Sq. for Eating places is a cloud-based restaurant point-of-sale (POS) system constructed on the favored Sq. small enterprise platform. On our annual rating of the greatest restaurant POS techniques, Sq. for Eating places got here in eighth total and earned a 3.45 out of 5. This user-friendly pill POS is simple to self-install, can function on {hardware} you already personal, and comes with built-in, instantaneous digital cost processing from Sq..
Sq.
General Rating: 3.45
OUT OF 5
What We Like
- Free baseline POS subscription
- 30-day free trial for larger subscription tiers
- No long-term contracts
- Reasonably priced {hardware}
What’s Lacking
- Free subscriptions have restricted customer support
- Can’t store round for decrease processing charges
- Can’t pre-authorize tabs
When to Use Sq. for Eating places
- Meals vehicles: Sq. for Eating places is our high suggestion for a meals truck POS, incomes a 4.63 out of 5.
- Slice retailers: This free system earned a 3.50 out of 5 on our pizza POS rating.
- Fast-service eating places: Ths POS got here in fifth in our most up-to-date rating of quick-service restaurant POS.
- Eating places on a price range: Sq. for Eating places POS comes with a free baseline subscription.
When to Use an Various
Sq. for Eating places is nice POS software program for small eating places, new eating places, and particularly for operations which might be each small and new, like a meals truck or a espresso store. It additionally works for bigger operations wanting an easy-to-install POS that may work on iPads, however we suggest this method steadily for smaller eating places as a result of most POS manufacturers overlook them.
It isn’t one of the best in the event you want pre-authorized bar tabs or detailed stock. You’ll be able to bolster your Sq. for Eating places stock instruments with third-party integrations like MarketMan. However in the event you want pre-authorized bar tabs, you’ll be higher off with a system like Toast or Revel.
If you wish to check drive the system, you are able to do so risk-free. The baseline POS is free to make use of, and the higher-level Plus subscription gives a 30-day free trial. Most of Sq.’s affiliated small enterprise instruments for group administration, invoicing, and on-line gross sales additionally provide free baseline choices. So, you possibly can strive the entire Sq. ecosystem earlier than committing to a Sq. POS.
On the lookout for one thing totally different?
Sq. additionally gives tailor-made POS options Sq. for Retail (for unbiased retail retailers), Sq. Appointments (for service-based companies), and Sq. POS (for solopreneurs and normal small companies).
Sq. for Eating places Video Evaluation
Sq. for Eating places Deciding Elements
Sq. for Eating places Charge Calculator
Enter your present in-store and/or on-line gross sales volumes and common order values for an estimate on the month-to-month charges you’ll pay utilizing Sq..
Sq. for Eating places Options
If you happen to’re contemplating Sq. to your restaurant, you’re seemingly additionally taking a look at widespread techniques like Toast and Clover. You’ll be able to see how Sq. stacks up in opposition to these techniques by studying our comparisons of Clover vs Sq. and Toast vs Sq. for Eating places.
Relying in your wants, these are another techniques that may higher assist totally different restaurant sorts:
You will get began with Sq. for Eating places at no cost, both by signing up for the free baseline subscription or by attempting the 30-day free trial of the Plus-level options.
Sq. for Eating places is obtainable at three subscription tiers: Free, Plus, and Premium. Free is on the market with no month-to-month software program subscription charge, and Plus pricing begins at $60 monthly for a single terminal and $40 for every further terminal. In the meantime, Premium subscriptions are custom-quoted.
Eating places also can elect so as to add further options like payroll processing, advertising, and loyalty applications for extra charges. If you wish to take a look at the software program, Sq. for Eating places gives a 30-day free trial. The a number of membership tiers Sq. for Eating places gives make the system an excellent match for numerous meals and beverage companies. Since they’re hosted on the identical platform—and since Sq. operates by month-to-month subscriptions—it’s simple to improve to larger packages as your small business grows.
