Company Profile
Square is headquartered in San Francisco, California, and was founded by Twitter CEO and co-founder Jack Dorsey and Jim McKelvey back in 2009. The company offers a lot of financial management tools but the focus of this review will be the Square POS system which is an industry-leading one. It comes with a simple interface which is meant as a way for businesses to evolve and increase their efficiency levels. This POS system is easy to use and can be plugged into numerous mobile devices without you having to purchase any extra hardware. It also comes with a plethora of features and can be synchronized with your Register at all times.
Why Choose Square
You should pick the Square POS system if you are running a company that is fast-paced and needs a streamlined process that will make work easier. Pubs, bars, and restaurants are some of the best businesses for this type of system because, most of the time, these people don’t have the time and energy to waste time figuring out a complicated POS system. The Square one is intuitive, easy to maneuver and understand, and increases efficiency thanks to its multitude of integrations and features.
Independent contractors who do not have offices are among Square’s best clients too. The complete register is also portable and therefore perfect for these kinds of small businesses. As for the back office part, the system offers a wide range of features that will help all businesses of all kinds and sizes develop and stay on top of every small detail without the need for outside assistance.
What Square Offers - Features and Functionality
Accepting and processing payments is now easier than ever with the portable Square POS system. Here are some of its most important features and uses that you should consider when choosing it:
Features and uses
- Register: in case you are in need of a payments terminal and an integrated POS system, the Register is what you’re looking for. It also comes with a customer display;
- POS stand: you can also get the Square POS stand so it is easier for you to turn your device (preferably an iPad) into a real point of sale even when you are on the move;
- Terminal: this is a compact and very useful device that allows your business to not only accept payments but also print receipts within seconds. Other accessories like barcode readers and cash drawers are also available at Square;
- Card on file feature: this is a very useful feature that will come in handy for repeat clients. This stores the client’s card info securely so they won’t have to keep swiping their card each time they visit you. This feature is also compliant with the PCI regulations. This is compatible with the company’s invoices as well as its APIs but keep in mind that it will cost you extra money;
- Offline Activity: The Square POS system also works offline without any problems at all. This feature is extremely useful for small businesses that need to travel from place to place and might not enjoy a good internet connection;
- Virtual terminal: like the physical one, the virtual terminal from Square allows people to make payments through a web browser by using any device that is connected to the internet. This feature can also store card data for repeat customers and is completely free of charge;
- Invoicing: you can use Square’s built-in tools for invoicing but many third-party integrations do the same thing. The invoicing tools of the company can be used for both installment payments, recurring and one-off invoices;
- QR code printing: an extremely interesting feature from Square is the one allowing vendors to print their QR codes wherever they want like menus or tables. This is very useful for festival vendors for example and it helps them grow, especially after the pandemic.
Requirements
There aren’t many requirements when it comes to using the Square POS system. You can either purchase dedicated hardware (you can do it directly from the official website) or you can simply use a mobile device with an internet connection. The system is portable which means that you can simply connect it to your device (regardless if it’s an iOS or Android-based one) and start processing payments.
Plans & Pricing
Although you will not have to pay any monthly fees with Square, you will have to pay $29 for the card reader you will receive. Also, the company will receive 2.6% for any swipe transaction and 2.6% plus 10 cents for any manual transaction. While this may seem cheap at first, in time, the costs will end up increasing. This is the reason why Square wants to help businesses that have revenues of over $250,000 per year with custom pricing packages. You also need to know that the jack card reader is included in the system but a contactless card reader will end up costing you an additional $49. A stand for the contactless card reader also costs $169. Last but not least, the Square terminal can be purchased for $299 or rented for $27 per month for a year. The Square register is also costly, at $799 but this can also be rented for $39 per month for two years.
Ease of Use
The Square POS system is extremely convenient and easy to use simply because you are not required to buy any device for it. Because it can be connected to a phone or tablet, it can be used from wherever you are, even on the move or at events like festivals. Also, apart from the card reader, you are not obligated to purchase any extra hardware. Another good thing about it is that the dashboard and the register are always synchronized and any changes made to one will be immediately applied to the other. In case you want to run a complete register or print receipts, you will need to have a tablet.
It’s also worth noting that both Android and Apple Pay are accepted. As for the setup process, this is also incredibly easy to do straight from the official Square website. You only need to enter your details, add some business info, bank account, routing number, and that is all. Your free card reader will arrive via mail along with any additional hardware that you might want to buy.
Customer Support
In case you need support from Square, the first thing that you should do is access the Support Center which includes video tutorials, guides, and articles that can solve your issue. There is also a Seller Community that functions like a forum where you can connect and discuss with other business owners and give or receive advice. Lastly, you can call (855) 700-6000 Monday to Friday from 6 AM to 6 PM PST and talk to a representative about your problem. You can also keep in touch with Square by following its Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter accounts.
Contract Terms
Square does have a contract and a few terms that you need to conform to in order to use its services and products. You are not allowed to customize its hardware and software in any way or let an outside person use them. Besides that, you also need to accept the fact that Square will use your data for marketing purposes and to send you promotional materials. Square will also investigate client businesses that seem like they are doing fraud or other illegal activities. The company has the right to freeze its cash flow and/or terminate the contract.
Conclusion
The Square POS system is a great investment for a business that wants to grow and become more efficient when it comes to its activity. Its hardware and software are very easy to use, intuitive, and work extremely well even on the move. Square provides a plethora of functionalities and features that might take some getting used to but are definitely useful, especially for a larger company. Plus, its integrations are also noteworthy and make this company and its payment management tools a very good choice for most types of businesses and vendors.
Physical Address
1455 Market Street
Suite 600
San Francisco, CA 94103
United States