Square’s credit card processing provides you a number of transaction choices together with a full suite of business management tools. The real trick is knowing how to use Square for your particular small business needs. We’ll show you how to use Square for obligations and how to use it to expand your sales reach and manage your whole business.
To start processing credit cards with Square, then first you must open a free Square accounts, which you can set up in moments. Once that is finished, you can immediately accept what Square calls keyed-in payments using your smartphone, tablet, personal computer, or e-commerce site. Square also sends you a free mobile card reader once you register. As soon as you get your reader, you can physically swipe cards using your smartphone or tabletcomputer, too.
Processing payments just scratches the surface of all that you can perform with Square. You get a whole suite of tools for stock and revenue tracking, customer and employee management, invoicing, an online shop, and much more in your free account. But how you use Square’s many attributes really depends on how you market and accept payments.
Here’s a peek at the six ways that most Square users accept and process payments. We’ll explore how each works for different business scenarios under.
Square Credit Card Processing — Your 6 Options
| Payment system: | How it works: |
|---|---|
| Mobile payments using a card reader | Use Square’s cell card reader to swipe credit cards anywhere using your smartphone or tablet |
| Mobile payments without a card reader* | Square’s cellular point-of sale (POS) program lets you key in credit card numbers into your smartphone or tablet |
| Retail in-store payments | Square’s retail POS checkout takes all types of obligations, prints receipts, and connects to a money drawer or barcode scanners |
| Online store* | Accepts online payments for sales made via Square’s free online shop or another ecommerce platform |
| Online virtual terminal* | Square’s online dashboard lets you use your pc to key in credit card numbers for phoned-in orders |
| Invoices & recurring obligations * | Square’s online dashboard and POS app let you create and send invoices via email and accept online or automated payments |
* These approaches are available immediately after you sign up using Square
Now we will take a closer look at how to use Square to take these a variety of credit card payments, and manage sales, customers, and inventory for all sorts of companies.
How to Use Square to Accept Mobile Payments
Square mobile payments operate in both offline and online mode
Square started out as a mobile credit card chip and still leads the bunch for accepting cellular credit card payments at all and however you do business. To Begin using Square for mobile sales, you need to:
- Set up a free Square accounts — Sign-up requires just a few minutes and it’s totally free
- Download Square’s mobile POS program — You Can Begin accepting keyed-in credit cards using the Square POS program on a smartphone or tablet Once you open your Square accounts
- Add the Square Card Reader — Square sends you a free Magstripe card reader to physically swipe cards with your mobile device
Whether you physically swipe a credit card with the Square reader or manually key in the credit card amount, the basic steps are the same:
- Join the Square card reader into your phone or tablet
- Open the Square POS app on your telephone or tablet
- Insert things (from your Square POS inventory list) into the purchase, or set a custom charge amount
- Automatically apply any taxes or reductions
- Swipe (or manually key in) the client’s charge card
- Have the customer sign the screen with their finger (this is optional, but a good idea)
- Hit Done to complete the sale
- Input the customer’s email or phone number to deliver a receipt (also optional)
How to Utilize Square Mobile Payments to Run Your Small Business
Square’s cellular POS program is a really powerful sales and stock management tool that seamlessly transforms to a online Square dashboard. With it, you are able to oversee many aspects of your business using only your smartphone or tablet computer, for example:
- Handle inventory — You may add things to your Square inventory list, monitor your quantities in stock, and also record important details like wholesale expenses. Whenever you make a sale, Square mechanically reduces item inventory levels so that your inventory numbers are always accurate.
- Track sales — Every cell sale is monitored in detail and you can access sales reports to help you track growth and make crucial business decisions. Plus, if you sell through other procedures, such as online or offline, all your earnings tie together seamlessly in one system.
- Manage customers — Square’s mobile program enables you to enter and track your customer data, such as email addresses and purchase history, so that you may provide better service or increase your company via email marketing.
