To our Square community:
We’re all facing unique challenges right now, and for business owners, the situation is especially difficult. We want to offer support and help in the ways we can.
Be sure to bookmark this page for the latest information and tools to support you and your business.
Steps you can take:
Sell and accept orders online
You can use Square Online Checkout to take payments without setting up an online store. You can also sell on Facebook and Instagram to connect with your followers. For operating in person, you can take online orders for click and collect (curbside pickup).
Promote gift cards
Gift cards can help increase cash flow for your business. Encourage your customers to purchase gift cards for friends or to use themselves in person (if that’s possible) or online. Scroll down to learn how to set them up.
Use contactless and remote payments
As customers look to avoid touching surfaces, you might encourage your customers to use their mobile devices or contactless cards to complete payment so they touch fewer surfaces. If you aren’t seeing customers in person, consider remote payment options like invoices; scroll down to learn more.
Communicate with your with customers
Use email, social media, online directories like Google My Business to keep your customers up to date. Share with them ways they can support your business, what your new hours are, if you’re now offering delivery or online services, or if you’re closing for a period of time.
Support your team
This time is as unpredictable for your staff as it is for you. To ensure your staff stays healthy, make sure they stay home if they are sick, frequently wash their hands, and keep contact with one another and customers to a minimum. Make sure your paid time off and sick leave policies are compliant with local labour laws as laws may have changed in response to the virus.
More steps for your business
Get set up
Sell online
No matter what kind of business you run, you can create an online ordering page with Square Online that allows you to provide click and collect or local delivery. The online ordering page automatically integrates with all Square POS apps, Order Manager, and Customer Directory. There is no monthly fee for click & collect.
If you only have a product to sell or don’t need a whole eCommerce website, you can use Square Online Checkout to create shareable links or buy buttons. Give whatever you’re selling a name and price, create the link, and then add it to your website, blog, email, texts, or social posts.
Learn how to:
Get Started with Square Online >
Turn on click and collect (curbside pickup) >
Use Square Checkout Links >
Remote payments
Even without an online store, you can take payments remotely. With Square Invoices, you can request and collect online payments for goods and services — no matter where you are. Customers can pay invoices from their mobile phone or computer with their debit or credit cards.
Another option for collecting payments and making sales online is a virtual terminal, which turns your computer into a point-of-sale and allows you to key-in and charge credit and debit cards from your web browser. You can also use Square Virtual Terminal for remote billing or taking card payments over the phone.
Learn how to:
Send invoices online [VIDEO] >
Take payments with Virtual Terminal [VIDEO] >
eGift Cards
You can set up a free ordering page to sell digital gift cards. The page allows customers to purchase eGift Cards online and send them to a recipient of their choice (or themselves) via email. eGift Cards can be redeemed in-store and on Square Online Store.
Learn how to:
Set up your eGift Cards ordering site [VIDEO] >
Managing subscriptions
To help make managing your subscriptions easier, we’ve introduced the ability to pause a subscription. When you pause a subscription you will not be billed. You can unpause at any time and your account will be ready for you.
Resources
Find other businesses to talk to about how you’re handling the current situation, trade tips, and share best practices for keeping your employees and customers safe.
We’ve compiled information about contactless payments, communicating with your customers, selling online, and other topics to help you navigate the current situation.
We’ve partnered with Skillshare, an online learning community, to provide you with a free three-month membership. Together, we’ve developed three learning tracks — Sales & Marketing, Leadership & Management, and Business Operations — each of which contains classes taught by industry icons and experts.