*30-day free trial
Sq. for Eating places {Hardware}
We additionally contemplate {hardware} value when rating POS techniques. Sq. earned excessive marks right here; you possibly can function the system on iPads you already personal, or buy specialty {hardware} from Sq.. Most Sq.-designed {hardware} has a straightforward month-to-month cost choice to assist offset the upfront value. You should buy card-reader-enabled iPad stands, full touch-screen registers, or Sq. Terminal handheld order and cost units.
Since our final replace:
Earlier variations of the Sq. for Eating places POS didn’t assist full tableside ordering. Nonetheless, Sq. rolled out an replace to the Sq. Terminal in Could 2022, with full-scale tableside ordering capabilities.
The Sq. for Eating places POS has all of the encompasses a small restaurant wants, from examine administration to item-level stock monitoring and fundamental reporting in a user-friendly bundle. The Free membership is restricted, although; it doesn’t permit you to course orders, add seat numbers, reopen closed checks, or print particular person shift stories. This isn’t sufficient performance for full-service eating places, however it’s the excellent velocity for a espresso store or meals truck. Not like most restaurant POS techniques, Sq. additionally offers a free on-line ordering web site in all subscriptions.
Desk & Menu Administration
Verify Administration
With Sq., you can begin checks from a desk on the ground plan or by opening a buyer tab. The one operate the system is lacking is pre-authorizations for bar tabs. If this operate is one thing your restaurant wants, you’ll favor one of many Sq. alternate options we listed above.
Sq. does have a workaround for bar tabs. You’ll be able to create a buyer profile in your Sq. POS, save the bank card data to that profile, and connect it to the tab—although closing out tabs with a “card-on-file” like this may incur a card-not-present transaction charge.
As soon as a examine is open, you possibly can switch it to a brand new desk or assign it to a brand new server, and you can even point out eating classes on checks—like dine-in, pick-up, or supply—to maintain your employees on the identical web page. You’ll be able to even add inside names and notes to checks that solely print in your kitchen so that you could alert your group of allergy symptoms or particular events with out presenting a examine to a buyer that reads “PEANUT ALLERGY – BIRTHDAY” throughout the highest.
The system offers QR code ordering features with none further month-to-month charges. The QR code ordering and cost instruments settle for cell pockets funds like Apple Pay, along with credit score and debit playing cards. Funds processed by means of the QR code ordering function are charged on the larger on-line transaction charges, not card-present charges.
Sq. for Eating places accepts credit score and debit card funds in offline mode. If you happen to lose web connectivity, you possibly can swipe playing cards, and the system will retain the cost data for 72 hours. Once you regain web entry, these spooled funds will robotically run.
Like many restaurant POS techniques, Sq. for Eating places helps auto-gratuity features. Free customers can apply a gratuity to all checks, whereas Plus and Premium customers can set computerized gratuity based mostly on occasion dimension. When it’s time to pay, you possibly can cut up checks by merchandise and settle for a number of funds on a single examine.
Watch out when reopening closed checks in Sq. for Eating places; the system will robotically course of this as a refund. (Supply: Sq.)
The platform at the moment doesn’t have an choice to separate checks by seat or cut up particular person gadgets throughout a number of checks. One other main downside is that Sq. defaults to robotically refunded funds and deletes authorizations anytime you reopen a closed examine.
To bypass this, you’ll want to regulate a setting in your administrative dashboard to “Reopen and Maintain Cost Technique.” This may allow you to maintain the cost methodology on a reopened examine and make changes till you finalize your bank card batch on the finish of the day.
Earlier variations of Sq. for Eating places didn’t assist holding the cost methodology on a reopened examine. Nonetheless, it now permits eating places to do that—default settings simply must be adjusted within the administration dashboard.
One final element that’s related to full-service eating places: Sq. for Eating places’ present coursing function doesn’t assist true order holds. So, in case your server rings in a coursed order and locations the entrees and desserts on maintain, Sq. for Eating places will nonetheless print the entire order within the kitchen. Utilizing order fireplace buttons will solely ship a “fireplace course 2” and “fireplace course 3” ticket to the kitchen. Most different restaurant POS techniques can maintain gadgets with out printing kitchen tickets till you fireplace them.
