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, along with iPad, iPhone, and Square Register, so connecting the dots (while optimizing your business’ profitability) has never been easier. With Square for Retail, you have two subscription options: Square for Retail Free (at no monthly cost) and Square for Retail Plus (at $60 per month, per location). Some features may be unavailable to sellers using Square for Retail Free. Learn more about the differences between Square for Retail Free and Square for Retail Plus.
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 Free or Plus — 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 Free and Plus features.
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 Plus’s Inventory Plus features.
Get the right hardware for your business to start accepting payments, printing receipts, and scanning bar codes.
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:
Visit squareup.com/retail.
Click Get started free.
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 for Square for Retail.
Note: Upon signing up for Square for Retail, you’ll receive a 30 day free trial to Square for Retail Plus. Follow the steps below to set up your account so you can make the most out of your experience.
Download the Retail POS App for iPad or iPhone
To get started on an iPad or iPhone, 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 and iPhones running iOS 12.0 or higher.
Setup Guide
Once you sign up for a Square for Retail account and sign in to the app, you can access the Setup Guide. If you haven’t completed the primary setup steps, you can do so through the Setup Guide, as well as explore guided walkthroughs, tutorials, and advanced setup steps. You’ll also see a tracker at the top of the Setup Guide and/or Checkout screen that shows your setup progress.
To dismiss the Setup Guide, tap the “⋯” icon in the top-right corner of the guide, and select Dismiss Setup Guide. This will remove the Setup Guide tracker from your Checkout screen, but you can easily access it any time after you dismiss it. If you’re using Square for Retail on your iPhone, tap the Menu icon at the bottom right side of the app screen, and tap Support > Tutorials > Setup Guide. If you’re using Square for Retail on your iPad, tap the Menu icon at the bottom left side of the app screen, and tap Support > Tours and Tutorials > Setup Guide.
Note: Setup Guide is not currently available for Square Register, but you can access the same checklist directly from your online Square Dashboard.
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 and create or select an existing profile. If you choose to create a device code, you can 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 logging into your online Square Dashboard and 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 bar code labels. Note: While PLU bar codes are supported for items with decimal quantities, embedded bar codes 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.
Auto-SKU Generation: Automatically generate SKUs for your item variations through your item library and during the bar code label creation process.
Device Code: With Square for Retail, you can create a device code to sign in to your account. 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 and Print Bar Code Labels: You can generate bar code 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.
Learn more about the differences between Square for Retail Free and Square for Retail Plus.
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, message, or add a customer to a sale.
Notification Center (iOS Only): View account alerts, new feature announcements, and Square news — all from one easy-to-access place.
Learn more about the differences between Square for Retail Free and Square for Retail Plus.
Hardware
Square Register: Purchase the Square Register to setup a full POS countertop station.
Square Stand: Square Stand also offers a full POS countertop station. View recommended hardware for Square Stand.
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.
Team Management
Your Square for Retail subscription includes unlimited team member profiles with Team Management, which you can set up by visiting your online Square Dashboard and clicking Team.
Team Members: Create individual team member profiles and track time using Timecards.
Set Roles and Assign Permissions: With Square’s team member permissions you are able to customize each of your team member's permissions and access to your Square Account.
Note: Both Square for Retail Free and Plus have Team Management features. Square for Retail Plus also includes additional advanced features. Learn more about the differences here.
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 these 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.
Bulk Receive Stock: Bulk receiving stock allows you to quickly scan or enter your inventory via Square for Retail on iOS and Square Register.
Learn more about the differences between Square for Retail Free and Square for Retail Plus.
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.
Learn more about the differences between Square for Retail Free and Square for Retail Plus.
Commission Rates with Retail Plus
Square allows you to assign unique commission rates to each of your team members, giving more experienced team members a higher rate and less experienced team members a lower rate for services. Learn more about setting up commission tracking.