thread Square Appointments Update: Automated Contracts in Beauty & Wellness

Square Appointments Update: Automated Contracts

RMConsultingLLC — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 19:19:59 GMT

Let me start by saying I love Square and I spend a lot of time defending the fees associated with this service but I finally have a frustration to voice.

With the new appointments levels you added the automated contract to the premium level.

As a consultant for the spa industry who has converted approximately 80 solo practitioners back to Square from your competitors in the last 60 days I’m frustrated to see the contract feature added to the premium level. And it’s causing me HUGE pushback from my clients who I sold on converting because of the lower costs of overhead.

As solo practitioners we have a high need to protect our income so I have the created a contract that includes a CCA with spa policies to auto send to every appointment to ensure we have proof that clients acknowledge spa policies. Which you require to defend chargeback requests.

That single feature now costs $40/month. As solo practitioners we don’t need the teams features and I have justified and quantified the $29/month for no-show protection but $69 for access to one of the most important pieces that YOU require to protect our income is a bit excessive seeing as the other features in that subscription level are centered around teams/employee tools which do not apply to solo business owner/operators.

Is there any possibility for Square to reconsider adding the contract feature to the professional level? $40 plus marketing, plus SMS, plus plus plus actually borderlines on making you less of a benefit than your competitors in the spa industry and one of the greatest selling points for square has been up until these recent changes to appointments levels the easiest way to convert my clients while safeguarding revenue during a pandemic.

The spa industry did not receive any of the cost cutting benefits that the restaurant industry did but we took a bigger hit as we were forced to actually close and many are still facing closures. This change feels like a huge hit as it compounds with record breaking supply increases.

I would greatly urge Square to reconsider adding the contract feature to the professional level instead of the premium level. As I truly believe this is going to cause both my Business and yours to take a great loss.

thank you for your consideration.

Re: Square Appointments Update: Automated Contracts

Kiss_MakeupNow — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 21:33:42 GMT

As the creator of The Secret of Estheticians a group of over 42K beauty professionals as well as a solo esthetician who just invested in converting to Square from Vagaro to use this feature I am too upset by this change. I watch comments in my group regularly about Square pricing and have been referring everyone to @RMConsultingLLC but to pay $40 for a feature that help YOU protect my income against fraudulent chargeback requests seems predatory. All the other features in the premium level are related to Teams and multiple locations. So they are useless to solo practitioners who are trying to protect their income. Please consider moving the contracts feature to the professional level.

Re: Square Appointments Update: Automated Contracts

BeauSucre — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 21:42:59 GMT

I have to agree with @RMConsultingLLC , who assisted in migrating my business from another platform to Square. Paying $40/Month for a service that has been bundled into the teams and multiple locations options seems unfair to the solo practitioners you have converted because of being affordable and focused on respecting the solo practitioner. I have no issues paying for the features I need to run my business. Still, I do not have staff members or multiple locations. I selected the plus level upon your announcement, which means I'll start paying for this service on February 20th even though your website says it's not fully implemented until March. I didn't care and agreed to pay early because I appreciate the time saved, but now my contracts are not sending because you updated it further to remove access to contracts. Please reconsider this decision and allow solo practitioners to use the contracts feature to provide you with the required information to keep our Square Secure profile settings accurate and verifiable.

Re: Square Appointments Update: Automated Contracts

RMConsultingLLC — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 21:58:21 GMT

Your group is a great resource for spa professionals and where I answer 100’s of questions about square per week. Thank you for sharing your feedback on my thread!

Re: Square Appointments Update: Automated Contracts

RMConsultingLLC — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 21:59:17 GMT

Thank you for taking the time to support this request. You have been doing great since converting to square and I know how important the contracts feature is for your business.

Re: Square Appointments Update: Automated Contracts

NakedAlchemy — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 22:31:24 GMT

I’m definitely looking into other programs now. As a solo esthetician this is steep for me.

Re: Square Appointments Update: Automated Contracts

RMConsultingLLC — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 22:56:31 GMT

As a Consultant for solo spa professionals I do research regularly on the other platforms and still believe Square is the best solution.

I just really believe this was an oversight on squares behalf not realizing that the feature is required to remain a compliant financial practice and the other features in the top tier are not needed for solo owner/operators creating an unnecessary financial impact to maintain the contract feature.

