Square Payment Processing
Square emerged in 2009 with a revolutionary approach to payment processing—a small, square-shaped card reader that plugged into smartphones, allowing virtually any small business to accept credit card payments without traditional merchant accounts. Founded by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey and Jim McKelvey, Square has evolved from this simple beginning into a comprehensive business management ecosystem that spans payment processing, point-of-sale systems, business banking, and e-commerce solutions.
This in-depth review examines Square as a payment processor for businesses, analyzing its offerings, pricing structure, technical capabilities, and overall suitability for different business types. Whether you’re a brick-and-mortar retailer, service provider, or online merchant, this analysis will help you determine if Square aligns with your specific business requirements.
Core Offering & Key Features
Square has expanded far beyond its original card reader to create an integrated business platform with multiple components:
Payment Processing Capabilities
Square supports payment methods across various channels:
- Credit and debit cards (all major networks)
- Digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay)
- ACH bank transfers
- Cash management
- Gift cards
- Buy Now, Pay Later options through Afterpay
- Square Pay (stored card functionality)
What distinguishes Square from many competitors is its seamless handling of both in-person and online payments within a single ecosystem, creating a unified commerce experience.
Point-of-Sale Solutions
- Square Reader: Mobile card readers for magstripe, chip, and contactless payments
- Square Terminal: All-in-one credit card terminal with built-in printer
- Square Register: Full countertop POS system with customer-facing display
- Square Stand: iPad-based POS solution
- Square POS App: Free point-of-sale software with inventory management, customer records, and reporting
These systems are designed with user experience as a priority, making them accessible even to non-technical business operators.
E-Commerce & Online Payments
For digital commerce, Square offers:
- Square Online: Website builder and e-commerce platform
- Online Checkout: Payment links and buy buttons
- Square Invoices: Professional digital invoicing
- Virtual Terminal: Browser-based card processing
- Developer APIs: Custom integration options
Business Management Tools
Beyond payment processing, Square provides:
- Square Dashboard: Centralized business management interface
- Inventory Management: Stock tracking across locations
- Customer Directory: CRM-like customer database
- Employee Management: Time tracking, permissions, and payroll integration
- Sales Reporting: Real-time and historical analytics
- Marketing Tools: Email campaigns and loyalty programs
Financial Services
- Square Banking: Business checking and savings accounts
- Square Loans: Business financing based on processing history
- Instant Transfers: Immediate access to processed funds
- Square Debit Card: Business card linked to Square balance
This comprehensive ecosystem allows businesses to manage multiple aspects of their operations through a single platform, potentially reducing the need for separate systems and integrations.
Fee Structure & Pricing
Standard Transaction Fees
- In-person transactions: 2.6% + $0.10 per tap, dip, or swipe
- Online transactions: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
- Manual/keyed transactions: 3.5% + $0.15 per transaction
- Invoices: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction (paid online)
- Virtual Terminal: 3.5% + $0.15 per transaction
- Card on File: 3.5% + $0.15 per transaction
Specialized Industry Pricing
- Square for Retail: Starting at $60 per month plus 2.5% + $0.10 per in-person transaction
- Square for Restaurants: Starting at $60 per month plus 2.6% + $0.10 per in-person transaction
- Square Appointments: Starting at $29 per month plus standard processing rates
Hardware Costs
- Instant Transfers: 1.5% of transfer amount
- Square Marketing: Starting at $15 per month
- Team Management Pro: $35 per month per location
- Square Loyalty: Starting at $45 per month per location
Additional Service Fees
- Instant Transfers: 1.5% of transfer amount
- Square Marketing: Starting at $15 per month
- Team Management Pro: $35 per month per location
- Square Loyalty: Starting at $45 per month per location
Pricing Analysis
Square’s pricing structure generally benefits:
- Small to medium-sized businesses valuing simplicity over marginally lower rates
- Businesses processing moderate transaction volumes
- Merchants needing an integrated system without separate software fees
- Businesses with average ticket sizes where the fixed fee component isn’t prohibitive
The no-monthly-fee approach for basic services makes Square accessible to seasonal businesses or those with fluctuating sales volumes. However, businesses with very high transaction volumes might find better rates through traditional merchant account providers willing to offer custom pricing.
