Run an online business but struggle with taking payments in the real world?
Your prayers may have been answered as website builder Squarepace announced a new partnership with point-of-sale (POS) giants Square. The POS company's payment processing software and hardware will now be baked-in to the Squarespace's Commerce app, making selling online and in-person a piece of (presumably square) cake.
So does this partnership mean that the two companies have squared the ecommerce and in-person shopping circle?
Did you know? You can create an ecommerce site with Square – see our Square Online Store review
What New Features Are Available to Squarespace Customers?
While Squarespace has been effortlessly taking and managing ecommerce payments for a while, it's never been able to offer the seamless integration of both in-person and online payments before.
The new partnership with Square will allow businesses to bring their online and offline operations into sync. For instance, your business' inventory, customer data, and sales analytics will effortlessly and seamlessly update — regardless of whether the transaction was on or offline.
What's more, you'll be able to accept payments using Square's payment terminals and card readers. This should excite small and medium-sized businesses, as we think Square offers some of the best POS hardware on the market, while Squarespace is one of the best website builders and ecommerce platforms out there.
You'll also be able to collect customer email addresses and offer bespoke discounts to help you build a rapport with any real life customers you attract. Plus, getting them in your database will help you attract return business.
How to Get Squarespace with Square POS
To get started using Square with Squarespace, you'll need to have both a Square and Squarespace account.
Then you'll need to set up Squarespace's Commerce app and procure yourself a Square card reader. Once you've connected your accounts and the reader, you'll be able to get starting taking credit cards, mobile payments, and even cash (if you can find anyone still carrying notes and coins in 2019) — and that's it.
With your accounts and reader synced, your inventory, sales reporting, and accounting should all seamlessly update.
Pricing and Availability
Perhaps the most exciting part of the news is that you'll be able to start accepting payments using Square if you're one of Squarespace's Commerce pricing plans.
Squarespace is one of the most affordable ecommerce platforms on the market: its Basic Commerce plan starts at just $26 per month, while its Advanced Commerce plan costs $40 per month. For context, on- and offline sales giant Shopify's plans start from $29 per month and quickly scale up to $79 per month and even $299 per month for the most advanced features.
If you're an iPhone user in the US, you'll be able to get started with Square and Squarespace right away. iPad and Android support for the integration is “coming soon,” according to Squarespace.
You'll also be heartened to hear that Squarespace doesn't charge any transaction fees, although Square might charge you a 2.5% + a 10¢ transaction fee on each sale.
Of course, Square and Squarespace aren't the only companies offering joint POS and ecommerce integrations — Shopify and BigCommerce also offer services which are easy to use with enviable levels of detail. However, the new partnership between Square and Squarespace is likely to undercut the established offerings.
To find out more, check out our Best Retail POS Systems guide or our Best Ecommerce Website Builders guide.
