What is Square Up?
Square Up (also called Square) is a widely used platform that helps small businesses accept payments, manage sales, and run both online and in-person operations. Its core features include POS systems, card readers, online store tools, invoicing, payment links, and inventory management. Square is especially popular with retail, food service, salons, and service-based businesses because it bundles hardware, software, and payments into one ecosystem. While Square Up is convenient and beginner-friendly, some users note that transaction fees can add up as order volume grows, and advanced features like marketing, payroll, or loyalty programs require additional subscriptions. If you're comparing Square to alternatives, it’s worth evaluating how each platform handles fees, customization, and scalability—especially if you expect your business to grow or need more specialized tools.
Overview
Build your online store, accept payments anywhere, and manage sales with Square Up’s all-in-one platform.
TL; DR
- Drag-and-drop store builder
- Integrated POS & online payments
- Inventory & catalog sync
- Check out links, invoices & subscriptions
- Loyalty, gift cards & marketing tools
- Shipping, taxes & fulfillment
Square Up is an online store builder and payment platform that helps businesses sell online and in person. With tools for payments, POS, and e-commerce, it simplifies selling and managing your business in one place.
Everything That’s Included in Square Up
| Point of Sale (POS) App | |
| Online Store Builder (Free Ecommerce Store Builder) | |
| Online Store Website Builder Tools | |
| Online Payments (Invoices, Payment Links, Checkout Pages) | |
| Card-on-File & Customer Directory | |
| Inventory Management (Basic) | |
| Digital Receipts & Tipping Options | |
| Reporting & Sales Analytics (Standard) | |
| Virtual Terminal for Manual Payments | |
| Dispute Management & Chargeback Support | |
| Team Permissions & Staff Management (Basic) | |
| Integrations with eCommerce Platforms & Apps | |
| Access to Customer Support |
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For most businesses, an online store builder—whether it’s Square Up, Shopify, or any other ecommerce store builder—is the easiest way to create a professional online presence without hiring a developer. These tools give you everything you need to start selling online: secure checkout, product pages, payments, and a simple online store website builder. Once you understand the value of having an online storefront, cost becomes the next concern. It’s why many new sellers search for things like a Square Up promo code or coupon for Square Up—every saving matters in the early stages. Elevate.store does offer a $1 Shopify deal for anyone looking for a more customizable or scalable store builder. But if you’re comparing options, it helps to clearly understand what Square Up offers. Here’s a closer look at the key features you get with Square Up.
Important Square Up features
- Square Online Store Builder: Create a free online store using drag-and-drop tools, product pages, customizable layouts, and built-in checkout—ideal for anyone needing an online store builder without coding.
- Point of Sale (POS) System: Square’s POS app works for retail, food service, salons, and service businesses. Accept cards, cash, contactless payments, digital wallets, and track sales in one place.
- Payment Links, Invoices & Checkout Pages: Generate payment links, digital invoices, and checkout buttons—letting you accept payments without a full website. Useful for quick sales, services, and social-media-driven businesses.
- Inventory Management (Basic): Track stock levels, variants, modifiers, and low-inventory alerts. Real-time sync keeps your online store, POS, and orders aligned across channels.
- Customer Directory & Digital Receipts: Store customer details automatically, save cards on file, issue digital receipts, enable tipping, and track purchase history to support upsells and repeat business.
- Sales Reporting & Analytics: View reports on sales, items, channels, taxes, and customer activity. Basic analytics are included for free and help you understand performance across your online and in-person sales.
- Dispute Management & Fraud Protection: Square handles chargeback support, fraud checks, and payment disputes for you—reducing risk, especially for small businesses that can’t manage complex payment issues.
- Team Management (Basic): Set staff permissions, track time (basic), and manage employee access to different parts of your Square account.
- eCommerce Platform Integrations: Integrate Square with tools for shipping, marketing, accounting, delivery, and third-party ecommerce platforms when needed—expanding how you sell and operate.
Looking for an Online Store Builder? Compare Square Up vs Shopify.