Sq. for Eating places has all of the fundamentals lined. You’ll be able to add superior options like ingredient-level stock monitoring and payroll administration through the use of third-party integrations or including further Sq. modules like Sq. Advertising, Sq. Invoices, and Sq. Groups. This customization retains small operations from paying for instruments they gained’t use. However, it saved Sq. from scoring larger on our restaurant POS scoring system; so many features require further charges, which may add up.
For a deeper take a look at Sq. for Restaurant’s standout features, take a look at the expandable sections beneath.
Buyer Administration
- Buyer listing: Log buyer contact and choice data immediately from the POS display screen.
- Immediate profiles: You’ll be able to robotically generate profiles from buyer cost knowledge.
- Saved funds: Retailer funds on buyer profiles.
- Buyer notes: Profiles can embrace detailed notes like meals allergy symptoms, desk preferences, or associate’s identify.
- Loyalty: Add Sq. Loyalty to trace factors and reward loyal prospects.
Sq. for Eating places’ built-in buyer listing robotically creates a profile while you course of a credit score or debit card transaction. Eating places can use the listing to construct full profiles with names, contact data, and saved cost strategies.
Clients are prompted to enroll in your loyalty program after they full a transaction. (Supply: Sq.)
You’ll be able to add prospects to your listing after they make a purchase order, or bulk add current buyer lists by way of CSV information. Your buyer profiles will observe fundamental knowledge just like the buyer’s variety of visits, most frequent purchases, and current rewards factors. It additionally allows you to add {custom} notes about their eating preferences and meals allergy symptoms.
Sq. Loyalty is a digital rewards program. Clients enroll at checkout and are tracked by their cellphone numbers, so there are not any rewards numbers to recollect, playing cards handy out, or apps to obtain. Eating places can reward prospects based mostly on visits, spend, or buying particular gadgets.
Loyalty knowledge robotically syncs along with your different gross sales stories. Just like the textual content messaging instruments, Sq. Loyalty’s complete value relies on use. Pricing begins at $45 monthly for as much as 500 loyalty visits. Like most Sq. instruments, you possibly can check drive the Loyalty program free for 30 days.
Sq. Loyalty Charges
Advertising
- Marketing campaign administration: Create {custom} electronic mail campaigns and observe their effectiveness.
- Automated messaging: Create messages to robotically ship birthday or particular occasion emails.
- Templated Designs: Replace numerous pre-built templates along with your restaurant brand and messaging to generate social media promotions.
- Textual content message advertising: Ship affirmation messages and advertising emails to buyer telephones. Automate messages or customise campaigns.
Sq. contains electronic mail templates in order that your advertising emails look sharp {and professional}. (Supply: Sq.)
Sq. Advertising is an electronic mail advertising instrument that allows you to compose {custom} messages immediately out of your Sq. dashboard and ship them to your prospects. You’ll be able to arrange automated messages, akin to birthday emails, or ship coupon and low cost codes throughout the emails. The Sq. Advertising add-on begins at $15 monthly.
Sq. E-mail Advertising Charges
Textual content message advertising options can be found as an add-on. The texting instruments are constructed immediately into the POS, so that you don’t must obtain one other app or use an integration. Sq. fees a month-to-month subscription charge of $10 so as to add textual content advertising. You’ll then pay a further charge based mostly on the variety of texts you ship. As with all different Sq. instruments, there are not any long-term contracts, both, so you possibly can cancel anytime.
Sq. tracks your textual content and electronic mail advertising campaigns, so you possibly can measure the success of every marketing campaign. (Supply: Sq.)
You’ll be able to observe your advertising campaigns in your Sq. dashboard and see how a lot cash you spent versus how a lot gross sales every marketing campaign introduced in, so that you by no means should guess if a marketing campaign was value it. These advertising instruments are among the most detailed you will see in any restaurant POS. Solely Toast comes shut with its electronic mail advertising instruments, however textual content advertising requires an integration.
Reporting
- A number of reporting tiers: Free subscriptions provide fundamental reporting; Plus and Premium subscriptions assist superior reporting.
- Reside gross sales reporting: Plus and Premium customers can see energetic gross sales efficiency in actual time.
