Square
Square is an all-in-one payment and business management platform built for small businesses. From in-person card readers to online stores, appointments, payroll, and loyalty programs, Square handles the operational side so you can focus on customers.
Getting Started in 5 Steps
Create your Square account
Sign up at squareup.com with your business details. The free plan includes a point-of-sale app, online store, and invoicing: no monthly fee, just per-transaction pricing.
Order or set up your hardware
Use the free Square Point of Sale app on any phone or tablet, or order a Square Reader for contactless and chip payments. For a full counter setup, consider Square Register or Terminal.
Build your item library
Add every product or service you sell with photos, descriptions, and prices. Organize items into categories so checkout is fast and your reports are meaningful.
Set up your online store
Square Online creates a free e-commerce website synced with your item library. Customers can order for pickup, delivery, or shipping: inventory updates automatically.
Explore Square's built-in tools
Use Square Appointments for booking, Square Marketing for email campaigns, and Square Payroll to pay your team. Everything connects to your sales data.
Pro Tips for Small Business Owners
- Enable Square Loyalty to reward repeat customers: it integrates directly at checkout with no extra cards or apps needed.
- Use Square's instant transfer to move funds to your bank in minutes instead of 1-2 business days.
- Set up low-stock alerts so you never run out of your best-selling items during a rush.
- Review the Square Dashboard app daily to spot sales trends, busiest hours, and top-performing staff.