Square Reader arrives in Australia
The smallest, most mobile and most affordable card payment reader launches to bring simplicity to Australian small businesses.
Square, the global payments technology company from California, today announced availability of its iconic and hotly anticipated Square Reader in Australia. Square Reader is the smallest, most mobile and most affordable credit and debit card reader available in the local market that allows you to accept card payments quickly and securely on a smartphone or tablet device.
At only $19, Square Reader is the lowest-cost card reader available on the Australian market. It takes moments to get set up and start accepting card payments with Square Reader, which plugs directly into the headphone jack of your iOS or Android smartphone or tablet. Within minutes sellers can be securely accepting Visa, MasterCard or American Express credit or debit card payments. Sellers pay 1.9% per tapped, dipped or swiped card payment, no matter which card is processed, and funds are deposited into any Australian bank account as fast as the next business day.
Jack Dorsey, CEO and Co-Founder of Square, said: “With the launch of Square Reader in Australia, we’re empowering local sellers with the tools they need to start, run, and grow their businesses. Our launch in Australia is an important step for our company and an exciting moment for a market so committed to innovation and an entrepreneurial small business community.“
Square Reader combines the best in mobility with accessibility and affordability, without compromising security or power. The device, combined with Square’s powerful and free Point of Sale app, has been designed with the needs of a variety businesses in mind, with suitability ranging from cafes to bars, tradies to photographers, food trucks to market sellers, retail stores and many more.
Square’s Australian Country Manager Ben Pfisterer said, “We’re excited to bring Square Reader to Australia. Having been operating locally for the past year has allowed us to develop active partnerships with a wide range of businesses that in turn continue to help us test and refine a range of exciting payment solutions designed specifically for the Australian market. The reception we’ve received has been overwhelming and reinforced our belief that there is a strong appetite for Square to launch innovative payment products in Australia.”
“Square is a simple yet powerful solution for businesses of any type and size. Whether they’re running a market stall, mobile business or a franchise, we want to empower them with the tools that they can use to start, run and grow. Square believes that card payments should be simple and seamless.” Pfisterer continued, “In Australia, the rate paid by businesses to accept card payments can be incredibly confusing and vary greatly, depending on the size of your business, card type and length of your contract, and almost always involves hidden fees. Sellers using Square Reader pay only 1.9% per tapped, dipped or swiped card payment, and this is the first time Australia is seeing one low, single rate for a powerful ecosystem of tools—from integrated card payments to a powerful point of sale, analytics and reporting tools, inventory management, online invoices and digital receipts. We’re excited to remove all the complexity that comes with accepting card payments and offer Australian businesses the tools to be innovative and provide an enhanced customer experience. The launch of Square Reader complements our powerful ecosystem of tools and marks our first payment product in what is going to be a very exciting roadmap.”
Square Reader in Australia
Square is proud to have partnered with Cuscal, the Australian transactional banking services company that is a world-class end-to-end payments leader with over 40 years of experience in the Australian market.
Since 2009, Square has been simplifying commerce for sellers and buyers, with the company processing tens of billions of dollars in transactions from millions of businesses across the world through its iconic card reader. Locally, the company launched its first product, Square Point of Sale, in November 2014, and later opened its Melbourne headquarters in May 2015, led by Country Manager Ben Pfisterer and employing a dedicated local team including customer support that is contactable by phone or email to service the local network of businesses accepting card payments with Square.
Country Manager Ben Pfisterer commented, “Australia has always been an exciting market for Square to launch in with roughly 2 million SMBs, high smartphone and tablet adoption, and a strong entrepreneurial and startup community. Local sellers have demonstrated an enthusiasm to adopt new and innovative payment solutions and Square Reader will build and complement this enthusiasm and extend it to more business owners around the country.”
Availability
Square Reader is now available nationally at $19, and can be ordered online with free shipping anywhere in Australia. In the near future it will also be available at Bunnings, Apple and Officeworks stores.
About Square, Inc.
Square creates tools that help sellers of all sizes start, run, and grow their businesses. Square’s point-of-sale service offers tools for every part of running a business, from accepting credit cards and tracking inventory, to real-time analytics and invoicing. Square also offers sellers financial and marketing services, including small business financing and customer engagement tools. Businesses and individuals use Square Cash, an easy way to send and receive money, as well as Caviar, a food delivery service for popular restaurants. Square was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in the United States, Canada, Japan, and Australia.
Media Contact:
press-au@squareup.com