What It Costs to Use Square Mobile Payments
Square’s mobile credit card processing prices are easy to understand and predict. You receive a totally free Magstripe card reader with your account and your only ongoing costs are your charge card processing charges. It is possible to purchase a more advanced card reader to accept chip cards and eWallet payments if you desire.
Here’s a full look at Square’s cell credit card processing charges:
Square’s Mobile Credit Card Processing Charges & Card Reader Costs
| Service | Square’s Fee | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup & yearly charges | $0 | |
| Cancellation fee | $0 | |
| Square POS app | Free | |
| Card Clients | Cost | Use for: |
| Magstripe reader |
Free | Use to swipe the magnetic strip of credit cards
Plugs to your telephone or pill |
| Processor & Tap reader |
$49 | Chip cards & eWallet payments, Apple Pay & Android Pay
Connects via Bluetooth to your telephone or tablet |
| Processing Charges | Rate | Everything You Pay to a $100 Sale |
| Swipe, Chip & Harness charges | 2.75% | $2.75 |
| Keyed-in charge: | 3.5% + 15cents per transaction | $3.65 |
Now let’s look at how to use Square to take payments and handle sales in a retail store setting.
How to Use Square to Accept In-Store Upgrades
Build the Specific sign up you want with integrated peripherals
Square’s strong, totally free POS software could be paired with a voucher register for in-store sales. While you can use the mobile readers coated above for in-store earnings, many retail stores and eateries prefer having a checkout register with a cash drawer and receipt printer, like the setup over. For this, you Want to:
- Set up a free Square account — Subscribe takes Just a Couple of minutes and it’s completely free
- Select a voucher register — Alternatives include a Square Stand using iPad and card reader OR the new all-in-one Square Register
- Insert peripherals — Money drawers, receipt printers, barcode scanners, and mobile readers can be added as needed
- Set up your free Square POS Program — Add inventory items, tax rates, and other key information Required to create sales
Since Square’s retail POS enables you to take payments many ways, as Soon as You have the above set up, you can finish in-store earnings any way you wish:
- Standard checkout earnings — Utilize the Square POS enroll to process cards and print receipts
- Phoned-in orders — Key in payments to your POS screen for prepaid deliveries or pick-up orders
- Combine with cellular sales — Complete sales in your shop floor or at dining tables with a mobile card reader using a smartphone or tablet
But you take payments for your in-store earnings, the basic steps are the same:
- Add things (from the Square POS inventory) into the purchase, or set a custom fee amount
- Automatically apply any taxes or discounts
- Swipe or key in the customer’s credit card (or select the Money or check payment choice )
- Have the customer sign the screen (for in-person sales)
- Strike Done to complete the sale
- Printing the reception or enter the client’s email or phone number to send an e-receipt
Obviously, the above procedure could be tailored to match your distinctive company. You are able to add a barcode scanner for your Square POS for quicker checkout, enable the customer to apply a suggestion if you operate a dining institution, and much more. Square supports many promoting methods on your free Square POS program. See how to set them all up in Square’s in-store POS tutorial.
How to Utilize Square POS to Run Your In-Store Business
The best thing about using Square to run your store is that everything is connected and completely integrated from day one. You do not ever need to fight to combine different store management applications or register hardware goods, because Square ties everything you want together within a single tidy system and service. You get:
- Reputable checkout card and hardware readers
- Payment processing and refunds
- Customer tracking and direction
- Sales tracking
- Inventory management
- Employee time tracking
- Business reporting
- Appointments booking
- Email advertising *
- Customer loyalty program*
- Payroll services*
* Square’s innovative management features can be inserted for low monthly charges
What It Costs to Use Square POS For The In-Store Business
Your Square account and fundamental POS applications are free, however, there are some hardware prices if you would like to prepare a physical register. Following is a look at what it costs to set up a Square checkout register and process credit cards for various types of in-store earnings.
