Frequently asked questions

How do I start using Square POS?

Download the Square POS app and sign in to open your account. You can start accepting payments right away by entering card numbers without a reader. You can purchase a Square Reader which should arrive within seven business days, or you can pick one up at a participating retail store. You can also purchase other Square hardware at our Shop page or order online from Amazon, Staples or BestBuy.

How long will it take to install and set up my Point of Sale?

Getting set up to accept credit and debit cards on Square only takes a few minutes. Once you select and purchase your Square hardware, simply download the mobile app or use Square on your computer to get started. And in a few more minutes, you can set up items to take advantage of our entire suite of products – all built to help you run and grow your business.

How long does it take to get trained?

Square is intuitive to use and easy to get started on. Usually people get up to speed in less than an hour, no lengthy training seminars necessary. Find out more details from our Get Started Guide in our Support Centre.

What if I have a question about my Square Point of Sale?

Our highly trained support team is available via phone or email. You can also learn from our Seller Community, or visit the Support Centre 24/7 to find useful tips, articles and thorough video walkthroughs.

How much does Square POS cost?

Our Point of Sale app is free and can support all kinds of businesses at any stage or size. The processing rate is 2.5% per tap or insert (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, international credit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay) or a 0.75% + 7¢ per INTERAC debit transaction. There are no monthly fees or commitments.

Are there any hidden fees I should be aware of?

Nope. There are no commitments, long-term contracts, startup fees, authorization fees, statement fees, PCI-compliance fees or business card fees. Just pay when you use it. That’s it.

Do I have to pay for each of my employees to use Square Point of Sale?

No. Basic POS functionality is free for any number of employees with Team Management, which also offers more advanced employee controls for a per-location fee.

What cards can I accept with POS? Does the fee I pay vary by card?

You can accept every major credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover) all for the same rate of 2.5% per transaction and also accept Interac debit for 0.75% + 7¢ per transaction.

What does Square do to help with fraud protection?

Our systems monitor your payments to keep an eye on suspicious transactions. Machine learning and human expertise work hand in hand to adapt our technology to the shifting fraud landscape every day. And our team of fraud experts reaches out to you if we notice anything unusual.

What methods of payment can my customers use?

You can accept credit and debit cards, cash, cheques and plastic or digital gift cards.

How do I take a payment with Square?

You can easily accept payments with Square POS hardware connected to your phone or tablet, with digital invoices or through your computer.

Can I still take payments without a signal?

Yes, with offline payments you can accept payments even when your internet service is temporarily unavailable. Any payment you take will automatically be sent through when you regain connectivity. Learn more about offline payments here.

How do I issue refunds?

It’s really simple, but it’s probably easier to show you this YouTube video. And here are more instructions, just in case.

How quickly can I access my funds?

You can get your money within 36 hours or 1–2 business days of a transaction.

Does the app work with my iPhone, iPad or Android device?

Yes, it does.

Can I manage my inventory from my Point of Sale?

Square inventory management lets you keep a clear count of in-stock items in your item library. With inventory enabled, the stock count updates based on sales from the Square app, through Square Invoices and for orders shipped through your online store.

Does Square Point of Sale connect to printers or scales?

Yes, Square works with multiple printers and scales. Check out our POS Hardware Shop for more information.

Can I sell online with Square POS?

Square Online powers your online business with tons of eCommerce features. Square automatically syncs across your online store and POS, so it’s easy to keep track of orders, items and inventory.

Does Square POS integrate with my existing business tools and services?

Square POS is customizable. You can connect to a variety of apps and services in just a few steps, sync your data and manage them right from your Dashboard. From accounting (QuickBooks, Xero) and eCommerce solutions (Wix, WooCommerce, BigCommerce) to inventory and team management (7Shifts, Homebase), Square works with apps for any need. You can also easily get set up for order delivery and fulfillment on Uber Eats, Ritual and DoorDash with our delivery partners.

What kind of hardware solutions sync with Square Point of Sale?

Your point of sale seamlessly integrates with any Square hardware solution. Try Square Register or Square Reader, or connect Square Terminal to your POS to give customers a private, separate screen to check out from a safe distance.

Explore hardware solutions >