Square deactivated your account? Get back to taking cards.
Square is easy to start with because you join its shared merchant account. When its risk team decides your business doesn’t fit, the account can be deactivated and funds held while they review it. A dedicated merchant account, with equipment that fits your counter, is the stable replacement.
What to do now, in order
- 1
Check what Square says is held
Look at the deactivation notice and your balance, and note the dates.
- 2
Export sales and customer data
Download your sales history and customer list so reporting and loyalty carry over.
- 3
Plan your in-store setup
Tell us how you sell at the counter. We’ll match a processor and terminals so you aren’t locked into a lease.
- 4
Talk to us before you apply anywhere
Applying to several providers at once, or under a new name, leaves a trail underwriters see. We match you to one acquirer that accepts your business and submit once.
- 5
Get a dedicated merchant account
An account in your own name, with an acquirer that knowingly accepts your industry, so the same shutdown doesn’t happen again.
Square compared with a dedicated merchant account
| Square | Dedicated account through PaymentHelp | |
|---|---|---|
| Whose account | The platform’s shared account | An account in your business’s name |
| Who decides | The platform’s risk team, quickly | An underwriter who reviewed your business first |
| Restricted industries | Often excluded outright | Placed with acquirers that accept them |
| Setup | Minutes | Days, with a full application |
| After a problem | Closure and a long hold is common | Warnings, and a path to fix it |
| After approval | Support queue | PaymentHelp consulting: one view, a named consultant |
Industries we place after a Square closure
After a Square closure
Will my Square hardware work with a new processor?
Usually not. Square’s readers are tied to Square. We’ll help you choose terminals you own, rather than lease, that suit your counter.
How fast can I take cards again?
It depends on the processor and how complete your file is. Have your documents ready and we’ll tell you exactly what’s needed up front.
Can I keep my point-of-sale software?
Many point-of-sale systems work with several processors. Tell us which you use and we’ll check.
Also closed by
Square is a trademark of its owner. PaymentHelp is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Square. This page describes a common situation in general terms; your platform’s own terms and messages govern your account.
Get paid again after Square
Tell us what happened. We’ll match you with an acquirer that accepts your business, and stay on the account after approval so it doesn’t happen twice.