Square POS In-Store Payment Processing Charges & Hardware Prices
| Service | Square’s Fee | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup & monthly charges | $0 | |
| Cancellation fee | $0 | |
| Square POS program | Free; optional innovative features have reduced monthly charges | |
| Register Options | Cost | Use for: |
| Square Stand for iPad |
Stand if you already have an iPad: $169 Insert an iPad: |
Physical POS register stand which works with an iPad to accept payments, run printers, scanners, and cash drawers, and supply a shop management hub |
| Square Register |
$999 one-time purchase or $49/month for 24 weeks |
Totally integrated POS register hardware which accepts payments, runs scanners, printers, and cash drawers, and provides a shop management hub. You also get lower credit card processing charges utilizing the Square Register. |
| Form of Charge | Square’s Fee | What You Purchase a $100 Sale |
| Swiped card using a cellular card reader or iPad Stand | 2.75percent | $2.75 |
| Swiped card with the newest Square Register | 2.5% + 10cents per trade | $2.60 |
| Keyed-in sale for telephone orders | 3.5% + 15cents per trade | $3.65 |
Next, we’ll explore how to use Square to take e-commerce obligations and manage online sales.
How to Use Square to Sell Online
Square’s free online shop joins seamlessly with your Square merchandise listing and sales data
Square makes it very easy to expand your current business into online earnings or launch an entirely new business online. You have two choices for using Square for online sales:
- Use Square’s free online shop attribute — Every free Square account contains a free online store that integrates directly with your current Square inventory list. This is the quickest, simplest, and most affordable method for Square consumers to begin selling online.
- Use Square with high e-commerce platforms — Top e-commerce platforms, such as BigCommerce and Ecwid, integrate with Square in case you want more online selling features compared to free Square online store offers.
Here’s a closer look at how to use Square to your online sales:
How to Use Square’s Free Online Store
If you already use Square and have stock items installed, you can quickly launch a complimentary Square online store to sell some or all of your present products online. Learn how in our Square online shop setup manual.
If you’re new to Square, here are the three things you’ll Have to Do to start a Complimentary Square online shop:
- Open a free Square accounts
- Enter products in your Square stock, with good product photos and product descriptions
- Choose a domain name for your website (you’ll create this during your Square online store installation )
How to Use Square along with Other E-commerce Platforms
You can use Square as your online payment processor for additional e-commerce platforms like Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, or even Ecwid. If online sales are your focus, these programs offer a more powerful collection of online sales features compared to free Square online store. These platforms charge monthly charges, but Square charges you nothing more to go this route (you just pay credit card processing charges ).
A few platforms, like BigCommerce and Ecwid, fully integrate their stock, sales, and customer monitoring information with Square. This may be a major plus if you market online, in-store, and through mobile. This integration allows you conveniently manage all of your revenue functions inside Square. To learn more about this alternative, check out the BigCommerce and Square integration as well as also the Ecwid and Square integration.
To utilize Square with these e-commerce platforms, you need to:
- Open your free Square accounts
- Choose your e-commerce platform
- Connect it to Square with the platform’s built-in integration app
- Build your online shop
How to Use Square to Handle Your Online Business
If you utilize Square’s free online shop feature or an incorporated e-commerce shop, you’ll be able to handle online orders right from your Square dashboard or POS display. Square provides several valuable tools that internet sellers find particularly useful, such as:
- Automated, secure online payment processing
- Customer monitoring and management
- Inventory management for both online and in-store sales
- Print shipping labels and track orders
- Virtual terminal screen in the Square dashboard for processing and entering customer phone-in orders
- Revenue monitoring and company reports
What It Costs to Use Square to Sell Online
Square’s online shop feature is free (you only pay credit card processing charges). In addition, it integrates with other e-commerce platforms for free; again, you pay just the credit card processing fees. Square’s online processing charges are easy and straightforward.
