Setting up a Square account for free: Complete Guide

Getting Started with Square

Setting up Square is simple, fast, and highly efficient—perfect for entrepreneurs navigating the current landscape of digital payments. Whether you're launching a boutique business, offering professional services, or expanding your retail presence, Square provides an all-in-one platform to manage sales, payments, and customer interactions with ease. With its seamless blend of software, apps, hardware, and real-time analytics, Square is designed to empower business owners and streamline operations.

To kick off your Square journey, SeHaT Dr recommends preparing a few essential details before diving into the actual setup. This will help ensure a smooth and uninterrupted registration process, allowing you to start accepting payments and running your business without delays.

Here is the necessary information you need when setting up Square:

Full legal name
Date of birth
Email address
Phone number
Home address
Shipping address
A US-based bank account
Social Security number

Additionally, it’s recommended (but not mandatory) to have an Employer Identification Number (EIN) and a business bank account for better financial management and verification.

Once these pieces of information are ready, you can begin the setup with confidence. SeHaT Dr's detailed step-by-step guide will walk you through the entire Square setup process, from account creation to integrating Square’s tools into your business model. With Square’s user-friendly interface and flexible features, business owners can now accept payments in person, online, and even on the go—all in real time.

In the current competitive market, having an efficient payment system like Square is more than just a convenience—it's a competitive edge. Let this guide help you unlock the full potential of your business through Square.

Setting Up a Square Account for Free: Complete Guide

Square is one of the most versatile payment processing platforms available for both online and in-person businesses. Whether you're just starting out or scaling up, creating a Square account is a key step toward modernizing your payment infrastructure. SeHaT Dr has broken down the full setup process into five simple, detailed steps to ensure a smooth onboarding experience.

1. Sign In or Create a Square Account

If SeHaT Dr already has an active Square account, simply log in using the official Square Payment

However, if you're new to Square, you’ll need to register first. Visit Square official sites and click the Get Started button.

On the “Let’s create your account” page, fill out the required fields:

Enter your email address (this will serve as your login ID).
Set a secure password.
Choose the country where your business is based.

You must agree to Square’s Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and E-Sign Consent. Once confirmed, click Continue to proceed.

This initial step creates your Square account and grants you instant access to the Seller Dashboard, where you’ll complete the next stages of the setup.

2. Submit Your Business Information

On the next screen, SeHaT Dr must provide accurate business details. The fields required may vary depending on your selected country, but typically include:

Business name
Business type (e.g., sole proprietorship, LLC)
Industry category
Business address and phone number

After submitting this form, your business profile will be connected to your Square account. You will be redirected automatically to your Seller Dashboard.

3. Create Your Square App

To integrate Square into your website or point-of-sale system, you’ll need to create a Square app. Here's how SeHaT Dr handles this step:

From your Seller Dashboard, click on Apps.
Choose Square App Marketplace and then navigate to the Square Developer Platform.

Click Get Started on the Developer Platform page.

Now follow these steps:

Click Create Your First Application (or New Application if apps already exist).
Name your app and agree to the Square Developer Terms of Service.
Click Save to confirm and create the app.

Your newly created app will be available under:

Applications in the Developer Dashboard
My Applications in the Seller Dashboard

This app will serve as the bridge between Square and your e-commerce solution or in-store system.

4. Access App Configuration Details

To configure payment settings in your store, SeHaT Dr needs to obtain several key credentials from the app dashboard.

In the Developer Dashboard, click Open next to your created app.
In the Seller Dashboard, click Manage beside the same app.

You’ll now see a complete list of credentials and settings for the app. This includes fields such as:

Application ID
Access Token
Webhook URL (if applicable)

These credentials will be used later to link Square with your store or payment gateway.

5. Configure App Mode and API Version

This final step determines how your app interacts with Square's payment system.

Decide whether to keep your app in Sandbox Mode (for testing) or switch it to Production (for live transactions).
Navigate to the Credentials page in the Developer Dashboard.
Scroll to the API Version section and select the latest version (ensuring your system stays compatible with Square's newest features).

Then scroll back up to locate your Application ID and Access Token—these will be necessary for completing the integration between Square and your X-Cart store or any other supported platform.

How to Set Up Square Dashboard

The online Square Dashboard acts as your business control center. With it, you can manage team members, set up locations, customize receipts, monitor sales analytics, and much more—all in one place. SeHaT Dr presents a full guide to configuring everything from security settings to restaurant POS, tailored for the current setup.

Secure Your Account with 2-Step Verification

The first priority is protecting your account. Square’s 2-step verification adds an essential layer of security to your login process.

To activate it, follow these steps:

Go to Account & Settings in your Square Dashboard.

Click Activate 2-Step Verification.

