We often get asked about selling at art fairs and how to take credit card payments.
There are several options out there to choose from.
Please do your own research so you know what all the options are and can decide what works best for you and your needs.
The 3 we hear about most are:
One of our tech support reps uses Square.
Square
Information and basic instructions for using Square POS
How to set up Square
- Go to SquareUp.com
- sign up for an account
- select your business size and business type
- add your business and personal information
(be sure to make a note of your Username and Password)
Square will send you a free Square magstripe reader allowing you to swipe credit cards from anywhere using your mobile device.
You can also get their newest reader to take chip cards and NFC payments or slip an iPad into Square Stand to make a countertop point of sale.
Click here to go to their Pricing page to see their fees.
Benefits
- Fast setup, no commitments
- Works with iOS and Android
- Serious Security
- Same rate for all major cards
- No monthly fees
- No hidden fees
- Full PCI compliance included
- Deposits in one to two business days
- Instant deposits available
- Chargeback protection
- Payment dispute assistance
No signal, no problem: Swipe payments without a connection in Offline Mode and pay the usual 2.75% per swipe.
How to use Square
Once you receive your Square reader in the mail, we recommend practicing a few times at home before you go to your art show. You can use one of your credit cards or debit cards and charge just $1.00.
- insert the Square reader into your mobile device (cell phone perhaps)
- download the Square app
- log in with your Username and Password.
- Point of Sale: type in the amount of sale (dollar sign and decimal is already there)
- click Charge
- Select Credit card
- swipe the card (magnetic strip end toward the thick part of the reader)
- it will say something like Authorizing...
- then a screen will come up and customer has the option to send a email receipt to themselves, or you can click skip this option.
That's it! You can view your transactions daily under Transactions in the app.
If you have additional questions please contact Square for support for their product.
Stripe
See this Stripe document:
Point-of-sale (POS) systems for businesses
Square vs Stripe
Square Vs. Stripe (2025 Comparison)
POS Defined
The point of sale (POS) or point of purchase (POP) is the time and place at which a retail transaction is completed. At the point of sale, the merchant calculates the amount owed by the customer, indicates that amount, may prepare an invoice for the customer (which may be a cash register printout), and indicates the options for the customer to make payment. It is also the point at which a customer makes a payment to the merchant in exchange for goods or after provision of a service. After receiving payment, the merchant may issue a receipt, as proof of transaction, which is usually printed but can also be dispensed with or sent electronically.
from Wikipedia
03252025