Square vs Shopkeep advice

Ecommerce

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  Ella Rabil 1 year, 3 months ago

  Square vs Shopkeep advice

  Dear Krista,

  I am in process of opening up a gourmet food/specialty gifts store. I am a current square customer, where I just used a reader at varies events. Which worked just fine. I also have some experience with Shopkeep. I have been reading a lot of reviews about both Square and Shopkeep, and leaning towards Square, but their customer service reviews plus hold funds ( I think this is manageable if you understand their policy) are holding me back from pushing the button. I am hoping that if I provide my set of requirements, you may be able to help to navigate me to a clearer choice. So, here they are:

  1.Ease of set up of the POS system
  2.Managing about 300 SKUs, w/ profitability picture, and low inventory reorder capability. ( I probably don’t need all features that square’s $60/month gets you).
  3.Employee management and payroll
  4.Customer service (need to be able to respond, when I call)
  5 Customer Management for marketing promotions, etc.
  6. Integration with accounting software
  7. Mobile processing

  Also, I would be curious to know more about your views on their new Square Register product. Much appreciate your opinion on this. Ella

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  Krista Fabregas
  

  Participant

  

  1 year, 3 months ago

  Ok, you could go either way. Have you done a chart to compare line-by-line costs of both, including any added features you need, like payroll, email marketing, and loyalty programs?

  If not, I’d do that first. But I think in the end, Square might be the cheaper and easier solution for you for now since ShopKeep with the accounting integration is going to start you at $99/mo. ($69 + the accounting add-on, which is $30 for QuickBooks). Accounting integrations with QuickBooks and others are free with Square

  Also, you have to go to the trouble of setting up a payment processor with ShopKeep. Now, you might get lower rates with our own merchant account than Square if you make $20K-$30K in sales per month, but less than that and Square is usually cheaper. Also, you have experience with Square and understand the holds. That freaks some people out, but that’s largely the exception (stemming from occasional super-large tickets, high-risk items, lots of chargebacks), not the rule.

  Plus, Square’s POS station and mobile readers all are well-integrated. Now, Square isn’t known for fast phone support, whereas ShopKeep is, but they’re getting better. I’d run a complete line-by-line cost comparison and go from there (here are all of Square’s add-on services & fees in one place for you). But I, like you, am leaning toward Square from what you state here.

  For Square register, its brand new and haven’t seen much in user reviews. I’d let it get released and work a few bugs out with other users before buying (but that’s just how I do things) it’s probably going to be well-received.

  Good luck!
  Krista

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