Table of contents
Square is a comprehensive suite of hardware and software tools designed to help businesses of all shapes and sizes run more smoothly. It’s a powerful point-of-sale system that lets you take payments securely, accept orders and bookings, manage rostering, track sales and connect with customers – all through one system.
But Square is more than just a POS. It’s a full ecosystem you can tailor to your needs. Used across industries from retail and hospitality to beauty, trades, professional services and everything in between, Square empowers you to run your business your way.
How does Square work?
Square combines advanced payment processing software with a wide range of tools and applications to help you accept payments and manage your operations efficiently, whether in person, online or both.
You can use Square products individually, or mix and match to build a customised setup that fits your business perfectly. Start simple with just payments, then add more features as you grow. Need to take payments remotely? Send email campaigns? Track inventory across multiple locations? There’s a tool for that. Its flexibility makes it ideal for all kinds of businesses, big and small. Everything works together as a Square business – meaning a smoother experience for customers and simpler operations for you.
Point-of-sale software to run your business
Square Point of Sale software is a reliable, affordable POS system that’s easy to set up and use. It lets you process payments, view sales performance, manage inventory, build customer profiles and more, all in one place. Square POS is customisable, too – you can tweak it to fit your business type and workflow, and speed up checkout or connect it to other apps you already use.
Square for Retail POS software is built specifically to meet the challenges of running a retail business of any shape or size. It helps you sell both in-store and online, streamline inventory management and better understand your customers’ shopping habits. Customers benefit from a secure payment system that accepts almost any form of payment quickly and easily. Auto-created customer profiles make it easier to personalise service and build loyalty.
Square for Restaurant POS software is designed to support the unique demands of hospitality venues – from counter service and full-service restaurants to pubs, bars and ghost kitchens. It does more than just take payments – it handles online orders, bookings, team scheduling and even sending orders straight to the kitchen. Restaurant owners, managers and staff can use this restaurant POS system to:
- Optimise floor plans and turn tables faster
- Manage all orders from one screen, no matter where they come from
- Streamline order fulfilment with Square’s Kitchen Display System (KDS)
- Update menus on the fly
- Track performance with sales reports by category, item, payment type, monthly trends and more
Square Appointments is an appointment-scheduling POS that’s ideal for any service-based business that needs to take bookings and payments – think beauty salons, health and fitness studios, consultants, trade services and tutors. Customers can see availability and book online 24/7, while automated reminders help reduce no-shows. Behind the scenes, built-in tools for calendar management, team rostering and reporting help you stay organised and on track.
Hardware products for in-person selling
For taking payments at the counter, around your shop or on the go, Square has a line-up of sleek, functional devices that make it simple to sell in person.
Square Reader is a pocket-sized, portable credit card reader that connects wirelessly to your phone or tablet. It accepts chip and PIN, tap, and mobile payments like Apple Pay and Google Pay. Its long battery life makes it great for businesses on the move.
For a more robust solution, Square Terminal is a compact credit card machine that accepts all major payment types, prints receipts and includes more advanced POS features. Use it plugged in at your checkout, or go cordless and serve customers anywhere in your store or restaurant, including tableside.
Square Kiosk is a self-service station where customers can place and pay for their orders independently. Ideal for busy venues or quick-service environments, it helps reduce queues and free up staff to focus on service.
For businesses that want an all-in-one solution, Square Register is a complete countertop setup. It features dual screens – one for staff, one facing the customer – along with a built-in card reader and pre-installed Square POS software. It’s ready to use straight out of the box with no extra equipment required.
All Square hardware is built for speed, security and convenience. Payments are processed quickly, digital receipts are standard, and funds reach your bank account the next day or instantly. Pricing is transparent, with no lock-in contracts or hidden fees. No matter what Square hardware your business uses, everything connects and syncs through your Square POS or Square Dashboard for seamless operations.
Online products and tools for online selling
Getting online is easy with Square – no tech skills needed. You can set up a professional-looking website and start selling quickly.
