What Is Squareup.com? An Honest Breakdown for Small Businesses

What You Can Do with Squareup.com?

Squareup.com is the official website for Square, Inc. — a financial technology company that helps small businesses accept payments, run point-of-sale transactions, send invoices, and manage day-to-day operations.

If you’re here wondering, “What exactly does Square do?” — you’re not alone. Whether you’re a new entrepreneur, freelancer, or brick-and-mortar shop owner, Square offers a wide range of free and low-cost tools to help run your business.

On Squareup.com, you can:

• Sign up for a free account
• Accept payments in-person or online
• Use virtual terminals and send professional invoices
• Track sales, inventory, and customer data
• Explore Square’s hardware (like card readers and POS systems)

👉 Looking specifically for a POS system? Check out our in-depth Square POS review for pricing, pros & cons, and how it compares to alternatives.

Who is Square Best For? Small Businesses

Square is best for small businesses and individuals who need a simple, affordable, and flexible payment processing solution. The company’s transparent pricing model, user-friendly interface, and range of features make it a popular choice for businesses of all sizes and types, including retail stores, restaurants, food trucks, service providers, and online sellers.

Square is ideal for businesses that need to manage both in person sales and online transactions.

Square’s tools also support setting up and managing an online store.

Square is also a good option for businesses that need to process payments on-the-go, as it offers a mobile card reader and a mobile app that allows businesses to accept payments using their smartphone or tablet.

Squareup.com Pros vs. Cons

Let’s look at the pros and cons of using Square to help you decide if it’s the right choice for your business.

PROS:

• Easy to set up: Square’s sign-up process is simple and straightforward, making it easy for small businesses and individuals to start accepting payments quickly.
• Affordable pricing: Square charges a flat-rate processing fee for each transaction plus a small percentage of the sale amount. This transparent pricing model makes it easy for businesses to understand and budget for their payment processing costs.
• No monthly fees: Square does not charge any monthly fees, making it a cost-effective choice for small businesses and individual users who sell infrequently or need basic payment processing tools.
• Square Online: Setting up an online store is easy with Square Online, providing a seamless way for businesses to start selling products and services online.
• Flexible payment options: Square accepts various payment methods, including credit and debit cards, gift cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and contactless payments.
• Mobile capabilities: Square offers a mobile app that allows businesses to process payments and access their account information from their smartphone or tablet.
• Additional features: Square offers a range of additional features, such as invoicing, inventory management, and employee management. These features can help businesses streamline their operations and increase efficiency.

CONS:

• Higher fees for keyed-in transactions: Square charges a higher fee for keyed-in transactions, such as those made over the phone or online, compared to swiped or contactless transactions.
• Limited customization options: Square’s software may not be as customizable as some other options, which could be an issue for businesses with specific needs or preferences.
• Limited customer support: Some users have reported that Square’s customer support is not as responsive or helpful as they would like.
• Limited integrations: Some users have reported that Square’s integrations with other software and platforms are limited, which could be an issue for businesses that rely on other tools to manage their operations.
• Limited access to transaction data: Some users have reported that they have limited access to their transaction data, which could make it difficult to track sales and performance over time.

Square Pricing Overview

Square offers a transparent pricing model for its payment processing services. The company charges credit card processing fees for each transaction, plus a small percentage of the sale amount. These flat rates make it easier for business owners to understand their costs upfront — with no hidden fees or long-term contracts.

The exact rate depends on how the transaction is processed — whether it’s swiped, dipped, keyed in, or made online. Here’s a current breakdown of Square’s pricing structure:

Square Payment Processing Fees

For card-present transactions made with compatible hardware, such as the Square Terminal, you’ll still pay a flat rate per tap or dip — no monthly hardware usage fees required.

Square also provides useful built-in tools for invoicing, inventory tracking, and employee management. Many of these features are included for free with the standard Square POS, but some advanced tools may come with additional costs.

For businesses that need more robust solutions, Square offers subscription-based upgrades such as Square for Retail and Square for Restaurants. These plans start at $60/month and include advanced inventory features, team management, and industry-specific tools built for brick-and-mortar operations.

