Frequently asked questions

What is a POS system?

POS stands for point of sale, which is where products and services are exchanged for money. Traditionally, a POS would look like a cash register, but today, point-of-sale systems come in many forms.

A POS registers the price of an item, takes payment, and issues a receipt. Modern POS systems combine both hardware (such as EFTPOS machines) and software (like inventory management) to not only process sales, but integrate other associated business operations as well.

Square’s Point of Sale is a great introduction to what a POS can look like.

How does a POS system work?

A POS allows your business to accept payments from customers and track sales. It sounds simple, but the setup can work in different ways depending on whether you sell online, have a physical shop, or both.

In the past, a POS system referred to the cash register at a shop’s counter. Today, modern POS systems are entirely digital, which means you can take payments wherever you are. All you need is a POS app and an internet-enabled device, like a tablet or phone.

How does a POS system benefit my business?

A great POS system makes it easy to capture sales data and streamline administrative tasks, which means your POS has a massive impact on your business.

Every time you take a payment, the POS records the data, which can be used in multiple ways. For instance, the Square Point of Sale uses data to generate metrics and send inventory alerts. POS data is also the only way to get comprehensive sales analytics that help you really understand how your business is doing. Once you have the metrics, you can fine-tune the way you run your business to help it grow – and keep growing.

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. We’ll ship you a Square Reader, which should arrive within 5–7 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 one online from Amazon, Officeworks or JB Hifi.

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 get a Square Reader or purchase another piece of 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.

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 1.6% per tap or insert for all major cards (Visa, Mastercard, EFTPOS, American Express, JCB, international credit cards, Apple Pay or Google Pay). 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, authorisation 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. You have basic POS functionality for any number of employees for free 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 card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB and EFTPOS) all for the same rate of 1.6% per in-person 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.

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.

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 hardware connected to your phone or tablet, through digital invoices or through your computer.

How do I issue refunds?

It’s really simple, you can read the instructions in our Support Centre.

How quickly can I access my funds?

You can get your money as soon as the next day.

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

Yes, it does. The minimum requirement for iOS devices is iOS 11.0 or later and for Android it’s 5.0 or later. You can check the compatibility of your device here.

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, 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 Shop page for more information.

Can I sell online with Square POS?

Square Online powers your online business with loads 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 customisable. 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 MYOB) and eCommerce solutions (Wix, WooCommerce and BigCommerce) to inventory and team management, Square works with apps for any need. You can also easily get set up for order delivery and fulfilment on Doshii 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 Register or 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