Square Affiliate Program: In-Depth Review, Pros, and Cons

Affiliate marketing has become a cornerstone of digital commerce. In the U.S., affiliate marketing accounts for 16% of all online orders.

Square's Affiliate Program offers commissions ranging from $5 to $200 per referral, depending on the product or service promoted. 

With tools like Creator Hero, a creator storefront platform tailored for creators, showcasing brands like Square alongside other recommended products becomes easier, allowing you to share trusted options your followers love.

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What Is The Square Affiliate Program?

The Square Affiliate Program allows creators, marketers, and website owners to earn commissions by promoting Square's payment solutions, software, and hardware products. By sharing referral links, affiliates can earn between $5 to $200 per referral, depending on the specific product or service. This program offers a simple way for creators to monetize their content while promoting trusted business tools from a well-known fintech brand.

What Do You Get As A Square Affiliate Partner?

As a Square affiliate partner, you gain access to several perks!

• Commission: Earn between $5 to $200 per referral depending on the Square product or service you promote.
• Cookie Duration: Benefit from a 30-day cookie window, meaning you get credited for sales made within 30 days of a user clicking your referral link.
• Access to Marketing Assets: Get access to banners, promotional materials, and ready-to-use creative assets to support your campaigns.
• Real-Time Tracking & Reporting: Use a dedicated dashboard to track clicks, conversions, and commissions in real-time.
• Timely Payouts: Receive monthly payouts for completed referrals.
• Promote a Trusted Brand: Leverage Square's reputation as a leader in payment solutions and business tools, making it easier to earn conversions.

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What Are The Benefits Of The Square Affiliate Program?

The Square Affiliate Program offers more than just commissions, providing affiliates with exclusive perks that make promoting Square’s products more rewarding. These benefits not only boost your earnings but also simplify the process of managing and optimizing your affiliate campaigns.

Comprehensive Dashboard for Tracking

‍Gain access to a real-time dashboard where you can track clicks, conversions, and payouts. This tool allows you to measure the effectiveness of your campaigns, identify top-performing content, and optimize your strategies for better results.

Access to Marketing Materials

Affiliates receive pre-designed banners, links, and creatives to promote Square products with ease. These ready-to-use marketing materials save time and ensure your promotions are professional, branded, and conversion-focused.

Timely and Reliable Payouts 

‍Get paid on time, every time, with monthly payouts for your commissions. This consistent payment schedule helps affiliates plan their earnings and maintain steady cash flow from their promotional efforts.

Promote a Trusted Brand

‍Square is a globally recognized leader in payment solutions, making it easier to gain user trust and increase conversions. Promoting a well-known brand means potential customers are more likely to engage with your referral links.

High Conversion Potential

‍With a range of popular tools like POS systems, invoicing software, and payment hardware, Square products appeal to businesses of all sizes. This variety allows affiliates to target diverse audiences, leading to higher conversion rates.

Flexible Promotion Options

‍Promote multiple Square services, including POS systems, payment hardware, online stores, and software solutions. This flexibility allows you to tailor your marketing strategy to your audience’s specific needs.

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How To Become A Square Affiliate Partner

Becoming a Square Affiliate Partner is a simple process that takes just a few steps. Here’s a practical guide to help you get started and begin earning commissions for promoting Square’s trusted business tools.

Step 1: Sign Up for the Affiliate Program

Head to the official Square Affiliate Program page (https://squareup.com/us/en/affiliate) and click on the "Apply" or "Join Now" button. Fill out the application form with details about your website, content niche, and promotional methods. This step helps Square assess if your platform aligns with their brand values.

Step 2: Wait for Approval

Once you submit your application, Square will review your information to ensure you meet their eligibility requirements. This process typically takes a few days, and you’ll receive an email notification once you're approved.

Step 3: Access Your Affiliate Dashboard

After approval, you’ll gain access to your Square Affiliate Dashboard. This dashboard allows you to generate referral links, track your clicks, conversions, and commissions, and download marketing assets like banners and creatives.

Step 4: Generate Your Unique Affiliate Link

Use the dashboard to create affiliate links for Square’s services, like POS systems, payment hardware, and online store tools. These links are unique to you and track referrals to ensure you get credited for every purchase.

Step 5: Promote Square Products

Start sharing your affiliate links through blog posts, product reviews, YouTube videos, social media, email newsletters, or any platform where your audience engages with your content. Highlight the benefits of Square products to increase conversions.

Step 6: Track Performance And Earnings

Monitor your campaign performance in real-time using the affiliate dashboard. Track how many clicks, sign-ups, and conversions your links generate. This insight helps you optimize your strategy to increase earnings.

Step 7: Get Paid Monthly

Once you hit the payout threshold, you’ll receive a monthly payment based on your total commissions. Payments are made via the method selected during registration, and you'll get notified of successful payouts.

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Best Options To Sign Up For The Square Affiliate Program

To become a Square Affiliate Partner, you can sign up through Square's official affiliate program page. Here are the key details:

• Commission Rate: The Square Affiliate Program offers commissions ranging from $5 to $200 per referral, depending on the specific product or service promoted. For example, affiliates can earn: $5 for a new account sign-up, $15 for the first transaction through Square Appointments, $25 for the first payroll run via Square Payroll, $200 for the first transaction using Square for Restaurants.
• Cookie Duration: 30 days.
• Geographical Availability: Square accepts affiliates from anywhere in the world, as long as the network supports your country of residence. Please keep in mind that all commission payments will be made in U.S. dollars.‍
• Sign-Up URL: https://squareup.com/us/en/affiliate

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What Are The Requirements Of Becoming A Square Affiliate Partner?

