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Home>Get Started with Square Bill Pay

Get Started with Square Bill Pay

Square Bill Pay lets you organize and streamline payments by paying bills and vendors using your Square Checking account or any debit or credit card. You can access Bill Pay from your online Square Dashboard and the Square Invoices app.

Before you get started, go to the Apple App Store on your compatible iOS device and download the free Square Invoices app. If you already have the Square Invoices app, make sure it’s up to date.

Bill Pay is also available to test on your Android devices. Make sure your Square Invoices app is up to date (version 6.22 or higher required).

Bill Pay with Square Dashboard

From your Bill Pay Dashboard, you can use Bill Pay by uploading an existing bill, adding the bill manually, or utilizing email forwarding.

Upload a bill

  1. Go to Payments > Bill Pay from your online Square Dashboard.
  2. Click Add bill.
  3. Click Upload a bill.
  4. Select a PDF or an image file.
  5. Square will then import the document as an attachment and automatically extract information such as the bill amount, due date, and vendor information (name, contact, and bank account, if available).
  6. Verify the bill information is correct.
  7. Configure your payment method and delivery settings. 
  8. Click Save & close.

Add a bill manually

  1. Go to Payments > Bill Pay from your online Square Dashboard.
  2. Click Add bill.
  3. Click Add bill manually.
  4. Enter key information, such as the bill amount, due date, and vendor information (name, contact, and bank account, if available).
  5. Verify the bill information is correct.
  6. Configure your payment method and delivery settings. 
  7. Click Save & close.

You can configure payment methods and notifications at any time from the Settings tab of your online Square Dashboard.

Forward an Email

Use a unique bill pay email address to forward bills from your inbox or share it with your vendors to receive bills directly. We’ll scan the details and add them to your bill list for your review.

  • You set up email forwarding by going to Pay bills, then click the Add bill drop-down menu > Forward from email.
  • You can also access this via Bill Pay > Settings > Email forwarding on your online Square Dashboard or the Square Invoices app on iOS devices. You can also access this from Pay bills, then click the Add bill drop-down menu > Forward from email.

Once you click the Create email address option, copy the forwarding email address and open your email inbox to forward the invoices. Forwarded bills will show up in the Pay bills list view once it’s processed.

To ensure that your bill scans correctly, verify that your email includes a bill attachment. Supported file types include PDF, JPEG, or PNG.

Bill Pay with the Square Invoices App

From the Square Invoices app on compatible iOS devices, you can add a bill by taking a photo, uploading a file, or entering the bill manually.

Note:
For Square Invoices iOS app versions 6.10 or later, you can find Bill Pay on the main navigation bar.

Take a photo of the bill

  1. Tap Bill Pay, then tap +.
  2. Tap Take a photo.
  3. Take a photo of the bill, then tap Use Photo. Square will import the photo as an attachment and automatically extract information, such as the bill amount, due date, and vendor information (name, contact, and bank account if available).
  4. Verify the bill information is correct.
  5. Configure your payment method and delivery settings.
  6. If you want to schedule a payment, select the date the payment will be withdrawn from your account. 

Upload a file of the bill

If you already have a photo of the bill, tap Upload a file to select an image or PDF stored on your iOS device.

Enter the bill manually

Tap Enter manually to type in the details for a bill you want to pay, including the vendor name and bank details*, bill due date, bill ID, and message. You can also add an attachment.

*Note: If you’re adding a new vendor, new vendor accounts are verified in two to three business days. Transfers can only take place after verification. You can also ask the vendor for their bank details via email by tapping Add a new vendor > Ask vendor for payment details. Enter the vendor’s email, then tap Send.

You can configure payment methods and notifications at any time by going to ≡ More > Settings > Bill pay in your Square Invoices app on iOS devices.

Note: Bill Pay is also available with Square Appointments.

Manage Payment Methods

Square Dashboard

When you’re adding or editing a bill:

  1. Go to Payment details > Payment methods.
  2. Select one of your existing payment methods to pay the bill or select Add a payment method to add a new one.

You can also set up payment methods by going to Bill Pay > Settings in your online Square Dashboard.

Bill Pay - Square Dashboard - Payment Method - US-EN

Square Invoices App

When you’re adding or editing a bill:

  1. Tap Next or ••• > Schedule payment.
  2. Select one of your existing payment methods to pay the bill or Add a payment method to add a new one.

To add more payment methods from the Square Invoices app, you can also go to ≡ More > Settings > Bill pay > Payments.

Select a Delivery Method

If your vendor’s bank account information is recorded, funds will arrive in your vendor’s bank account 1-2 business days after you initiate the payment.

