Square got you started. The flat rate wasn't meant to scale.
Square deserves its reputation. Nothing beats it for taking your first card payment in ten minutes. This page is about what changes when your volume gets real.
Compare against my real numbersWhere Square shines
Day-one simplicity
Sign up at breakfast, sell by lunch. No underwriting wait, no setup conversation.
Beautiful free software
The free POS app is genuinely good for a stall, a side gig or a first month.
Predictable flat pricing
One rate, no statement to read. At low volume, simplicity is worth the premium.
Where the broker wins
The rate at real volume
Flat rates carry a generous margin inside them. At $20K+ a month, bid processing routinely beats that by thousands a year. Dual pricing can take the cost away.
Account stability
Platforms that approve you instantly can also freeze and hold your money. An algorithm makes that call. A merchant account is underwritten up front, with a local broker attached. It doesn't surprise you on a Friday.
A human who knows you
Our support is a phone number in Federal Way. It's not a help center. When something breaks in the middle of service, that difference is everything.
Equipment without rental math
Terminals come free on accounts we open. No paying monthly to rent hardware.
Keep Square if you're under roughly $20K a month and simple beats all. Past that, what you pay for simple buys a lot of broker.
Fair questions
Is Square bad?
No. It's excellent at what it's built for. That is instant, simple, low-volume acceptance. It's just priced for convenience. Convenience pricing scales badly.
When does switching make sense?
Around $20K a month in card volume, the math starts to favor a real account. It only grows from there. One month of statements gives you the exact number.
Will I lose my sales history?
We move catalogs and customers over where the systems allow it. Either way, you keep access to your old reporting.
Square froze my funds. Can you help?
This is one of the most common calls we get. Underwritten accounts through us establish your risk profile up front, which is exactly why they don't freeze by surprise.
Can I keep hardware I bought from Square?
Square hardware only runs Square. The good news: replacement terminals on our accounts are free, so the switch doesn't cost equipment money.