Get Started with Square for Retail

Square for Retail streamlines your business – so your sales, inventory, purchase orders, customer directory and reports are integrated. The Square for Retail app works with your online Square Dashboard, so connecting the dots (while optimizing your business’ profitability) has never been easier.

If you’ve already created a Square account, upgrading to Retail is simple. Once you subscribe, all of your existing account information will be available with Square for Retail — including your items, customers, bank account information, and inventory.

If you’re not sure if Square for Retail is the right fit for your business, view a comparison of the Square Point of Sale app with the Retail POS app.

Sign up for Square for Retail

If you’re brand new to Square, explore the Square Basics to get comfortable with our ecosystem – and knock a few essentials off your to-do list:

• Link a bank account to your Square for Retail account to start receiving transfers.
• Set up your item library so you can hit the ground running and take full advantage of Square for Retail’s Inventory Plus features.
• Get the right hardware for your business to start accepting payments, printing receipts, and scanning barcodes.

If you’re familiar with Square – but new to Square for Retail – there are some more advanced next steps for you – but first, you’ll want to start your 30 day free trial:

1. Visit squareup.com/retail.
2. Click Try It Free for 30 Days.
3. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click Already process payments with Square? Sign in with your Square account.

If you don’t have an existing Square account, you can also sign up directly from the Square for Retail app by tapping Create Account at the log in screen.

Download the Retail POS App for iPad

To get started on an iPad, Download the Square for Retail App for iOS, create a device code to sign in, and start taking payments.

Note: The Retail App is supported by iPads running iOS 12.0 or higher.

Sign in to Square for Retail on Square Register

To get started for the first time with Square for Retail on Square Register, simply sign in using your email and password or create a Retail device code from your online Square Dashboard. Then, sign in by tapping Device Code in the top corner of the Register screen. Then you can start taking payments.

If this is your first time using the Square Register and you’ve already completed setup, make sure to check for an update by tapping Configure Device > General > About Register > Software Update. You must be on version 3.26 or higher to log into Square for Retail. Note: Square Register checks for an update every 15 minutes. If you don’t see one right away and your current version is lower than 3.26, make sure your device is connected to the internet and wait several more minutes for an update to appear.

If you have already been accepting payments on Square Register using Square Point of Sale, simply sign out of each device. Next, sign in using your email and password and select Square for Retail. You can also create a Retail device code from your online Square Dashboard to sign in, and start taking payments.

Get Started

Begin by setting up your item library with details such as unit types (pounds, ounces, etc.), unit precision up to the hundredths (.00) or thousandths place (.000), and unit costs. You can also generate device codes and create barcode labels right from for your online Square Dashboard. Note: While PLU barcodes are supported for items with decimal quantities, embedded barcodes are not yet supported.

Export/Import Item Library: Take bulk action on your item library and stock.
Import Unit Costs: Import missing unit costs. It’s important to note importing Unit Costs reflect as a Recount. Recount stock actions do not reflect in your Inventory Plus reporting.

Item Options: Quickly create and organize item variations by combining item options.

Device Code: With Square for Retail, rather than using your email address and password to sign in to the Retail POS app, you’ll need to create a device code. Each device code can only be used on one device, and your monthly subscription fee is affected by the number of active points of sale you have.
Create Barcode Labels: You can generate barcode labels directly from your online Square Dashboard.
Reach Customers: You can reach customers to let them know about upcoming sales and promotions with Square Marketing.

Use the Square for Retail POS App

The Retail POS app is your full front-of-house POS solution.

Retail POS App Navigation: Review the Actions Menu of the Retail POS app.
Favorites List: Create a favorites list for your most popular items.
Process a Payment: Manage your cart and process payments.
Issue a Refund or Exchange: Learn how to process a refund or exchange from your transaction history or customers list.
Create and Manage Items From the App: Add or edit items for individual locations directly from the app.
Cash Management: Track cash sales and account for paid in/paid out adjustments outside of a sale.
Manage Inventory from the app: Adjust stock levels.
Manage Customers: Create, manage, or add a customer to a sale.

Hardware

Square Stand: Purchase the Square Stand to setup a full POS countertop station.
Recommended Hardware for Square Stand: View compatible hardware for your full POS setup.
Mount and Secure Your Square Stand: Set up your Square Stand.
Connect Recommended Hardware to Square Stand: Learn how to connect supported hardware to the Square Stand.
Contactless and Chip Card Reader: Ensure your business is set up to accept EMV (chip cards) and NFC (contactless) payments.

Employees

Your Square for Retail subscription includes unlimited employee profiles with Team Management.

Employees: Create individual employee profiles.
Set Roles and Assign Permissions: With Square’s Employee Permissions you are able to customize each of your employee’s permissions and access to your Square Account.

Backend Inventory and Ordering

Square for Retail is geared towards businesses with more inventory and ordering needs than your average Square seller. You’ll have access to two important tools:

Vendor Management: Create vendors with associated items, assign a vendor cost (unit cost for specific vendors), and view each vendor specific item library.
Purchase Orders: Purchase orders allow you to request and receive stock from specific vendors.

View Square for Retail Reports

View Inventory History: View a detailed report of every inventory adjustment.
Advanced Reporting: Square for Retail offers a suite of powerful reporting tools.