Choose whether to require or allow team members to skip this feature, then click Next Step.
Select your preferred method—SMS or an Authentication App. Let’s use SMS for this example.

Enter your mobile number and click Next Step.
Square will text you a verification code. Enter the code and click Verify.

With this step complete, your account is protected and ready for financial operations.

Set Up Transfers

Square gives you full control over how and when you receive your earnings. Choose between automatic nightly transfers, manual payouts, or transfers to your Square Card.

To enable manual transfers via the Dashboard:

Go to the Balance tab in the main menu.
Select a location and choose Transfer Settings.
Under Transfer Schedule, switch to Manual.

To manually transfer funds:

Log in to your Dashboard and select Balance.
Pick your location under the Locations section.
Click Transfer Out.

Via the Square POS app:

Tap More → Balance → Transfer Out.

To customize daily closing times:

In the Dashboard, go to Balance → Settings.
Pick your time zone and a closing time (recommend setting it one hour after your actual closing time).
Apply these settings across all days and hit Save.

Set Up Location

Square allows managing up to 300 locations from one master account. While you can’t delete a location, deactivating it is possible.

To add a new location:

Go to Account & Settings → Business → Locations.

Click Create Location.

Fill in all required fields including:

Basic Info
Address
Contact Details
Branding
Business Hours
Bank Info
Language
Item Library match
Assigned Team Members

Click Save to finalize.

Set Up Receipts

Customizing your receipts gives your brand a professional touch.

To customize receipts:

Go to Account & Settings → Business Information → Receipts.
Upload a logo, brand color, and return policy.
Add business location, contact details, and optional custom text.
Click Save once done.

Set Up Dashboard Library

The Dashboard Item Library syncs across Square POS and Square Online. Here’s how to create new items:

Go to Items → Create an Item.

Fill out item details under:

Details
Pricing
Inventory
Menus

Click Save when complete.

Set Up Taxes

To configure taxes:

Open Account & Settings → Business → Sales Taxes.
Click Create Tax.
Fill in the tax name, rates, rules, and exemptions.

Click Save.

Set Up Inventory

To enable stock tracking:

Go to Items in your Dashboard.

Select an item, then click its variation.

In Stock Action, enter the stock reason and enable stock tracking.
Add the current stock level and turn on stock alerts.
Click Done → Save.

Set Up Team

Square offers both a free plan and a premium Team Plus. Before assigning roles, create a secure passcode:

Go to Staff & Payroll → Team → Team Members List.
Choose the account owner's name → Edit under Permissions.
Set a 4-digit passcode or generate one automatically.

To add a new team member:

Go to Team → Team Members → + Team Member.
Enter the name, email, and phone number.
Assign a job title and pay structure.
Assign permissions (Standard, Advanced, or Full).
Pick a work location and generate a login passcode.
Click Save & Review.

Set Up View Analytics

To gain insights from Square reports:

Go to Reports → Sales Summary.
Filter by time, location, or other variables.
Click Export to download a CSV file for offline use.

Set Up Square Hardware

After ordering your Square hardware, it’s time to connect and start processing payments.

Square Reader for Contactless and Chip:

Turn on the Reader by pressing the button.
Ensure Bluetooth is enabled.
Open Square POS app → More → Settings → Hardware → Card Readers → Connect a Reader.

Hold the button for 3–5 seconds until orange lights flash.

Tap Pair in the app.

Set Up Square Restaurant POS

Menu Creation:

Go to Menus → Create a Menu → Build Manually.

Add a menu name → click Save.
Add a Display Group → Name it → Create New Display Group → Choose a color → Save.

Click Create New Item, add price/color → Save.

Modifiers

Go to Items → Modifiers → Create Modifier Set.

Name the set, input modifiers and prices.
Enable Use Conversational Modifiers on POS → Save.

Apply modifiers to menu items.

Floor Plans:

Navigate to Devices → Floor Plans → Create Floor Plan.

Name it → Done.
Click Add New Section (e.g., Dining Room, 6 tables) → Done.

Arrange tables as per your layout → Save.

Team Member for Restaurant POS:

Go to Team → + Team Member.
Enter member details → Continue.
Assign permissions → Save Team Member.

Add POS Device:

Go to Devices → Add a Point of Sale.

Fill in device name, receipt options, etc. → Create.

Use the displayed device code to log in.

Open the Restaurant POS app → Enter device code → Sign In.

Enable device settings → Start Using Square for Restaurants.

Create First Check:

In the POS app, swipe right → New Check.

Select section → table → number of guests.
Choose modifiers → Send (this prints a ticket for the kitchen).

This end-to-end guide from SeHaT Dr ensures that your business is fully optimized using Square's powerful tools—all updated for the current dashboard setup. Whether managing a small team or a multi-location restaurant, this setup ensures you're ready to grow with confidence.

SeHat Dr

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