How to Set Up and Use Squarespace Payments for Your Website
Accepting Payments on Squarespace
When it comes to managing payments on your website, having a streamlined and efficient system is essential. Recently, Squarespace introduced Squarespace Payments, a built-in payment processing option for users in the U.S., U.K., and Canada.
In this blog post, we’ll walk through what Squarespace Payments is, why it’s a great solution, and how to set it up on your website.
Timestamps
0:00 Squarespace Payments Introduction
0:27 What is Squarespace Payments?
0:44 Why Squarespace Payments is a great solution
2:47 How to setup Squarespace Payments on your website
5:35 Free trial website vs Existing Squarespace Store
6:54 Fine print insights
9:38 Outro
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What is Squarespace Payments?
If you need to collect money from visitors to your website—whether you’re selling a physical or digital product or offering a service—Squarespace Payments is a new, secure option. Rather than relying on third-party services like Stripe or PayPal, Squarespace Payments allows you to manage transactions and payouts directly from your Squarespace dashboard.
This all-in-one system lets users process major credit cards, Apple Pay, and even Afterpay without leaving the website, offering a seamless experience for your customers.
Why Use Squarespace Payments?
There are several reasons why Squarespace Payments stands out as a great solution for online payments:
Ease of Setup: Setting up Squarespace Payments is quick and simple, and it integrates directly with your website.
All-in-One Dashboard: Previously, users who processed payments through Stripe or PayPal had to log into separate accounts to manage payouts. With Squarespace Payments, both transactions and payouts are visible in one place, streamlining your financial management.
Secure and PCI Compliant: Security is critical, and Squarespace Payments is PCI compliant, meaning that all payment data is encrypted. Your customers can shop confidently knowing their information is safe.
Improved User Experience: Unlike PayPal, which redirects customers to a third-party site, Squarespace Payments keeps everything on your website. Customers simply enter their credit card information directly on your site and complete their purchase without being redirected elsewhere.
24/7 Support: Squarespace’s support team is available around the clock to help with any issues related to Squarespace Payments.
Works on Any Plan: While all plans support Squarespace Payments, selling physical or digital products requires a business or commerce plan.
How to Set Up Squarespace Payments on Your Website
Ready to set up Squarespace Payments? Follow these steps:
Log into your website: On the left-hand side, click on the "Selling" section, and then choose "Payments."
Activate Squarespace Payments: You'll be prompted to select your location and provide the necessary information, including your business type (e.g., individual, sole proprietorship, or company).
If you're a company, be sure to enter your EIN (Employer Identification Number). This is important for tax reporting, as any money you make will need to be properly reported.
Complete the Setup: Fill in the required fields. If needed, you can save and return later by clicking "Save and Close."
Enter Your Bank Information: Once you’ve made your first sale, Squarespace will prompt you to enter your bank account information to receive payouts. Note that this is a two-step process: first, you’ll provide your business information, and then you’ll add your banking details once a sale has been made.
If you're already using Stripe or PayPal on your Squarespace website, activating Squarespace Payments will replace Stripe as your default payment processor, though any transactions already in process will still be handled by Stripe. You can also choose to offer PayPal as an additional option for your customers.
Additional Tips for Using Squarespace Payments
Here are a few extra insights to keep in mind as you set up Squarespace Payments on your site:
Afterpay is turned on by default, allowing customers to pay in installments. If you don’t want to offer this option, make sure to disable it.
Processing fees still apply, just like with Stripe or PayPal. The amount varies depending on the Squarespace plan you’re using, so check the details of your plan.
If you’re using Square for in-person payments, note that Squarespace Payments does not replace that functionality. Square remains your go-to for point-of-sale transactions.
Acuity (the Squarespace scheduler) does not support Squarespace Payments at this time. If you’re using Acuity for booking services, you’ll need to continue using another payment processor like Stripe.
Setting Up Squarespace Payments for Existing Websites
If your site already accepts payments through Stripe or PayPal, the process to activate Squarespace Payments will look a little different:
Access the Finance Section: On active sites, instead of seeing a "Payments" option under the "Selling" tab, you’ll find the option to turn on Squarespace Payments under the "Finance" section.
Alternative Setup: Alternatively, you can find the setup option by clicking the settings gear icon in the bottom right-hand corner of the sidebar, then navigating to "Selling" and "Payments."
Depending on whether your site is new or has been active for a while, the setup interface may look slightly different. However, these steps should guide you to the right place.
Final Thoughts
Squarespace Payments is a powerful and user-friendly solution for accepting payments on your website. With its seamless integration, secure transactions, and simple setup, it’s a great option for anyone running an online business. If you have any questions about the setup process or want to explore how to make the most of this new feature, feel free to reach out.
Happy selling!
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