To become a Square Affiliate Partner, you should meet the following requirements:

• Relevant Website Content: Your website should align with Square's products and services and must not contain objectionable or offensive material.
  
• Compliance With Square´s Terms: Ensure that your promotional methods adhere to Square's guidelines, including restrictions on certain industries and marketing practices.‍
• Accurate and Transparent Promotion: Use only the marketing materials provided through the affiliate network portal, and avoid misleading promotions or unauthorized use of Square's trademarks.
• Adherence To Legal Standard: Comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including data protection laws and the CAN-SPAM Act when conducting email marketing campaigns.
  
  

By fulfilling these requirements, you can participate in Square's Affiliate Program and earn commissions by promoting their range of business solutions.

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Square Affiliate Program Vs Other Brands

When comparing the Square Affiliate Program with other affiliate programs in the payment processing and financial services sector, it's essential to consider factors such as commission rates, cookie durations, and unique features.

Square Affiliate Program vs. PayPal Affiliate Program

• Commission Rate: Square offers commissions ranging from $5 to $200 per referral, depending on the specific product or service promoted. In contrast, PayPal's affiliate program details are not publicly disclosed, making it challenging to compare exact commission rates.
• Cookie Duration: Square provides a 30-day cookie duration, allowing affiliates to earn commissions on referrals who convert within 30 days of clicking the affiliate link. Information on PayPal's cookie duration is not readily available, which may affect tracking and commission attribution.
• Unique Feature: Square's program stands out with its tiered commission structure, offering higher payouts for promoting premium services like Square for Restaurants. Additionally, Square provides affiliates with a range of marketing materials and real-time tracking tools to optimize performance. PayPal, being a widely recognized payment platform, offers brand trust; however, the lack of transparent affiliate program details can be a drawback for potential affiliates.

Square Affiliate Program vs. Stripe Affiliate Program

• Commission Rate: Square's commissions range from $5 to $200 per referral, varying by product. Stripe's affiliate program details, including commission rates, are not publicly available, making direct comparison difficult.
• Cookie Duration: Square offers a 30-day cookie duration. Information on Stripe's cookie duration is not publicly disclosed, which may impact affiliates' earning potential.
• Unique Feature: Square provides a comprehensive suite of tools, including POS systems, payment hardware, and online store solutions, allowing affiliates to promote a diverse range of products. Stripe is known for its developer-friendly payment processing solutions, appealing to a tech-savvy audience; however, the lack of publicly available affiliate program details may pose challenges for affiliates seeking transparency.

Square Affiliate Program vs. FreshBooks Affiliate Program

• Commission Rate: Square offers commissions ranging from $5 to $200 per referral, depending on the product or service. FreshBooks provides a commission rate of $5 per free trial sign-up and $55 per paid subscription, offering a straightforward earning potential for affiliates.
• Cookie Duration: Square's cookie duration is 30 days, while FreshBooks offers a 120-day cookie window, providing a longer period for affiliates to earn commissions from referred traffic.
• Unique Feature: Square's program allows affiliates to promote a diverse range of business tools, from payment processing to hardware solutions. FreshBooks focuses on accounting software for small businesses, appealing to affiliates targeting entrepreneurs and freelancers in need of financial management solutions.

If you’re starting your way into the affiliate marketing world, check out our article on Top 10 Influencer Affiliate Programs!

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What Are The Drawbacks Of Square’s Affiliate Program Compared To Other Similar Programs?

While the Square Affiliate Program offers several benefits, there are a few drawbacks when compared to similar programs in the payment processing and financial services niche. Here’s a breakdown of its key limitations:

1. Shorter Cookie Duration
   Unlike FreshBooks (120 days) Square only offers a 30-day cookie window. This shorter tracking period means you have less time to earn commissions from customers who don’t purchase immediately after clicking your link.
2. ‍Limited Commission Potential
   While Square offers commissions ranging from $5 to $200 per referral, the payout depends on the specific product or service promoted. In comparison, FreshBooks pays $5 for trial sign-ups and $55 for paid subscriptions. For affiliates focused on promoting higher-ticket items, Square’s commission rates may feel restrictive.‍
3. Narrow Product Range
   Square’s affiliate program primarily focuses on payment processing, POS systems, and hardware, unlike FreshBooks, which offer broader financial tools like accounting software and payment gateways. This limited product range might make it harder for affiliates to diversify their promotional content.‍
4. Regional Availability
   While Square serves businesses in the U.S., Canada, Japan, Australia, and a few other countries, it doesn’t have the same global availability as Stripe, which is accessible in over 150+ countries. This could limit affiliates who want to target international audiences.‍
5. Lower Brand Awareness (Outside the U.S.)
   Square is well-known in the U.S., but its global brand recognition isn’t as strong as PayPal or Stripe, which have become household names for payment solutions worldwide. This can make it harder for affiliates with global audiences to convert traffic into paying users.While Kit’s recurring commission model is a major perk, it also means that affiliates’ earnings depend heavily on retaining referred customers. Programs like Amazon Associates, with higher upfront commission potential, may appeal to affiliates focused on one-time sales.

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Final Takeaways On The Square Affiliate Program

The Square Affiliate Program provides affiliates with the opportunity to earn commissions ranging from $5 to $200 per referral, depending on the product promoted. With a 30-day cookie window and access to marketing assets, it's a great option for content creators and marketers. 

While it faces competition from PayPal, Stripe, and FreshBooks, its tiered commission structure and promotion of trusted business tools make it a strong choice. 

By utilizing platforms like Creator Hero, you can showcase Square's services alongside other top recommendations, driving more sales and earning commissions with ease.