Look at Vigilant's Linux RealTime Multi-site. It provides complete control from a central server with all data always current, but if a connection goes down (even in the middle of a sale), the store is still in complete operation. Data is automatically synchronized when the connection has been back up for a few minutes.

Each store needs a Linux server, but workstations can be Windows, OS/2 or Linux. The system is very mature and has a great degree of flexibility. Customization is available. [link|http://www.aaxnet.com/product/vigil00.html|Start here].

Real time vs. nightly: the reason Vigilant went Linux RealTime is that small businesses don't have the discipline for nightly polling. When something goes wrong, they don't understand what to do and just steam on ahead with data files all messed up.

Vigilant POS, Order entry and eCommerce front ends can be combined for maximum flexibility.

Caution, some "realtime" systems break down if the connection is lost. You don't want your stores dead if that happens.

As to rates: they vary wildly. On-site rates run from $75/hr to $200/hr. I do on-site work at $90/hr to $120/hr + travel, depending on the mix of routine desktop and server work. Some consultants are considerably higher. I try to maximize the amount of work that's done in-house, and give a reduced rate for that.

For something like a store installation, I bid fixed price for the core work and hourly for the less predictable stuff.

Roll your own hardware, but make sure it's top quality. The reason to roll your own is you can keep a rotable spares pool and have systems back up within hours. You are free to simply gut the machine and replace everything if you can't identify the problem cause immediately. Brand Name can endless hours on the phone and weeks to get fixed (proprietary parts) unless you have an expensive service contract - and even then . . .

DAT tape is a good backup. Where money is very tight we use reconditioned drives. Some back up to CD-RW, but this, of course, is only for the working data, it can't back up whole servers like tape can. We work with some software VARs who's software reminds the user to back up when you exit (like QuickBooks does). These need to back up to disk type media (Zip or CD-RW).

For backup, we use tar (with a verify) or bru for Linux, NovaBack for Windows. NovaBack is simple enough the client can understand it and can be walked through a file restore on the phone.

UPC scanning is easy, since you use a wedge device. The software doesn't have to support bar code, it thinks the input is from the keyboard.