At first glance, many cloud-based point of sale systems look like a great deal. Low monthly fees, sleek marketing, and claims of convenience. But once you’re up and running, the fine print starts to surface: transaction surcharges, integration fees, contract penalties, and hardware that locks you into a narrow ecosystem. For example, a single Clover Station Duo terminal can run over $1,800 and you often need a 36-month contract.
Square takes a different approach. With Square, there are no hidden fees or surprise upgrades. You get a flexible contract, budget-friendly hardware starting at $299, and built-in financial tools like checking and savings accounts4 with no additional costs.
You can start selling with the free Square Point of Sale, and only add paid tools when your business needs them. Square's Restaurant Plus plan starts at $69/month, and includes access to tools like Square Invoices, Loyalty, Marketing, and Team Management.
“It’s the best. I recommend Square to everybody,” said Nate Hoops, co-founder of Phodega, a Chicago-based Vietnamese restaurant. “We’re not paying a huge monthly fee like some other point of sale systems. The equipment is affordable. Even now that we’re doing $2.5 million in sales, it’s more useful than ever.”