- Time monitoring: Log worker hours for straightforward payroll reporting.
- Shut of day: This report gained’t run till all checks are closed and all workers clocked out, making certain your bank card batches and timekeeping information keep correct.
All three Sq. for Eating places tiers embrace fundamental reporting, which covers in-app Gross sales Reporting and Merchandise Gross sales. All subscriptions observe worker hours that will help you create correct payroll stories. Nonetheless, in order for you extra detailed stories for gross sales by hour, gross sales by worker, low cost codes, and labor prices, you’ll must improve to a Plus or Premium membership.
Reporting is the place the Free tier differs most from the paid subscriptions. For instance, Free customers can not print particular person shift gross sales stories by worker. So, in case you have 4 servers, every ringing orders in and accepting funds, you gained’t have the ability to separate their exercise from each other underneath the Free subscription. This gained’t restrict a counter-service operation or a ghost kitchen with few money transactions, however full-service spots ought to improve to not less than a Plus subscription to keep away from this pinch.
You’ll be able to view dwell stories and run shift stories out of your Sq. for Eating places POS terminal. (Supply: Sq.)
You’ll be able to view real-time gross sales reporting within the POS app or generate end-of-shift and end-of-day stories out of your Sq. dashboard. Any further modules you add—e.g., advertising and group administration—include their very own reporting options.
So, you’ll have the ability to entry gross sales, labor, and advertising stories all out of your Sq. administration dashboard. Sq.’s reporting is fairly complete, however stories are inclined to have a single focus like gross sales, taxes, and so on. In case your every day supervisor log requires gross sales, comps, voids, reductions, and gross sales data, you’ll want to tug a number of stories.
On-line Ordering & Supply Administration
- Built-in web site: Use Sq. On-line to create a payment-enabled on-line ordering web site at no cost.
- Third-party optimized: Route orders from a number of third-party platforms on to your POS.
- Built-in kitchen show system (KDS): Accepted on-line orders route on to your KDS screens, tagged with the supply supplier.
- Drivers on-demand: Ship in-house supply orders to third-party drivers for a flat charge.
- In-house choice: Handle your individual drivers for 50 cents per order.
- Stackable resolution: Mix in-house methods with third-party platforms to maximise supply operations.
- Social promoting: You’ll be able to place on-line ordering hyperlinks in your Google itemizing, and on Fb and Instagram.
Sq. for Eating places gives 4 choices for digital ordering and supply administration:
- Direct on-line ordering by way of your Sq. On-line web site
- Third-party platform integration
- Supply by way of on-demand third-party drivers
- Supply by way of an in-house driver group
The primary two choices may be mixed to create a personalized on-line ordering and supply resolution that most closely fits your restaurant.
Sq. for Eating places helps free direct integrations with third-party ordering and supply platform Postmates. Different third-party platforms (Uber Eats, Grubhub, and DoorDash) hook up with the POS by way of aggregating apps Chowly, Deliverect, Ritual, and others.
Whereas Sq. doesn’t cost a charge for these integrations, the apps usually have their very own subscription and fee charges. Orders positioned by way of these built-in platforms will go on to your POS and KDS or kitchen printers; you gained’t want a pill or smartphone to handle particular person platform orders.
Sq. for Eating places’ supply administration will not be totally centralized but. You’ll be able to settle for orders from third-party platforms immediately in your POS and KDS, however 86-ed gadgets don’t robotically disappear out of your on-line menus. You have to replace on-line menus individually on every platform in the event you run out of an merchandise. You’ll be able to, nevertheless, handle deliveries for a number of areas from a single Sq. dashboard.
Your free Sq. On-line retailer integrates immediately along with your POS. (Supply: Sq.)
You can too arrange a free on-line ordering web site by way of Sq. On-line, which lets you create time-limited menus and settle for on-line funds. These orders may be accepted for pick-up solely, or you possibly can provide supply. It additionally allows you to craft automated textual content or electronic mail messages to inform prospects that their order has been accepted, together with their anticipated supply or pick-up instances.
You’ve got two most important choices for in-house supply: utilizing on-demand drivers or dispatching your individual employees—nevertheless, you have to select one or the opposite.