Square Key Product Features and Payment Processing

• Payment Processing: Accepts credit and debit cards, along with contactless payments like Apple Pay and Google Pay.
• Virtual Terminal: Allows businesses to accept payments over the phone or manually through a web browser.
• Point-of-Sale Software: Square’s POS system tracks sales, manages inventory, and prints custom receipts.
• Financial Tools: Offers invoicing, expense tracking, and simple bookkeeping features.
• Hardware Options: Includes card readers, terminals, and receipt printers compatible with Square’s POS.
• Employee Management: Manage staff logins, track hours, and set role-based permissions.
• Reporting & Analytics: View performance metrics by product, employee, or timeframe.
• Inventory Management: Track stock levels, set low-inventory alerts, and review sales trends.
• Custom Receipts: Add branding, logos, and custom messages to printed or emailed receipts.
• App Integrations: Connect Square to QuickBooks, Xero, Shopify, and more.
• Mobile App: Accept payments and monitor business activity from a smartphone or tablet.
• Gift Cards: Sell and redeem digital or physical gift cards.
• Customer Directory: Store customer profiles and purchase history for marketing and personalization.
• Square Appointments: Built-in scheduling software that syncs with payments and services.

Business Services

Square offers business services to help you manage your finances, employees and operations. These services include:

Square Capital and Funding Options

Square Capital offers funding options for small businesses so you can get the funds you need to grow and expand. You can apply for loans up to $250,000 with repayment terms up to 18 months.

The application process is fast and easy and funds are deposited into your business bank account within 24 hours. This is designed to help you get over financial hurdles and take advantage of new opportunities without the long approval process of traditional loans.

Square Payroll and Employee Management

Square Payroll is a full service payroll solution that helps small businesses manage employee pay, benefits and taxes. With Square Payroll you can track employee hours, calculate pay and file taxes.

The service includes benefits administration, workers’ comp insurance and compliance support. This all-in-one solution lets small businesses manage payroll efficiently and accurately so you can focus on growth and customer service.

Square Checking Account and Banking

Square Checking is a business checking account that lets you manage your finances in one place. With Square Checking you can deposit funds, pay bills and transfer money to employees or vendors.

The account includes a debit card, online banking and mobile banking. This all-in-one financial solution simplifies money management for small businesses so you can keep your finances organized and at your fingertips.

Square Point of Sale and Hardware

Square’s point of sale (POS) system is designed to help small businesses process payments and sales. The system includes:

Square Register and Point of Sale Hardware

The Square Register is a full POS system that includes a touchscreen display, card reader and receipt printer. The system is designed to help you process payments, manage inventory and track sales. The Square Register comes in different configurations including a countertop model and a mobile model so it’s suitable for different business environments.

In addition to the Square Register, Square also offers other POS hardware options including the Square Terminal and the Square Reader. The Square Terminal is a standalone credit card terminal that lets you process payments without a smartphone or tablet.

The Square Reader is a mobile card reader that lets you process payments on the go. These hardware options give small businesses the flexibility to choose the best solution for their business whether they are fixed or mobile.

So that’s it. Square’s POS system and hardware options to help you process payments and sales. Choose what’s right for you.

Our Verdict

Square is a powerful tool for small businesses and independent sellers to manage their payments and operations. Easy to set up, user friendly, and transparent pricing make it a favorite for businesses big and small.

One of the best things about Square is the range of features: payment processing, virtual terminal, point of sale software, financial tools, and mobile capabilities. These features allow you to take payments on the go, streamline operations, and save time. Plus, the mobile card reader and app mean you can take payments anywhere.

That said, Square isn’t perfect. It charges a higher fee for keyed-in transactions, which could be a drawback for businesses that handle a lot of phone or manual orders. Also, the software isn’t as customizable as some other options — which might be limiting for more complex operations.

In terms of customer support, Square offers helpful resources and tutorials, but some users have noted that support response times can be slow.

Overall, Square is a strong choice for small businesses and solo operators looking for a flexible, affordable payment system. While it may not be a perfect fit for everyone, the ease of use, clear pricing, and robust features make it a popular option worth considering — especially when compared against other major POS providers.

Top Alternatives to Square

Clover POS
Toast POS
TouchBistro POS

FAQs about Squareup.com