I’m hopeful that with us speaking up in the community they reconsider and add it back to the Plus level.

Re: Square Appointments Update: Automated Contracts

Shimmer — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 23:05:12 GMT

I 100% agree with @RMConsultingLLC on this. I am a business coach for solopreneurs. Not just in the beauty industry (although those are the majority of my clients), but all service based industries. Square is 100% what i recommend for my clients so they aren't bubble gum & duct taping 10 different apps together. But honestly, price is a factor when we are talking about micro businesses. This new structure is not micro business friendly. Please take in to consideration the changes proposed by @RMConsultingLLC .

Re: Square Appointments Update: Automated Contracts

RoxyMcGhee — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 23:57:26 GMT

I agree. I have been loyal to Square for CC processing since my first day in business and I’ve always been very satisfied with their service. I am fine with paying for no show protection, but this has me exploring other options

Re: Square Appointments Update: Automated Contracts

Kristen3 — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 00:34:28 GMT

I agree I’m already in happy with the changes as it is the whole reason I used square was all the amazing features I got for free and the two main ones I really use are not in the $40 category. I’m not happy at all and might be changing platforms now.

Re: Square Appointments Update: Automated Contracts

EstyGirl0023 — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 01:53:48 GMT

@RMConsultingLLChas just brought me to Square from one of your competitors by showing how Square will help protect my income and help me run my very small business better. I have to say @RMConsulting must work harder for you than your best sales person, because he is working hard for the members of the spa industry to help us succeed. Please reconsider this latest change in your pricing. Running our small businesses is already hard enough.

Re: Square Appointments Update: Automated Contracts

SummerRayne — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 02:44:05 GMT

This is very disheartening and frustrating!

Re: Square Appointments Update: Automated Contracts

BethanyBB — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 14:08:50 GMT

I agree with the RMConsultingLLC. I am a solo practitioner and am now losing 2 important things that I use because of the tiers… I cannot justify paying the higher price for just those two things. Plus since I already pay for marketing, the cost of the third tier on top of that is just too cost prohibitive for me… please reconsider your decision on the contracts issue.

Re: Square Appointments Update: Automated Contracts

wandandwillow — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 14:23:23 GMT

Very much agreed. This is frustrating enough upgrading to cover no show protection but now this? Solo practitioners deserve to have this same protection for our business without the team features. Square really missed the mark on this one.

Re: Square Appointments Update: Automated Contracts

RMConsultingLLC — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 16:34:29 GMT

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback Wendy! I’m hoping a show of feedback about this choice will allow them to reconsider.

Re: Square Appointments Update: Automated Contracts

RMConsultingLLC — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 16:36:24 GMT

Thank you Bethany, for taking a moment out of your busy schedule to share your feedback. As you know I’m constantly defending Square pricing structures. I’m hopeful this was an oversight they are willing to revise. I appreciate you!

Re: Square Appointments Update: Automated Contracts

byobskin — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 23:45:16 GMT

I also have to agree with RMConsulting as a solo practitioner the contract offering not being with the plus option of the new square appointment offerings is very disheartening. I have been so happy with square and pay extra for email marketing and loyalty program. I will have to drop one or both of them to offset cost. Please consider including contract’s with plus subscription.

Re: Square Appointments Update: Automated Contracts

BeauteLifeAest — Thu, 10 Feb 2022 01:21:29 GMT

100% agree!

Re: Square Appointments Update: Automated Contracts

ridgwayesthetic — Sat, 12 Feb 2022 00:48:35 GMT

I completely agree. I was going to switch back to square, but until this incredibly important feature is moved to the more affordable option for solo practitioners, I won't. It just doesn't make sense to pay for a ton of features that I will never use in my solo business.

Re: Square Appointments Update: Automated Contracts

Glowgirlesty — Tue, 15 Feb 2022 02:26:15 GMT

Thank you Richard for looking out for us. You champion Square constantly and share your knowledge generously. My fee deducted from my acct this month was $85! I signed up for a couple of features that I no longer need, but can’t seem to get cancelled. I certainly can not afford to pay more in the coming months with the current inflation on consumables for my shop and at home. I suppose we will all be taking long hard looks at how we handle bookings/payments soon.