Small Business News

Square Debuts New Generation of Square Stand for Small Businesses

Over the past decade, Square has become a ubiquitous part of many small businesses. In addition to its popular attachments that turn phones into card readers, the company has continued to expand its offerings with new platforms, products, and more. Now, the firm has announced an update to one of its small business options that allows entrepreneurs to repurpose tech they may already have and turn it into a point of sale system.

This week, the company unveiled the updated Square Stand, which enables small businesses to utilize an iPad as a sleek POS register. With the latest generation of the product, businesses will be able to easily accept credit cards via tap/mobile, dip (EMV chip), or swipe. Additionally, the system supports payments customers can make from Cash App by scanning a QR code that will display on the screen.

All of these payments types are integrated into the stand while other Square accessories can also be used with it. The latest version of the Square Stand is compatible with iPad models from 2019, 2020, and 2021 as well as with the 2019 iPad Air and 10.5″ iPad Pro model.

In terms of pricing, the latest Square Stand can be purchased for $149 upfront or $14 a month for 12 months (totaling $168). Businesses without a compatible iPad of their own can also order one with their stand at an additional cost of $329. For comparison, Square’s POS register currently retails for $799 or $39 a month for 24 months.

Announcing the updated Square Stand and detailing the appeal of the product, Head of Square Alyssa Henry said in a statement, “The way businesses and shoppers interact around the world has evolved exponentially in the time since we first launched our original Square Stand. The new Stand was built with the future of commerce in mind. Marrying elegant design with powerful software, Square Stand provides sellers of any size, from boutique retailers to multi-location restaurants, with a versatile command center for their business.” Henry added, “Square Stand offers sellers an integrated way to meet the purchasing preferences of today’s consumers.”

It’s worth noting that the arrival of the latest Square Stand comes not too long after the formerly-named Square Inc. became Block Inc. Part of the reason cited for that moniker switch was the desire for the original Square to get back to its roots and assist small businesses. While the Square Stand update may not be game-changing, it is a reminder of just how revolutionary Square’s original products were and that they can continue to be helpful to today’s business owners.