Square Point of Sale turns an iPhone into a practical checkout system for small businesses. You can take payments, ring up products, send receipts, track daily sales, and keep basic business information organized in one app.

It works well for cafés, market stalls, mobile services, pop-up shops, independent retailers, and anyone who needs to accept payments away from a traditional register.

How to install Square Point of Sale

1. Open the Square Point of Sale page on your iPhone.

2. Tap Get.

3. Confirm the installation with Face ID or your Apple ID password.

4. Open the app and create a Square account or sign in.

5. Add your business details and choose how you want to accept payments.

Square may ask you to verify your identity and business information before payment processing is enabled.

Accept payments from your iPhone

Square supports several ways to get paid. You can connect compatible Square hardware for chip, swipe, and contactless cards, or use Tap to Pay on iPhone on a supported device.

Tap to Pay lets customers hold a contactless card, iPhone, Apple Watch, or another digital wallet near your iPhone. No separate card reader is required for eligible transactions.

You can also record cash payments, manually enter card details when permitted, or charge a saved card with the customer’s approval.

Set up products and checkout

Products and services can be added to a customizable item library with names, prices, taxes, variations, and optional modifiers.

At checkout, select an item or enter a custom amount, apply a discount when needed, and complete the sale. Customers can receive a digital receipt by email or text, while supported printers can provide paper receipts.

Different operating modes help adjust the checkout experience for retail, food and beverage, professional services, and other types of businesses.

Track sales and inventory

The app records transactions automatically, so you can review completed payments, issue refunds, and see how the business is performing.

Basic reports show sales totals, payment methods, popular items, taxes, and other useful information. Inventory tools can also update stock levels as products are sold, helping you notice when something needs to be reordered.

More advanced inventory, employee, restaurant, and reporting features may require another Square product or a paid plan.

Invoices and customer information

Square can create and send invoices when a customer is paying later rather than at the counter. You can add products or services, set a due date, and follow the payment status.

Customer details and purchase history can also be saved with the appropriate permission. This is useful for repeat orders, digital receipts, loyalty programs, and future appointments.

How much does Square cost?

Square Point of Sale is free to download, and the basic POS software can be used without a monthly subscription.

Square charges payment-processing fees when you accept eligible card or digital wallet payments. Optional hardware, instant transfers, advanced software plans, marketing tools, loyalty programs, and other services may cost extra.

The applicable fee is shown in your Square account and depends on the payment method and current pricing.

Frequently asked questions

Can I accept contactless payments without a card reader?

Yes. Tap to Pay on iPhone is available on compatible devices and in supported locations.

Can I use Square for cash sales?

Yes. Cash and other supported payment types can be recorded in the app.

Does Square manage inventory?

Yes. Basic inventory tracking is available, with additional tools offered through retail plans and services.

Can I send invoices?

Yes. Square supports digital invoices and online customer payments.

Is Square Point of Sale only for stores?

No. It can also be used by service businesses, restaurants, mobile sellers, contractors, and other independent businesses.

Get Square Point of Sale on your iPhone

Square Point of Sale is a strong option when you need a checkout system that is quick to set up and easy to carry.

It starts with the essentials—accepting payments and recording sales—but can grow into a broader business system with inventory, invoices, customer tools, online ordering, and additional Square hardware.