opened a small pizzeria, hoping to sell 15 or 20 pizzas daily. By mid-December, we were selling between 65 and 80 pizzas daily. The software has definitely helped us with inventory control, customer invoicing, costing, and more. It has been a fabulous tool for us.

Thank you for the feedback. Could you mention some of the challenges you were facing before using Loyverse?

Initially, with the guidance of our accountant, we were using handwritten paper tickets and order forms. It was labor-intensive, time-consuming, and slow, with no way to keep up. With Loyverse, we now have a point-of-sale tablet where orders are entered, production tickets are printed, bills are issued for customers, and payments are processed with the integrated terminal. For a new and growing business, having the right tools early on was fundamental to staying profitable and meeting customer demands.

How did you first hear about Loyverse?

It was recommended by a teacher from the culinary institute where I received my certification. We found the point-of-sale system on Mercado Libre at a very fair price, and the tablet came loaded with the software. We have loved it from day one.

We are now looking into expanding the system’s capabilities by adding customer loyalty and reward programs, as well as improving contact management. Cozumel is a tourist island, and since we are currently in the slower season, we have time to explore new features to meet our needs. We expect that our business will have grown by 150% by October this year compared to last year.

Do you think Loyverse can help you reach those goals?

Yes. Our focus is to expand the system and integrate everything possible within the business. It gives us a clear snapshot of profit and loss, daily sales, sales by category, and comparisons between dine-in, takeout, and delivery. We will also try expanding to Loyverse add-ons to have more information at our fingertips. These tools are fabulous.

Did you encounter any challenges, or did you find it easy to learn how to use all the features when you started?

No,  it was very user-friendly from day one. We can import photos of every item, create and manage categories, and make modifications easily.

Which features do you use most frequently, and which features are most useful?

Every day, we use the category features to track sales by category and by item, which helps with inventory control. We also check sales volume and profit and loss statements. As a growing business, we use these reports to understand sales cycles and prepare accordingly.

What changes have you noticed in your business since implementing Loyverse?

Efficiency and user-friendliness. We can quickly enter an order, print a ticket for preparation, and issue a bill, completing the sales cycle with just a few clicks. This has freed up many labor hours daily, improved the customer experience, reduced errors, and made transactions faster.

Did your customers notice the difference?

Absolutely. We operated for about six weeks without the system, and on the very first day we implemented it, customers commented on the improved speed, clarity, and efficiency. Transactions that took several minutes were now completed in seconds.

Have you seen specific improvements in areas like inventory control or sales decisions?

100%. We’ve been able to track sales by time of day, adjust our opening hours, and modify our menu based on sales history. The information at our fingertips is wonderful, and with proper analysis, the system becomes a silent partner in the business. Loyverse made a huge difference for us. My wife and I opened this pizzeria without prior restaurant experience. It started as a retirement project after moving from Canada to Mexico. The reception has been overwhelming, and with Loyverse we’ve been able to manage sales cycles, money, inventory, and operating hours.

What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs not yet using a POS system?

I think anyone would be foolish not to invest in this silent partner. It can help expand a business at a very affordable entry price. 

And about entrepreneurship in general?

If you want to be an entrepreneur, you have to show up every day. This is an investment of time and heart. If we put in our energy and love, the business rewards us. Like most things in life, you get out what you put in. We give 100% effort daily, and I believe that’s been key to our success.