Square Online software lets you build an eCommerce website that covers everything from online checkout and secure payments to real-time inventory syncing. You can connect your shop with social platforms like Instagram and Facebook and turn scrolls into sales. Running a restaurant? Square Online for restaurants accepts and manages online ordering for dine-in, takeaway and delivery. Menus sync with your POS, and you can customise your site to reflect your brand and service style.
All Square eCommerce tools integrate with your existing Square setup, so you can manage online and in-person sales, payments and stock with ease. Security, PCI compliance and fraud protection are built in to help safeguard your business and customer data.
Keep your brand top of mind with Square Marketing, where you can create and send email campaigns in minutes. Use professionally designed, customisable templates to promote products, services, sales or events. You can track performance through your Square Dashboard, with real-time data on opens, clicks and conversions.
Tools for accepting remote payments
You don’t need a shopfront or website to get paid – remote payment options let you sell wherever business takes you.
Invoicing software from Square lets you quickly send invoices and quotes from your computer or phone. Customers can pay online using credit or debit cards, digital wallets, or interest-free instalments with Clearpay. You can automate recurring invoices to save time, and all activity is tracked in your Dashboard, making it easier to manage cash flow.
Square Virtual Terminal turns your web browser into a secure card payment terminal, allowing you to accept payments remotely from anywhere without extra equipment. It’s perfect for businesses that take payments over the phone or need to process remote payments like deposits and prepayments.
Add on software products to help run your business
Want more features? Square has extra tools that plug right in.
Square Gift Cards are a great way to boost brand awareness and bring in new customers. Happy customers can introduce your business to others by sending eGift cards (available online 24/7) or physical cards (sold in-store or sent by post). All gift card sales sync with your Dashboard, so you can monitor trends and plan future revenue streams.
Reward repeat customers and keep them coming back with Square Loyalty. You can create a custom loyalty programme that fits your brand – earning points per visit, per pound spent or based on specific actions. Customers automatically earn points when they check out, and everything syncs with your Dashboard so you can track performance and adjust your offers as needed.
Built into Square POS, team management tools help you create rosters, manage shifts and track hours with minimal admin. Staff can clock in and out via the Square Team App or at the Square POS register, while real-time reports help you spot peak periods and optimise your team schedule.
Get started for free with Square
Getting started with Square is easy and free. Create your free account in minutes, with no hidden fees – just clear, simple rates.
Once you’re in, you can choose the tools that suit your business now – and add more as you grow. Whether you need POS software, a payment device, online tools or a complete toolkit, Square has you covered. They’re all designed to work together, so you can manage sales, customers, teams and business operations from one place.
And if you’re not sure where to begin, the Square sales team is ready to help you find the right setup. It’s all about making business simpler, so you can spend less time managing and more time making your business great.
FAQs
What is Square?
Square is an all-in-one business platform that provides tools to run and grow your business. It combines POS software, payment processing, hardware and online tools in one seamless system. Whether you sell in person, online or on the road, Square helps you manage payments, sales, bookings, inventory, staff, customer relationships and more.
How much does Square charge per transaction?
Square offers simple, transparent pricing with no monthly fees for its standard POS tools. For in-person payments, the fee is just 1.75% per transaction. Online payments are charged at 1.4% + 25p for UK cards or 2.5% + 25p for non-UK cards.. Other card-not-present payments taken through the POS app, Virtual Terminal or an invoice are charged at 2.5%. You only pay when you get paid – no hidden costs, no surprises. See how Square fees work.
Can small businesses use Square?
Yes! Square is designed to support businesses of all shapes and sizes – from sole traders and pop-up stalls to growing teams and multi-location stores. You can start with just the basics and add more tools as your needs change. It’s easy to use, affordable, flexible and scalable, making it a great fit for small (and big) businesses.
What industries use Square?
Square is used by businesses across retail, food and beverage, beauty, health and wellness, trades, professional services, creative services, events and entertainment – and plenty more. Whether you sell products, take appointments, or serve customers in-store, online or remotely, Square gives you the tools to manage your business with ease.
