Integration features
What you get with Plutio + Square
When you connect Square to Plutio, every invoice gets a Pay Now button. Clients pay, Square processes the charge, and Plutio updates the invoice status. Here's what that looks like in practice.
Clients pay without creating accounts
The client opens your invoice, clicks Pay Now, and lands on Square's checkout page. They enter their card (or tap Apple Pay), and the payment goes through in about 30 seconds. No Square account needed, no app downloads, no friction.
Invoices mark themselves as paid
When Square confirms the charge, Plutio flips the invoice to "Paid" automatically. You do not log into Square to check payment status, you do not manually update Plutio, and you do not reconcile spreadsheets at the end of the month.
ACH saves money on large invoices
Credit card fees add up on big invoices. A $5,000 card payment costs $145.30 in fees. The same invoice paid via ACH bank transfer costs $10 flat (1% capped). Encourage ACH for anything over $1,000.
In-person and online in one place
If you take card payments at client sites using Square readers, those transactions show up in the same Square dashboard as your Plutio invoice payments. One revenue report covers everything.
Deposits with proposal signatures
Add a deposit to your Plutio proposal. When the client signs, they pay the deposit right there. Signed contract plus collected deposit in one step.
Payment notifications in real time
You get an email the moment a payment clears. Connect Slack and the notification goes to your team channel instead of (or alongside) email.
How much does Square cost?
Square's Free plan costs nothing per month. You only pay when a client actually pays you.
Square has three plans: Free ($0/month), Plus ($49/month), and Premium ($149/month). Most freelancers stay on Free because the transaction rates are nearly identical across plans. Plus adds batch invoicing if you send many invoices at once.
ACH bank transfers cost 1% with a $10 maximum. On a $5,000 invoice, that's $10 instead of $145.30 for a card payment. Tell clients about ACH when sending large invoices.
Square Free plan rates (January 2026): Online/invoice payments 2.9% + $0.30, In-person with card reader 2.6% + $0.10, ACH bank transfer 1% capped at $10, Keyed-in transactions 3.5% + $0.15.
What you actually pay
- $500 card payment: $14.80 fee (2.9% + $0.30), you keep $485.20
- $1,000 card payment: $29.30 fee, you keep $970.70
- $5,000 ACH payment: $10.00 fee (hits the cap), you keep $4,990
- $10,000 ACH payment: $10.00 fee (still capped), you keep $9,990
Should I use Square or Stripe?
Use Square if you take in-person payments with card readers. Use Stripe if you only invoice online.
Square sells card readers and point-of-sale hardware. If you swipe cards at client sites, events, or consultations, Square lets you see those payments alongside your Plutio invoice payments in one dashboard. Stripe does not have card readers.
Stripe focuses on online payments and has better recurring billing features. If you never physically swipe a card, Stripe's ACH rates are slightly lower (0.8% with a $5 cap vs Square's 1% with a $10 cap).
The practical difference: Square works better if you do both in-person and invoice payments. Stripe works better if everything is online. Plutio connects to both, so you can offer clients a choice.
Side by side
- Online card fees: Square 2.9% + $0.30, Stripe 2.9% + $0.30 (identical)
- ACH fees: Square 1% capped at $10, Stripe 0.8% capped at $5 (Stripe saves you money on large invoices)
- In-person payments: Square 2.6% + $0.10 with card readers, Stripe has limited POS options
- Monthly fee: Both have free plans with no monthly charges
How do I connect Square to Plutio?
Setup takes about 5 minutes. You create a Square account (if you do not have one), connect your bank, and authorize Plutio to create payment links.
Square verifies your identity and bank account before releasing payouts. If you already use Square for in-person card payments, connect that same account so all your revenue lands in one dashboard.
After connecting, send yourself a test invoice and pay it. The invoice should flip to "Paid" within a few seconds of the charge completing.
First-time Square users may see a hold on their first payout while Square verifies the business. After that initial hold, payouts arrive in 1-2 business days. Instant Transfer costs $1.50 and moves money to your bank within minutes.
How to connect
- Step 1: Go to squareup.com and create an account if you do not have one (free, no monthly cost)
- Step 2: Verify your identity and connect your bank account in Square
- Step 3: Open Plutio, go to Settings, then Payments
- Step 4: Click "Connect Square" and log into Square when prompted
- Step 5: Authorize Plutio to create payment links, then send a test invoice to confirm everything works
What happens when clients pay invoices?
The client clicks "Pay Now," enters their card on Square's checkout page, and the payment goes through in about 30 seconds. No accounts, no downloads, no signup forms.
Card numbers go directly to Square's servers. Plutio never sees or stores card data. Many clients have paid via Square before (at coffee shops, retail stores, etc.), so the checkout feels familiar.
After the payment clears, you and the client both get email confirmations. Plutio marks the invoice as paid. Money starts moving to your bank.
Standard payouts arrive in 1-2 business days. Instant Transfer ($1.50 per transfer) gets funds to your bank within minutes if you need the money faster.
The payment flow
- Step 1: Client gets your invoice email and clicks "Pay Now"
- Step 2: Square's checkout page opens
- Step 3: Client enters card details, or taps Apple Pay or Google Pay
- Step 4: Square runs the charge and confirms
- Step 5: Plutio marks the invoice as paid
- Step 6: Funds land in your bank in 1-2 business days
Can I use Square for both invoices and in-person payments?
Yes. Use one Square account for everything. Invoice payments from Plutio and in-person card swipes show up in the same dashboard.
This is why freelancers who meet clients face-to-face often choose Square over Stripe. You swipe cards at consultations, events, or client sites using Square's hardware, and those payments sit right next to your Plutio invoice payments. One revenue number, not two.
Square sells card readers at different price points: Square Reader ($59, handles contactless and chip), Square Stand ($149), and Square Terminal ($299). In-person swipes cost less than online payments (2.6% + $0.10 vs 2.9% + $0.30).
Example: A photographer collects a $500 deposit through a Plutio invoice, then swipes the client's card for the $1,000 balance after the shoot. Both transactions appear in the same Square dashboard under the same client.
Who benefits from in-person payments
- Event vendors: Take payments at markets, conferences, or trade shows
- Consultants who visit clients: Collect payment after completing on-site work
- Photographers and videographers: Swipe for final balance after shoots
- Home service providers: Accept payment when the job finishes
What if payments fail or clients dispute charges?
When a payment fails, Square emails the client automatically. When a client disputes a charge, you get 7 days to submit evidence through Square's dashboard.
Failed payments usually mean the card was declined or expired. Square notifies the client to update their payment method, and you can see the failed attempt in your Square dashboard. For recurring invoices, Square retries failed charges automatically.
Chargebacks are rare when you have signed contracts and proof of delivered work. If a client disputes a charge, Square notifies you immediately and walks you through submitting evidence.
Winning disputes: Upload your signed Plutio proposal, screenshots of delivered work, and any email exchanges. Square says most freelancers with documentation win their disputes. You have 7 days to respond.
Common problems
- Payment declined: Square emails the client to fix their card. Check your dashboard to see if the payment eventually went through.
- Card expired: Client gets an email asking them to update the card on file. Recurring charges pause until they do.
- Client files a chargeback: Submit your signed contract and proof of work through Square's dispute dashboard. Respond within 7 days.
- Payout taking longer than expected: New accounts sometimes have verification holds. After Square verifies your business, payouts arrive in 1-2 days.