Square Up is a well-known online store builder for small businesses, pairing a free online store with its POS and payment tools. It’s a popular entry point for sellers who want something simple, quick, and low-commitment. But if you're comparing options—and looking for scalability—it’s worth asking: Is there an e-commerce store builder for long-term growth that might better suit your needs? Many business owners search for a Square coupon code, Square Up promo code, or ways to lower Square’s processing fees. But instead of working around Square’s limitations, it helps to look at how Shopify’s store builder compares—especially if you’re building a brand or scaling your online presence. Not sure which one to pick? Here’s how Square Up vs Shopify really stacks up:
| Square Up | ||
|---|---|---|
| Online Store Builder | Free basic online store website builder with limited design flexibility | Full ecommerce store builder with robust themes, customizations & app ecosystem |
| Ecommerce Features | Basic product pages, checkout, simple site layout | Advanced storefronts, multi-page sites, blogs, custom sections, 1000s of apps |
| POS System | Best-in-class POS included for free | POS available, strong but requires paid hardware & plan |
| Payments | Square Payments only; standard processing fees | Shopify Payments plus 100+ gateways; lower fees on Shopify Payments |
| Inventory Management | Basic inventory tools; fits small catalogs | Advanced inventory, multi-location, transfers & forecasting |
| Shipping Tools | Basic shipping & pickup options | Discounted carrier rates, fulfillment tools & real-time shipping |
| Marketing Tools | Basic email marketing; limited automations | Built-in email, SEO tools, automation, abandoned cart, app integrations |
| Scalability | Great for small shops, hobby sellers & in-person businesses | Built for scaling brands & online-first businesses |
| Design Flexibility | Limited templates & customization | Professional themes, drag-and-drop editor, full code access |
| App Store | Very limited | 8,000+ apps for marketing, shipping, accounting, subscriptions, etc. |
| Multi-Channel Selling | Social links & simple integrations | Sell on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Amazon, Etsy & more |
| Support | Email & chat support | 24/7 support by phone, chat & email |
| Pricing | Free plan (transaction-fee based); add-ons cost extra | Paid plans starting low; far more features included |
Save 97% on Shopify with Elevate.store’s exclusive deal on email marketing.
Claim here All deals are FREE. No credit card required.Frequently Asked Questions
What is Square Up?
Square Up is a commerce and payments platform that helps small businesses accept payments, manage sales, and build an online presence through its free online store builder. It bundles POS, payment processing, inventory, and simple website tools into one system.
What does Square Up mean?
“Square Up” simply means settling a payment or completing a transaction. In the context of the platform, it refers to using Square’s tools to take payments, manage orders, and run your business.
What is Square Up used for?
Square Up is used to:
- Accept in-person and online payments
- Run a POS system
- Build a simple online store using the free ecommerce store builder
- Manage products, inventory, customers, and bookings
- Send digital invoices and payment links
It’s designed for small businesses that want an all-in-one system without complex setup.
Is Square Up good for small businesses?
Yes. Square Up is highly beginner-friendly and works well for small retailers, service providers, food businesses, and creators because:
- There are no monthly fees for the basic plan
- The online store builder is included for free
- Payments, POS, and inventory sync automatically
- Setup is simple and doesn’t require technical skills
Searches for a Square Up promo code often arise from cost concerns, but Square’s base tools are already free—you only pay transaction fees.
Is Square Up safe?
Yes. Square Up is secure, PCI-compliant, and trusted by millions of merchants. It includes:
- Encrypted payment processing
- Fraud detection and risk monitoring
- Chargeback support
- Secure online checkout
You don’t need any special Square Up coupon code to access safety features—they’re built into the platform.
How do I set up a Square account?
You can set up a Square Up account by visiting Square’s website and completing a short sign-up form with your name, business details, and banking information. Once verified, you can immediately access the POS app, payment tools, and the free online store builder.
How do I sign up for Square?
To sign up for Square, go to the Square Up website, click “Get Started,” and follow the on-screen steps. You’ll be asked about your business type, selling method, and whether you want to use the online store website builder.
How do I register my business with Square?
Registering your business with Square means creating your account, verifying your identity, and connecting your bank account for deposits. You don’t need official business registration paperwork to start using Square Up—sole proprietors can sign up instantly.
How do I use Square Up?
After signing up, you can use Square Up by:
- Downloading the Square POS app
- Setting up products and pricing
- Accepting card, tap, or online payments
- Creating a site with the free ecommerce store builder
- Sending invoices, payment links, or QR codes
- Tracking payments and sales from your dashboard
All core tools work together out of the box—no square up coupon is required to access the basics.
Does Square offer an online store?
Yes. Square Up includes a free online store builder that lets you create an online storefront without coding. You can list products, accept payments, offer pickup or delivery, and sync everything with your POS system.
What kind of businesses can use Square?
Square Up works for most small businesses, including:
- Retail stores
- Cafés and restaurants
- Service providers (salons, mechanics, consultants)
- Food trucks and pop-ups
- Freelancers and creators
- Home-based businesses
- Online-only sellers using the ecommerce store builder
Because Square combines payments, POS, invoicing, and a free online store builder, it’s flexible enough for both in-person and digital businesses.