If your vendor’s bank account is not recorded, Square will charge your payment source on the scheduled payment date, and your vendor will have 14 days to choose how they want to receive the payment. Your vendor or supplier can choose to receive payment one of two ways: by ACH bank transfer or by a digital check. A digital check is a check in PDF format that Square emails to your vendor. They can then download, print, and make a mobile check deposit.

Your vendor will receive a reminder email within seven days if they haven’t chosen how they want to receive the payment. If your vendor does not respond in 14 days, the payment will be canceled and you will receive a refund to your original payment source.

Send a digital payment

Pay vendor by ACH bank transfer

Square will send payment to your vendor or supplier via ACH bank transfer if their bank account details are on file. Funds will arrive in your vendor’s bank account in 1-2 business days after you initiate the payment.

There are three ways to obtain your vendor’s bank account details:

  • If the vendor’s bank account information is on the invoice or bill, Square will automatically populate it in the “Vendor account details” section when you upload or take a photo of the document.
  • If you have previously obtained your vendor’s bank account information, enter it manually in the “Vendor account details” section.
  • You can also request vendor bank account details via Square. To do so:
    1. Click on the vendor name to edit.
    2. Click Account details.
    3. Ask the vendor for payment details.
    4. Enter your contact’s email address and select Send.
    5. Your vendor will receive an email from Square that will direct them to a secure page to provide their bank account information.

Pay vendor by digital check

You can still schedule and initiate payment if your vendor’s bank account details are not on file. In this case, on your scheduled payment date (i.e., when Square will charge your payment source), your vendor will receive an email to either provide bank account details or accept a digital check.

If your vendor chooses to accept a digital check, they will have 90 days to deposit it from the date they first downloaded the check. After 90 days, the check will be voided and you will get a refund to your original payment source. If they choose to accept the payment via digital check, they can follow the steps below to deposit the check:

  1. Print the check on plain white paper.
  2. Verify texts and bank numbers are legible.
  3. Cut on the dotted lines, sign the back, and make a mobile check deposit using a banking app.

paybycheck

Square Bill Pay - Digital Check

Mail a paper check

Pay vendor by paper check

If you are concerned about vendors not responding to payment notifications, or have vendors that do not want to handle modern digital payments, you may send a paper check.

Square will charge you first and issue a check to your vendor using a Square bank account. Square handles both check printing and mailing.

Checks will be delivered in 4-6 business days via USPS First Class Mail. As you select the paper check option, you must confirm the vendor’s address (and edit if necessary). If not already on file, you may add the address. Note: This will be offered at no cost for a limited time.

You will receive multiple notifications indicating the completion of an action, namely when Square issues and mails a paper check on your behalf, when a paper check is delivered to your vendor, and when the payment is cleared.

Note: A paper check shall remain valid for 90 days from the date it is issued.

Schedule a Payment

Square Dashboard

When you’re adding or editing a bill:

  1. Scroll to “Schedule payment.”
  2. You can reference the due date and schedule when to initiate your payment.
  3. Click Schedule payment.

Note: When scheduling payments, you’ll need to choose a payment method. The payment will then arrive in your vendor’s account 1-2 business days after the selected date. Paper checks are expected to arrive in 4-6 business days after initiating the payment.

Bill Pay - Square Dashboard - Schedule Payment - US-EN

Square Invoices app

When you’re adding or editing a bill:

  1. Tap Next or •••, then tap Schedule payment.
  2. Scroll to “Schedule payment.”
  3. You can reference the due date and schedule when to initiate your payment.
  4. Tap Schedule.

Note: When scheduling payments, you’ll need to choose a payment method. The payment will then arrive in your vendor’s account 1-2 business days after the selected date. Paper checks are expected to arrive in 4-6 business days after initiating the payment.

Cancel Payment

You can cancel a payment pending vendor response on delivery destination (i.e., bank transfer or digital check) from your online Square Dashboard or via the Square Invoices app on iOS devices. Cancelling a bill will initiate a refund and stop the payment from reaching your vendor. You will see the amount refunded back to your payment method in 1-2 business days.

Square Dashboard

  1. Go to Bill Pay > Pay bills on your online Square Dashboard.
  2. Select a bill and click ••• > Cancel payment.
  3. Click Cancel payment to confirm.

Square Invoices app on iOS devices

  1. Tap Bill Pay on the navigation menu.
  2. Select a bill and tap ••• > Cancel payment.
  3. Tap Cancel payment to confirm.
  4. Follow the prompts to completion.

Manage and edit vendors

You can add or edit vendor information in both the add and edit bill flow and in the Bill Pay vendor list.

Manage vendors when adding or editing a bill

  1. Start adding or editing a bill.
  2. Click Vendor name to edit or remove the vendor.
  3. Click Edit to start updating your vendor’s name, contact information, and bank account details.

