Hip to be Square

The card readers.

There seems to be a new trend in doing business. The era of being a huge, faceless conglomerate with plans of global domination and board members whose pockets swell with cash aren't coming to an end anytime soon...but there is something new on the horizon. The halcyon days of doing business face-to-face, standing by your word, and having no hidden agenda or costs aren't lost forever. In fact, I've noticed an upswing in good, honest businesses doing good, honest business. A great deal of these ventures are start-ups who have the freedom to set the goal of helping people first and being profitable second. One of my favorite of such businesses is Square.

Without rehashing all of the company's details, I'll briefly provide a synopsis: A man by the name of Jack Dorsey, who also had his hand founding another quite successful business called
Twitter, noticed a gap between an artist friend of his and customers. Jim McKelvey, the artist friend, was trying to sell some pieces but had to turn away potential buyers because he had no way to accept credit cards. The cost involved with owning, leasing, or renting a credit card reader alone can be a couple hundred dollars or more and that doesn't include the processing fees. This led Jack to the conclusion that people should have access to a credit card reader in a much more cost effective and less cumbersome fashion. Enter: Square.

Square fits into the headphone jack of iPhones, iPod Touches, iPads, and Android phones. After applying for a card reader, which involves providing some relevant personal data, and downloading the Square app to your respective device, you are ready to go. Well, almost. There is an approval period for your application as well as shipping time for your card reader. But after that, you will have a new world of financial independence opened for you. The best part of all of this is the app, the reader, the application process, the shipping, EVERYTHING is free. Square costs nothing to own. The only costs is 2.75% plus 15 cents per swiped transaction; .75% higher for keyed-in transactions. That's it.

App user interface.

Where I see this having a huge impact, beyond independent artists and street vendors having an increase in revenue, is giving 20-somethings the ability to strengthen their financial stability. Have you ever gone to lunch with someone who forgot their wallet and you had to pay for everything? I have. And sometimes I forgot or felt too awkward to say anything about being payed back or the friend didn't have cash on him to pay me back when he got back to his wallet. Another personal instance where I could have benefitted by having a Square card reader is when I was in Chiropractic school I designed and sold hoodies and shirts because I didn't like what the school was selling or the price at which they were selling it. I couldn't take credit cards and people forgot to bring cash with them next time they saw me. I lost out on several hundred dollars in sales because of this.* Now, as a Chiropractor, I'm able to see patients on house calls with no problem. No checks to write. No trips the the ATM. The patients just go to their pocketbooks or wallets, pick a card, and I swipe it. When a patient needs me to come to them, the last thing they need is more layers of complication. This allows
a whole new freedom for them as well as me. 


Everything about Square can be found on their site. They are completely transparent; nothing to hide. I've been nothing short of thrilled with my experience with using their product and services. It's because of their new way of doing business the old-fashioned way I can do my part in doing the same. I'm a new doctor who does old fashioned house calls because of Square. 

I encourage everyone to apply for a Square card reader and account. Whether you are someone with forgetful friends, an artist, in a band, a computer tech, a dog-walker, a babysitter, or sell things on Craigslist, your life will be simplified as a result of taking credit cards on your smart device.

*I wound up selling all but maybe 20 or so hoodies, but it took much longer and I had to lug several large, heavy boxes around as a result.


UPDATE: Last week I received an email from Square that my new, updated Square card reader was being shipped to me. After opening the package, I noticed the updates to this version included a glossy finish, rounded back, forward-angled reader head, and iPhone 4 connectivity resolve. While the older version reader worked perfectly for me, Square saw it fit to ship me another reader. This further proves that their business practices are outstanding. Thanks, Square. Thanks for everything.