The short answer
A restaurant or salon that wants to leave Square should first decide whether the problem is the software or the processing cost, because the answer changes what to compare. CELER Merchants, an independent merchant services agent based in Montreal, reviews your Square statements for free and compares written quotes from the processors it works with, so you can see your real cost before you switch anything.
Software or processing: decide what you are replacing
Square sells its point of sale software and its card processing together. If your staff like the software and the only problem is cost, you are shopping for processing, and the question is whether another provider can work with the way you take orders or bookings today. If the software no longer fits (table service, coursing, booking, deposits, commission splits), you are shopping for a new system, and processing comes with that choice. Writing down which of the two you are replacing keeps every quote you collect comparable.
What Square publishes today
Square's US pricing page, checked on 13 October 2026, lists in-person card payments at 2.6% + 15¢ per transaction on its free plan and 2.5% + 15¢ or 2.4% + 15¢ on its paid plans. Card payments made online or through an invoice are listed at 3.3% + 30¢ on the free plan and 2.9% + 30¢ on the paid plans, and manually entered or card-on-file payments at 3.5% + 15¢. Square Canada's pricing page lists 2.5% per transaction for credit cards taken in person and 0.75% + 7¢ for debit cards taken in person. These are Square's published rates; your own statement shows what you actually paid.
Restaurants and salons need different things
A restaurant and a salon take payments in very different ways, so the checklist is not the same. Use the table below to list what your business needs before you ask anyone for a quote.
| Need | Restaurant | Salon or barbershop | Question to ask a new provider |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tips | Tips added after the card is authorized, at the table or counter | Tips on the terminal at checkout, split by stylist | How are tips entered, adjusted and reported per employee? |
| Taking the order or booking | Tables, tabs, kitchen tickets, online ordering | Appointments, deposits, no-show fees | Does the system handle this without a second app? |
| Cards not present | Phone and online orders | Deposits and card-on-file charges | What do keyed-in and card-on-file payments cost? |
| Several people on one account | Servers, bartenders, managers | Booth renters or commission staff | Can each person have their own login, or their own account? |
| Leaving later | Hardware you own or lease | Client and booking data | Is there a contract term, exit fee or lease? |
How to compare a Square alternative fairly
Take your last three Square statements, add up the processing fees and divide by your card sales: that is your effective rate. Ask every provider to quote on those same months, in writing, including monthly fees, hardware, software, and any fee for ending the agreement. Compare total monthly cost, not the headline rate. A lower percentage with a monthly software fee or an equipment lease can cost more than a flat rate on a small volume.
How CELER Merchants helps
CELER Merchants is an independent merchant services agent, not a bank or a payment processor. Send us your Square statements and we name every fee and show your effective rate, usually within 4 hours. We then ask the processors we work with to quote on your real volume, and you decide whether any offer is worth switching for. If staying with Square is the better deal for your business, we will tell you.
Key takeaways
- Decide first whether you are replacing the software, the processing, or both
- Square's published US in-person rate is 2.6% + 15¢ on its free plan (checked 13 Oct 2026)
- Restaurants and salons need different features: list yours before asking for quotes
- Compare total monthly cost from your own statements, not headline rates
Related guides
Sources
Want this checked against your own statement?
We are an independent agent — we shop every processor we work with and bring you the best deal for your profile. Free analysis, every fee named, back, usually within 4 hours. Or call now and we will quote you on the phone.