Square Online Store Processing Fees
| Service | Square’s Fee | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup & yearly charges | $0 | |
| Cancellation fee | $0 | |
| Square online store | Free | |
| Sort of Charge | Square’s Fee | What You Pay for a $100 Sale |
| Online order | 3.5% + 15cents per trade | $3.65 |
| Keyed-in purchase for telephone orders | 3.5% + 15cents per trade | $3.65 |
Next, we’ll take a look at how to use Square to handle payments and invoices for service businesses.
How to Use Square to Handle Invoices & Recurring Payments
Square lets you produce statements and email them to your clients from your Square dashboard and POS app. Once received, your customers can conveniently pay invoices with a credit card by clicking on the Pay button on their invoice. They can even opt to conserve their payment information from Square’s secure payment vault Square — Card On File to use for future obligations or as a recurring payment.
You can personalize your Square invoices with your logo
To use Square to get invoicing, you Want to:
- Set up a free Square account — Sign up takes just a few minutes and it’s totally free
- Generate and send invoices — Produce invoices in your Square POS or using your online Square dashboard, then email to clients or print as necessary; you are able to enter stock items on invoices or create custom fees
- Track payment status — Online invoice payments listing automatically as customers pay; you can also enter check or cash payments, or process phone-in charge card payments within your Square dashboard or program
Recurring payments are a convenient feature that Square provides. They’re perfect for automating monthly service fees, state for lawn care or housekeeping services, or yearly tuition or dues. Customers enjoy the convenience of automated payments and you enjoy a steady flow of predictable, high-income earnings every month.
You use Square’s bill feature to set up and handle recurring payments. Here is a step-by-step guide that details how to use Square for recurring obligations.
How to Utilize Square Invoice Payments to Deal with Your Enterprise
Square provides you a powerful set of invoicing tools that will help you monitor payments and remain on top of late accounts. On top of that, if you combine bill sales with different kinds of selling, for example internet, in-store, and cellular sales, what’s recorded in your Square dashboard to get an accurate view of your whole business enterprise.
Square’s bill display lets you easily track payment status
If you use invoices, you’ll find that Square makes it easy to:
- Produce and send single or batch invoices
- Track sales and payments by client
- Track aging and late-pay account
- Assign inventory to sales tickets
- Charge for components, things, and providers on a single invoice
- accept bill payments through credit card, check, and cash
- Set up secure and convenient recurring billing
- Bring up-to-date earnings reports
- Marketplace or send service updates to customers
What It Costs to Use Square Invoices & Recurring Payments
Square’s invoicing and recurring payments feature is free. You aren’t charged for generating or emailing any invoices or setting up recurring payments. Plus, you only pay credit card processing charges for the invoices which are paid by credit card. Cash and check payments cost nothing.
Square Invoice Payment Credit Card Processing Fees
| Service | Square’s Fee | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup & monthly fees | $0 | |
| Cancellation fee | $0 | |
| Square invoicing attribute | Free | |
| Sort of Charge | Square’s Fee | Everything You Pay for a $100 Sale |
| Online invoice payment | 2.9% + 30cents per transaction | $3.20 |
| Recurring payment | 3.5% + 15cents per trade | $3.65 |
The Bottom Line
When someone asks how to utilize Square, my initial answer is: What would you want to do? Certainly, Square gives you almost unlimited selling choices from the moment that you open your free Square account. Here are Only a few of the many sales possibilities:
- Should you market in-store, you can easily expand into online revenue
- Use cellular card subscribers to choose your retail store on the road to fairs and shows
- Use mobile app payments to cut down on retail store checkout lines
- Let customers pay for meals right at the table with waitstaff using the mobile POS app
- Utilize invoicing or recurring payments to add courses or specialty services to your merchandise lineup
- Online sellers can utilize a mobile card reader to accept charge cards on site for trade shows and sales events
Best of all, when you understand how to use Square to manage all types of earnings, you are not held back by troublesome integrations, equipment add-ons, or software learning curves. Everything is compact into one tidy package.
Visit Square
How can you use Square for your business? Please share your expertise and insights from the comments below.
