How to Connect Square as a Payment Method in Zibster
Overview
Connecting Square allows you to accept eligible credit and debit card payments through your Zibster account. Once Square is connected, configured, and active, you can use it to collect payments through your Online Store, Scheduler, Invoices, and Forms.
This guide walks you through connecting a new or existing Square account from the Zibster ECommerce Dashboard. You will also learn how to configure your Square merchant settings, understand processing fees, handle refunds, troubleshoot connection issues, and access PCI compliance documentation.
Where You Can Use Square
After Square is connected and active, it can be used for eligible card payments through:
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Online Store orders
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Scheduler bookings
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Invoices
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Forms
The checkout experience may vary depending on which Zibster tool your customer is using.
Important Information About Square
Zibster provides the connection between your Zibster account and Square, but Zibster does not manage your Square account.
Square manages your payment processing, account verification, bank account information, processing rates, payouts, payout holds, and other Square account requirements.
Contact Square directly for questions about:
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Transaction fees and processing rates
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Payout timing
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Bank account setup
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Account verification
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Payout holds
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Square account restrictions
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Required business or tax information
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Square policies related to card surcharges or payment-related fees
For assistance with your Square account, visit the Square Support Center.
Zibster Support can help you locate your Square merchant settings, configure the options available inside Zibster, and troubleshoot the connection between Zibster and Square.
Square Processing Fees
Square determines the transaction fees and processing rates associated with your Square account. Zibster does not set, collect, adjust, or have access to the specific processing rates Square applies to your account.
For questions about processing fees, rates, pricing, or charges deducted from a payment, sign in to your Square account or visit the Square Support Center.
Charging Customers an Additional Card Processing Fee
Zibster does not provide a setting that automatically adds a credit card processing fee, convenience fee, surcharge, or other percentage-based transaction fee to a customer's order when they pay through Square.
If you are considering adjusting your prices or adding another charge to offset payment-processing costs, you are responsible for making sure your pricing and checkout practices comply with applicable laws, card-network requirements, and Square policies.
Rules for credit card surcharges and similar fees can vary by location and payment method. Zibster cannot provide legal advice or determine whether a particular fee is permitted for your business. Review the requirements that apply to your business and customers, and contact Square with questions about Square's policies.
STEP ONE
Log in to your Zibster account and click ECOMMERCE in the left-side menu.
The ECommerce Dashboard opens, where you can manage orders, products, payments, merchants, and other ECommerce settings.
STEP TWO
Hover over PAYMENT at the top of the ECommerce Dashboard and select MERCHANTS from the dropdown menu.
The Merchants section displays the payment processors connected to your Zibster account.
STEP THREE
Click NEW MERCHANT.
Stripe is selected by default. Click the merchant dropdown and select SQUARE.
Click CONNECT TO SQUARE to begin the secure connection process.
A Square window will open so you can sign in to an existing Square account. If you do not already have a Square account, follow Square's prompts to create one.
STEP FOUR
Sign in to Square and follow the prompts to authorize Zibster to connect to your Square account.
Square may ask you to review or confirm information associated with your account before completing the connection.
When authorization is complete, the pop-up window will display CONNECTION SUCCESSFUL and confirm that your Square account is ready to process payments from your Zibster account.
Click OK to close the pop-up and return to Zibster.
STEP FIVE
Back in Zibster, click CONFIGURE NEW SQUARE ACCOUNT.
This opens the settings for your Square merchant connection.
Set ACTIVE to YES. This step is required before Square can appear as an available payment method during eligible Zibster checkouts. A successful Square connection by itself does not activate the merchant.
Review the remaining merchant settings before continuing.
LOCATION ID displays the Square location associated with your Zibster connection.
RECONNECT allows you to reauthorize the connection between Zibster and Square if the connection needs to be refreshed.
PAYMENT NAME controls the name clients see for this payment option during checkout. The default is Credit Card - Square.
Under ACCEPTED CREDIT CARDS, select the card types you want to accept. The available options include Visa, Mastercard, Discover Card, American Express, and Diners Club.
Use SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS to add an optional message clients will see when they select this payment method.