Manage vendors from dashboard

  1. Go to Bill Pay > Vendors from your online Square Dashboard. From the Square Invoices app, go to ≡ More > Vendors.
  2. Select the vendor you want to edit.

Manage vendors from Invoices app

  1. Tap ≡ More > Settings > Bill pay.
  2. Under ‘Vendors,’ tap All vendors.
  3. Tap a vendor to edit.

Note: You cannot delete or deactivate Bill Pay vendors at this time.

Bill Pay Notifications

  • If you have added a bill but have not scheduled payment, you will receive an email 7 days before the due date as a reminder.

  • If you have scheduled a payment, you will receive an email 5 days before the payment initiation date that your Square Checking or your card will be charged in 5 days.

  • On the day when your payment is scheduled, both you and your vendor will receive an email from Square that payment has been initiated for this bill.

  • If your vendor is receiving payment by ACH bank transfer, you will receive an email in approximately 3 business days to inform you that your vendor is now paid. Note: Payment will generally arrive at your vendor the next business day (or the second business day if initiated after 5 PM Pacific Time). Because of how bank transfer works, we are just waiting for at least 3 business days to ensure there are no returns or errors on the receiving bank side.

  • If you choose to mail a paper check to your vendor, you will receive an email when the check is successfully delivered to the vendor's address, approximately 4-6 business days after payment initiation.

If your vendor chooses to accept and deposit either a digital or paper check, you will receive an email when Square confirms that the check has been successfully deposited.

Note: Edit your notification settings by going to Bill Pay > Settings > Notifications in your online Square Dashboard.

Declined Checks

Voided checks

If your vendor does not deposit your check within 90 days, the check will be void. You will need to contact the vendor to discuss payment.

Refunded payments

If the vendor does not respond to the request for their payment details or download a digital check within 14 days, we will cancel the payment and send you a refund. You will need to contact the vendor to discuss payment.

Bill Pay FAQ

What payment methods can I use to pay my vendors?

You can pay your vendors using Square Checking or any credit or debit card.

How do I add a vendor?

  1. Go to Payments > Bill Pay > Vendors on your online Square Dashboard.
  2. Click Create vendor.
  3. Fill out the vendor’s information and account details.
  4. Click Save.

Note: New vendor accounts are verified in 2-3 business days. Transfers can only take place after verification.

How quickly will my vendors get paid?

Once we have your vendor’s bank account information, most payment methods take 1-2 business days to get from your account to your vendor’s bank account. For more information on payment method timing and fees, go to your Bill Pay Settings page.

What information do I need from my vendor in order to pay them?

Your vendor will need to provide their bank account information in order to be paid by direct transfer (ACH). You can enter those details manually if you already have them. If not, we can send a request to your vendor to securely provide them. If neither of those options are suitable, we can send a digital check to your vendor on your behalf that they can download, print, and deposit.

Are there any fees for using Square Bill Pay?

There are no fees for payments made with Square Checking. For a limited time, there’s also no fee for payments made with debit cards. We charge a fee of 2.9% per payment made by credit card.

I use Square for Retail and have existing vendors. Will they appear in Bill Pay?

Vendors are completely synced between Square for Retail or Inventory Management and Bill Pay.

Can I delete or deactivate Bill Pay vendors?

Not at this time. However, if you’re subscribed to Square for Retail Plus and have existing vendors for inventory management, you can deactivate them from the Vendors tab in your online Square Dashboard.

What actions can I take with an existing bill?

You can mark a bill as paid, duplicate an existing bill, or delete a bill. To do so:

  1. From your Bill Pay dashboard, click on an existing bill.
  2. Click ••• then select one of the options. For paid bills, click the bill directly, then select Duplicate or Edit.

Note: Once you delete a bill, you will lose access to this bill and will no longer be able to pay it.

Can I export bills?

Yes. From the Bill Pay section on your online Square Dashboard, select the filters (by status, date range, or location), then click Export.

This will automatically download a CSV file of your bills which you can open using spreadsheet tools like Numbers, Google Sheets, and Microsoft Excel.

My bill could not be imported. How do I resolve this?

If we were unable to import your bill, confirm you have included your vendor’s name and email, the bill amount, or confirm the attached file type is JPEG, PNG, or PDF. You will need to enter the details manually from the email notification sent by Square.

I am a vendor. What is Square Bill Pay?

As a vendor or supplier, you can choose to receive payment from a Square merchant in one of two ways; by ACH bank transfer or by a digital check. A digital check is a check in PDF format that Square emails to you on behalf of the merchant. You can then download, print, and make a mobile check deposit.

Learn how to receive Square Bill Pay payments as vendor.