Square, the global payments technology company from California, today announced availability of its iconic and hotly anticipated Square Reader in Australia. Square Reader is the smallest, most mobile and most affordable credit and debit card reader available in the local market that allows you to accept card payments quickly and securely on a smartphone or tablet device.
Jack Dorsey, our CEO and Co-Founder, says that the launch of Square Reader in Australia is empowering local sellers with the tools they need to start, run, and grow their businesses. He believes it is an exciting moment for a market so committed to innovation and an entrepreneurial small business community.’
Square Reader combines the best in mobility with accessibility and affordability, without compromising security or power. The device, combined with Square’s powerful and free Register point-of-sale app, has been designed with the needs of a variety businesses in mind, with suitability ranging from cafes to bars, tradies to photographers, food trucks to market sellers, retail stores and many more.
‘We’re excited to bring Square Reader to Australia. Having been operating locally for the past year has allowed us to develop active partnerships with a wide range of businesses that have in turn helped us test and refine a range of exciting payment solutions designed specifically for the Australian market. The reception we’ve received has been overwhelming and reinforced our belief that there is a strong appetite for Square to launch innovative payment products in Australia.’
‘Square is a simple yet powerful solution for businesses of any type and size. Whether they’re running a market stall, mobile business or a franchise, we want to empower them with the tools that they can use to start, run and grow. Square believes that card payments should be simple and seamless.’
‘In Australia, the rate paid by businesses to accept card payments can be incredibly confusing and vary greatly, depending on the size of your business, card type and length of your contract, and almost always involves hidden fees. Sellers using Square Reader pay only 1.9% per card transaction, and this is the first time Australia is seeing one low, single rate for a powerful ecosystem of tools—from integrated card payments to a powerful point of sale, analytics and reporting tools, inventory management, online invoices and digital receipts.
And customers are excited, too.
Andy McKinnar, owner of start-up Pipes Plumbing, said, ‘before I had Square, I basically relied on either cash or cheques or direct debit from people. Now, with Square, as soon as a job’s complete, I can invoice people on the spot straight away, process the payment straight away. Job’s done and payments already gone through.’
Michael Ferguson and Nate Thoreson, owners of mobile taxi business St Kilda Rickshaws, added, ’we considered getting EFTPOS machines, but when we looked into it, it was more of a process. They’re bulkier, you have more of a financial commitment to them.’
‘Square completely transformed our business. You just pop it into your smartphone, it takes all of 10 seconds to process a payment. We’re beyond just taking cash now. We’re taking cards.’
Ben Pfisterer, Country Manager, Square Australia