When you go for on-demand drivers, Sq. will robotically generate a driver request from a neighborhood courier as quickly as you settle for the order. Sq. fees a flat fee of $1.50 per supply for on-demand couriers, although the courier service might have further supply charges (normally $4–$7 per supply). You’ve got the choice to cowl the charge, move the fee on to your prospects, or soak up the charge for supply for orders over a certain quantity.
For every order routed to your in-house group of drivers, Sq. fees a flat per-order charge of fifty cents. You’ll be able to move this charge onto your prospects or cost a further {custom}, distance-based supply charge. Additionally, you possibly can set a supply zone within the POS in order that your group doesn’t should journey too distant. Lastly, it allows you to message prospects immediately out of your Sq. POS or Sq. Dashboard in case you have questions on their order.
You’ll be able to select to stop giant on-line orders, enable tipping, or settle for buyer arrival messages in your Sq. On-line dashboard. (Supply: Sq.)
This setup is a little bit advanced, but it surely permits for lots of flexibility. Since Sq. doesn’t require any long-term commitments, you possibly can shift your supply technique at any time. Bear in mind, although, that the charges listed are Sq.’s charges. Third-party platforms have their very own charge schedules and contract lengths, so in the event you use third-party instruments, your prices shall be larger.
- App Retailer entry: Obtain POS software program immediately from App Retailer.
- Excessive-contrast show: Dynamic menu, desk, and KDS screens use contrasting colours so that you could learn them at a look.
- Bulk import: Pace your menu arrange and updates by importing new data by way of spreadsheet information.
- Customer support: Obtainable by way of chat, cellphone, or electronic mail; 24/7 for Plus and Premium customers (6 a.m. to six p.m. Pacific time, Monday by means of Friday for Free customers).
- Coaching database: A complete on-line database of tutorials walks you thru numerous managerial features and power setups.
- Sturdy consumer boards: Reply any query you could have and join with like-minded restaurant house owners.
Sq. for Eating places is without doubt one of the most simple POS techniques to arrange and run. You create a Sq. account, obtain Sq. for Eating places from the Apple App Retailer onto an iPad, and also you’re good to go. Sq. sends your first card reader to you at no cost, however in the event you don’t wish to await transport, you possibly can decide up a Sq. card reader at a neighborhood workplace provide retailer. You’ll be able to simply add third-party integrations or further Sq. modules with just a few clicks in your Sq. dashboard.
Including integrations to your Sq. POS solely takes just a few clicks. (Supply: Sq.)
The minimalist Sq. interface is acquainted to employees and prospects alike. The POS and KDS modules’ vivid coloration decisions make it simple to see what tables or orders are lagging. Establishing a number of ground plans, menus, and reductions solely takes just a few clicks.
Sq. gives 24/7 customer support by cellphone and electronic mail to Plus and Premium customers, however you may get quicker solutions by looking Sq.’s on-line assist database and consumer boards. The sources are extremely detailed, and usually, present sufficient data that you simply don’t want private assist. If one-on-one interactions are necessary to you, Sq. does have dwell customer support representatives, however some customers word that they’re exhausting to succeed in.
Sq. for Eating places is a user-friendly system that’s continuously bettering. The low subscription value, lack of long-term contracts, and reasonably priced {hardware} make this method a pure match for small eating places. The convenience with which small companies can join further Sq. modules for invoicing, payroll and group administration, and on-line ordering makes Sq. for Eating places a compelling alternative for any restaurant that should streamline operations.
Sq. for Eating places is simply an all-around nice system. Nonetheless, there are a few granular particulars to be careful for. Most of Sq. for Eating places’ coaching and assist supplies are on-line; it may be troublesome to get a dwell buyer assist rep on the cellphone in the event you want help.
The system additionally can not pre-authorize bar tabs, and ingredient-level stock monitoring requires a third-party integration. If you happen to don’t want these features and are comfy self-troubleshooting technical points, then you definately’re unlikely to discover a higher POS than Sq. for Eating places.
