What it does
Square combines card processing, payment hardware, online checkout and invoices for shops and service businesses. A lasting Square Free plan has no monthly software fee, while card payments still incur processing charges. Payment processing is available in eight countries; the prices below are for US merchants.
Square can connect counter sales with remote billing, so a business does not need a separate invoice tool for jobs completed away from its till. An invoice can be created in Square Dashboard, the Invoices app or supported point-of-sale modes.
In the Dashboard, open Invoices under Orders & payments, Invoices & Payments or Payments, depending on your layout. Select Create invoice, add the customer and line items, then choose a one-time due date or recurring schedule. A deposit can be a fixed amount or percentage. Splitting the remaining balance into payment milestones requires Plus, Premium or the separate Invoices Plus subscription.
US plans and card rates
| Plan | Monthly software fee per location | In-person card payment | Online or invoice card payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Square Free | US$0 | 2.6% + US$0.15 | 3.3% + US$0.30 |
| Square Plus | US$49 | 2.5% + US$0.15 | 2.9% + US$0.30 |
| Square Premium | US$149 | 2.4% + US$0.15 | 2.9% + US$0.30 |
Hardware costs are separate. Cards issued outside the US add 1.5 percentage points. The free software tier therefore does not mean free card processing.
Country coverage and transfers
Square processes payments for sellers in Australia, Canada, France, Ireland, Japan, Spain, the UK and the US. Features and available methods vary by country. The US activation process verifies the seller; a sole proprietor needs a legal name, residential address and Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.
Link and verify a bank account or eligible debit card before the first transfer. Standard next-business-day transfers are included. Under the US standard schedule, payments before 5 p.m. Pacific time normally reach the bank the next business day; later payments take a second business day. Weekends, bank holidays and bank processing affect arrival. Instant and same-day transfers cost an additional 1.95% per transfer.
Strengths
- Unlimited digital invoices include one-time and recurring billing
- Deposits can be requested as an amount or percentage
- A free software plan supports businesses that do not need paid invoice controls
Watch out for
- Payment processing is restricted to eight merchant countries
- Milestone payment schedules require a paid plan
- Instant and same-day transfers add a fee to card processing costs
Best for
- Shops that also invoice customers for services
- US merchants comparing counter and online card-processing costs
Sources
- Square US plans and processing fees (Oct 27, 2026)
- Create and send Square invoices (Oct 27, 2026)
- Square international development and country support (Oct 27, 2026)
- Troubleshoot Square account activation (Oct 27, 2026)
- Set up and edit Square transfer options (Oct 27, 2026)