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If you’re opening or running a resale store, choosing the right software can make or break your operations. One of the most common questions consignment store owners ask is: “Do I need consignment-specific software?”
At first glance, Lightspeed looks like a strong option. It’s a well-known POS system used by many retail & restaurant businesses. But when you compare Lightspeed to consignment software, the differences quickly become clear — especially once consignors, payouts, and resale workflows enter the picture.
Let’s break down how Lightspeed works, where it falls short for consignment stores, and why many resale businesses ultimately choose software built specifically for consignment.
What Is Lightspeed?
Lightspeed is a general retail POS system designed for traditional retail stores. It offers tools for:
- In-store point of sale
- Basic inventory tracking
- Employee management
- E-commerce integrations
- Reporting for standard retail metrics
For boutiques and retailers that own their inventory outright, Lightspeed can be a solid solution. However, consignment and resale stores operate very differently — and that’s where challenges arise.
What Is Consignment Software?
Consignment software is built specifically for resale, consignment, and secondhand businesses. Unlike general retail POS systems, it’s designed to handle:
- Inventory owned by multiple consignors
- Automated consignor payouts
- Commission splits and tiered percentages
- Item lifecycle tracking (intake → sale → payout)
- Consignor portals and reporting
- Multi-channel resale workflows
Instead of forcing consignment into a retail box, consignment software supports the way resale businesses actually operate.
Lightspeed vs Consignment Software: Key Differences
1. Inventory Ownership & Tracking
Lightspeed
- Assumes the store owns all inventory
- No native way to assign items to individual consignors
- Requires manual workarounds for tracking ownership
Consignment Software
- Every item is tied to a specific consignor
- Tracks intake date, expiration, discounts, and sale status
- Designed for high-SKU, fast-turn resale inventory
2. Consignor Management
Lightspeed
- No built-in consignor profiles
- Cannot automatically calculate or track consignor earnings
- Requires spreadsheets or third-party tools
Consignment Software
- Dedicated consignor records
- Automated earnings calculations
- Clear history of items, sales, and payouts
- Optional consignor access via online portals
3. Payouts & Commissions
Lightspeed
- No native payout functionality
- Manual calculations for splits and commissions
- Increased risk of errors and time-consuming admin work
Consignment Software
- Automatically calculates payouts by percentage or tier
- Supports different commission structures
- Simplifies accounting and end-of-month reconciliation
4. Online Selling & Omnichannel
Lightspeed
- Strong e-commerce integrations for traditional retail
- Not optimized for consignment-based online workflows
Consignment Software
- Built for resale inventory that changes frequently
- Syncs in-store and online inventory
- Integrates seamlessly with Shopify for e-commerce sales, offers a LoyalShops integration for hosting live social selling events, and connects with QuickBooks for streamlined accounting.
Many consignment platforms — including SimpleConsign, the leading consignment software — are designed to help stores sell both in-store and online without duplicating work.
5. Reporting That Actually Matters
Lightspeed
- Retail-focused reports (COGS, margins, etc.)
- Limited insight into consignor performance
Consignment Software
- Reports by consignor, category, payout period, and item lifecycle
- Visibility into what’s selling, who’s consigning, and where profit comes from
- Data tailored to resale decision-making
Can You Use Lightspeed for a Consignment Store?
Technically? Yes.
Practically? Most store owners don’t recommend it.
Many resale businesses start with Lightspeed and later switch once they realize how much manual work is involved. Common frustrations include:
- Too much time spent on spreadsheets
- Difficulty scaling consignor volume
- Errors in payouts
- Lack of transparency for consignors
- Systems that weren’t built for resale from day one
Why Consignment Stores Choose SimpleConsign
When comparing Lightspeed vs consignment software, the biggest takeaway is this:
Consignment stores need consignment-specific tools.
SimpleConsign is the leading consignment and resale software, built exclusively for secondhand businesses. It supports:
- End-to-end consignment workflows
- Automated payouts and commission tracking
- Robust consignor management
- Online and in-store selling
- Reporting designed for resale stores — not traditional retail
Instead of adapting your business to your software, SimpleConsign was built for and continues to adapt to how consignment stores operate.
Lightspeed vs Consignment Software: Final Verdict
If you run a traditional retail store, Lightspeed may be a good fit.
But if you run — or plan to run — a consignment, resale, or secondhand store, consignment-specific software will save you time, reduce errors, and scale with your business.
Lightspeed vs consignment software isn’t really a fair fight — because they’re built for two completely different business models.
Thinking About Making the Switch?
If you’re currently using Lightspeed or exploring software options, it’s worth seeing how a purpose-built consignment platform compares in real life.
👉 Schedule a demo with SimpleConsign to see why so many resale stores choose software designed specifically for their industry.