What Customers Consider Sq. for Eating places POS
Sq. for Eating places earns excessive marks from customers and specialists alike for its value. It’s not possible to high “free” and hard to discover a POS that helps micro meals and beverage operations—and Sq. for Eating places actually matches that invoice.
- Capterra: 4.2 out of 5 based mostly on greater than 30 evaluations, with greater than 72% of customers recommending the system to others.
- App Retailer: 4.4 out of 5 stars based mostly on over 2,500 rankings
- G2: 4.2 out of 5 based mostly on round 5 evaluations
Sq. for Eating places evaluations point out that customers love how simple this POS is to make use of and the way shortly you possibly can add new options. The net retailer integration has been a lifesaver for a lot of small eating places that wish to provide on-line ordering.
Most unfavourable evaluations point out an absence of performance within the Free POS. It’s important to notice that the Free POS is actually greatest suited to small operations like slice retailers and cloud kitchens; full-service eating places and busy QSRs ought to go for not less than the Plus tier.
These are among the developments you’ll discover when studying by means of Sq. for Eating places evaluations:
Methodology – How We Evaluated
We fee restaurant POS techniques throughout greater than 20 standards which might be necessary to restaurant house owners. Subsequent, we contemplate value and ease of use, in addition to normal POS features and area of interest POS options. Lastly, we contemplate the opinions of precise customers alongside our restaurant professional’s private expertise utilizing the software program.
Click on by means of the slides beneath for an in depth rationalization of our standards:
10% of General Rating
Unbiased eating places function with tight budgets. We first thought of whether or not every system gives a free plan, free trial, and entry-level software program subscription underneath $75 monthly. To assist guarantee eating places can get the bottom doable costs, we gave excessive marks to POS techniques that assist a number of cost processing choices. Lastly, we thought of {hardware} prices and subscription size. Techniques that enable eating places to convey their very own {hardware} or keep away from long-term service contracts earned the best marks.
30% of General Rating
Each restaurant wants to trace worker hours, course of contactless funds and reward playing cards, and shortly entry gross sales and labor stories. As a result of many eating places course of suggestions for workers, we seemed for techniques which have strong tip-tracking features. We additionally thought of superior workforce administration options like built-in worker scheduling and enforced clock-ins to maintain prices in line.
30% of General Rating
To find out one of the best total restaurant POS, we in contrast the variety of restaurant-specific features which might be related to varied restaurant sorts. Since many eating places function with some kind of bar, we seemed for features like money administration and bank card preauthorization. We additionally rewarded POS techniques with customizable stories, ingredient-level stock monitoring with bodily counting instruments, built-in on-line ordering, and dynamic loyalty and advertising instruments.
15% of General Rating
As a result of numerous eating places function in early mornings, in late nights, and on weekends, we prioritized restaurant POS techniques that provide 24/7 buyer assist. We additionally awarded factors to POS techniques with hybrid set up or an offline mode, so it’s nonetheless operational in case your web goes out. We additionally thought of how a lot set up assist every system gives and whether or not it’s cloud-based, enabling cell entry to administration and reporting dashboards.
15% of General Rating
Lastly, we evaluated any standout options that particular person techniques might have. We additionally thought of whether or not the system gives good total worth for its value and judged every system’s reputation amongst restaurant companies. Then, we awarded factors based mostly on our private expertise interacting with the software program and the corporate’s buyer assist representatives.
*Percentages of total rating
Backside Line
Sq. for Eating places is a wildly reasonably priced, easy-to-use POS with stable front-end options like a number of menus, merchandise modifiers, desk administration, and a buyer listing. In case you have a counter-service, quick-service, or delivery-only restaurant, Sq. for Eating places’ Free plan is a wonderful match for your small business. And at $60 monthly, a Plus subscription offers a ton of options at a aggressive value for full-service eating places with eating rooms.
POS subscriptions run on a month-to-month foundation, so you possibly can change your plan at any time. For a charge, you possibly can have a Sq. professional come to your small business, arrange the system with all of the customizations you want, and prepare your employees. You’ll be able to go to the Sq. for Eating places web site to study extra or join the free 30-day trial to check drive the software program your self.