Use THANK YOU MESSAGE to enter the message clients will see after a successful Square payment.
FINAL STEP
Click SAVE CHANGES.
Once ACTIVE is set to YES and your changes are saved, Square can be used to accept eligible credit and debit card payments through supported Zibster tools.
Before accepting client payments, open an eligible checkout on your website and confirm that your Square card payment option appears as expected.
What Your Clients Will See
The payment screen your client sees depends on where they are submitting payment.
Online Store and Scheduler
Clients completing an Online Store purchase or Scheduler booking use the Zibster checkout experience. When Square is available for the transaction, they can enter their eligible credit or debit card information and submit payment.
Invoice Payments
Clients paying a Zibster invoice can enter their eligible credit or debit card information through the invoice payment screen when Square is available for the invoice.
Form Payments
Clients submitting payment through a Zibster form can enter their eligible credit or debit card information through the form payment experience when online payment is enabled.
Refunds
Refunds for payments processed through Square must be issued directly through your Square account. You cannot issue a Square refund from the Zibster dashboard.
Sign in to Square, locate the original payment, and use Square's refund tools to process the refund.
Square determines refund eligibility, processing, timing, and any fees associated with the refund. Contact Square directly if you have questions about a refund or its status.
PCI Compliance Information
Your Square merchant settings include access to Zibster's PCI compliance documentation.
At the top of the Square merchant settings, Zibster displays PCI compliance information along with a link to download the available compliance report.
If a merchant provider, payment gateway, bank, organization, or institution requires proof of Zibster's PCI compliance, use the compliance report link in your merchant settings to download the document.
Questions about your individual Square account or your own PCI compliance requirements should be directed to Square.
Troubleshooting
Square Is Connected but Does Not Appear at Checkout
A successful Square connection does not automatically activate the merchant in Zibster.
Go to PAYMENT → MERCHANTS, open your Square merchant settings, and confirm that ACTIVE is set to YES.
Click SAVE CHANGES after updating the setting.
Also confirm that online payment is enabled for the Zibster tool or transaction you are testing.
Square Was Previously Connected but Payments Are No Longer Working
If Square was previously working but the connection needs to be refreshed, follow our guide on how to reconnect Square as a merchant in Zibster.
You can also open your Square merchant settings and use RECONNECT to begin the reauthorization process.
After reconnecting, confirm that ACTIVE is set to YES and click SAVE CHANGES.
Square Authorization Does Not Complete
Make sure you complete the entire Square authorization process. Signing in to Square without completing the authorization prompts will not finish the connection.
Return to PAYMENT → MERCHANTS and attempt the Square connection again.
You should also review your Square account for verification requirements, account alerts, or other issues that could prevent the connection or payment processing.
Square Is Active but Payments Are Not Processing
If you see a Square error code, authorization error, or card-decline message during checkout, review the full error message to determine whether the issue is related to your Square connection or the individual payment.
You can also sign in to Square and check for account restrictions, verification requests, required business information, or other account alerts.
A transaction may be declined by the client's card issuer. Review the payment information available in Square for additional details and contact Square if you need assistance determining why a payment was rejected.
Funds Are Not Reaching Your Bank Account
Confirm that your bank account and payout information are configured correctly inside Square.
Square controls payout schedules, processing periods, payout eligibility, and account holds. If a payment appears in Square but has not reached your bank account, visit the Square Support Center for assistance.
The Square Connection Window Does Not Open
Your browser may be blocking the Square authorization window.
Allow pop-ups for Zibster and click CONNECT TO SQUARE again.
You can also try using a current version of another supported browser.
Helpful Notes
Square manages your Square account, processing rates, verification requirements, payouts, refunds, and transaction-level account issues.
Zibster Support can help you locate your merchant settings, configure the options available in Zibster, and confirm how Square connects to your Zibster account.
Zibster does not automatically calculate or add Square transaction fees to client orders.
Square card readers are not used for online Zibster transactions. If you accept payments in person, use Square's supported in-person payment tools separately from your Zibster website.
Need Help?
Zibster Support Hours: Monday–Friday, 9am–6pm EST
Phone: 844.353.3412
Channels: Phone, Live Chat, Support Ticket