Technical Implementation & Integration
Non-Technical Implementation Options
For businesses without technical resources:
Square POS App: Download and setup within minutes
Square Online: Drag-and-drop website builder
Payment Links: Shareable URLs for specific items or amounts
Square Invoices: Template-based invoice creation and sending
Virtual Terminal: Browser-based interface for manual transactions
These options allow businesses to begin accepting payments with minimal setup time and no developer resources.
Advanced Integration Options
For businesses without technical resources:
- Square POS App: Download and setup within minutes
- Square Online: Drag-and-drop website builder
- Payment Links: Shareable URLs for specific items or amounts
- Square Invoices: Template-based invoice creation and sending
- Virtual Terminal: Browser-based interface for manual transactions
These options allow businesses to begin accepting payments with minimal setup time and no developer resources.
Third-Party Integrations
Square connects with numerous business applications:
- Accounting software (QuickBooks, Xero)
- E-commerce platforms (WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Magento)
- Appointment scheduling software
- Inventory management systems
- Restaurant management platforms
- Hotel management systems
- Email marketing services
The Square App Marketplace features hundreds of pre-built integrations, reducing the need for custom development in many cases.
Developer Resources
- Comprehensive API documentation
- Code samples and SDKs
- Developer dashboard for API keys and testing
- Sandbox testing environment
- Developer community forum
While not as developer-centric as Stripe, Square’s technical resources are substantial and well-organized, making custom integration projects accessible to development teams with moderate experience.
User Experience & Dashboard
Business Dashboard
Square’s web-based dashboard offers:
- Central location for viewing all business activity
- Real-time sales monitoring
- Inventory management across locations
- Customer records and engagement tools
- Employee management
- Detailed analytics and reporting
- Account settings and hardware management
Advanced Integration Options
- Square POS App: Download and setup within minutes
- Square Online: Drag-and-drop website builder
- Payment Links: Shareable URLs for specific items or amounts
- Square Invoices: Template-based invoice creation and sending
- Virtual Terminal: Browser-based interface for manual transactions
These options allow businesses to begin accepting payments with minimal setup time and no developer resources.
Mobile Management
Through the Square Point of Sale and Dashboard apps, businesses can:
- Process payments on the go
- Track sales in real-time
- Manage inventory
- View customer information
- Issue refunds
- Send receipts
- Monitor multiple locations
Reporting & Analytics
- Sales summaries by item, category, or time period
- Employee sales performance
- Busiest times and days
- Year-over-year comparisons
- Customer purchase history
- Inventory reports
- Export capabilities for accounting systems
The intuitive design of these interfaces is frequently cited as a strength in user reviews, particularly for businesses without dedicated technical staff or extensive training resources.
Security & Compliance
Square maintains robust security measures to protect both businesses and their customers:
Payment Security
- PCI DSS Level 1 compliance (the highest level)
- End-to-end encryption for all transactions
- Tokenization of sensitive payment data
- Fraud detection systems
Data Protection
- Customer data is stored securely in Square’s cloud-based system
- Automatic security updates across all devices
- User permission controls allow you to manage employee access levels
- Two-factor authentication options for account security
Compliance Features
- Automated tax calculation helps businesses stay compliant with local tax laws
- Digital receipts for record-keeping and customer convenience
- Detailed reporting for financial reconciliation and audit purposes
- Compliance with global privacy regulations like GDPR and CCPA
Customer Support
Square provides several channels for customer assistance:
Support Options
- Email support available 24/7
- Phone support available during business hours
- Comprehensive online help center with tutorials and FAQs
- Active community forum for peer assistance
What We Think
Square offers a comprehensive merchant services solution that combines ease of use with powerful features. Its transparent pricing, robust security measures, and extensive integration capabilities make it suitable for businesses of all sizes. While some specialized industries might find the lack of customization limiting, the vast majority of small to medium-sized businesses will find Square’s offering more than adequate for their needs.
The combination of payment processing, point-of-sale software, and business management tools in one ecosystem creates a compelling value proposition, especially for businesses looking to streamline their operations and provide a seamless customer experience.