Solved: Live Q&A: Restaurant Revitalization Fund for Squar... - Page 8

Ani_ · ‎04-22-2021

Hi Seller Community!

I'm excited to announce the Small Business Administration has developed a partnership with Square to distribute the Restaurants Revitalization Fund (RRF) relief to the food and drink industry. The Restaurants Revitalization Fund (RRF) is part of the U.S. Government’s American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. This plan includes a $28.6B fund for awards to eligible food and beverage business owners, administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA).

On Thursday, April 29th at 1:30-2:30 PM PST /4:30 PM-5:30 EST, we'll host a Live Q&A with the Small Business Administration (SBA) to answer any of your questions about the application process. Please make sure to ask any questions directly on this thread below. Keep in mind, the SBA will only be addressing questions related to the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), not PPP.

How does the application process work?

We expect to start enabling applications for the Restaurants Revitalization Fund (RRF) on Monday, May 3rd at 12:00 PM EST. The award application program is owned by the SBA, and they are finalizing the process. We know how important these funds are to you and your business, so we are working as quickly as possible to get the application ready!

Unlike the PPP program, the Restaurant Revitalization Fund are awards and are not loans. They are not serviced as loans, and have no forgiveness component. There are no intermediary banks involved. Awards are determined by and allocated by the Small Business Administration (SBA) and not Square.

If you qualify for a Restaurant Revitalization Fund grant, you’ll have the option to apply Monday, May 3rd on Square Dashboard or through the SBA’s secure website. To help support applicants throughout the process, the SBA will offer phone and district office support.

Call center hotline (844-279-8898): Applicants can call this number for multi-lingual application or program support.
SBA District Offices: Applicants can reach out to their local District Office for tailored regional SBA support.

For more information about eligibility or to start your application, please visit the SBA Portal. You can also find more information about the Restaurant Revitalization Fund on the Support Center. Let us know if you have any questions for the SBA below!

Note: The SBA has announced that they will officially stop accepting applications for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) on Monday, May 24, at 8 p.m. ET.

Ani
Gestora de la Comunidad de Vendedores / Seller Community Manager, Square

Ani_ · ‎04-30-2021

On Thursday 5/29, we hosted a Q&A with the US Small Business Administration about the Restaurant Revitalization Fund.

In the Q&A, the SBA and Square answered questions about the application process — from general eligibility requirements to more specific information that applied to individual sellers.

Here’s some important information that applies to most sellers:

When can you apply:
- Applications start on Monday 5/3 at 12:00 p.m EST / 9:00 a.m. PST.
- The SBA has a registration window open on Friday 4/30, but if you plan to apply through Square you do not need to register with the SBA.

Who can apply through Square:
- To determine if you are an eligible business type, you’ll need to visit SBA’s website (sba.gov/restaurants).
- If you processed with Square in 2019 and 2020 (Table 1 or 2 in the RRF application), you can apply through Square’s dashboard or the SBA. If you used multiple POS providers during that period or had supplemental income e.g. from online ordering apps, you can still apply with Square. You’ll be able to add supplementary income information — but the SBA may require you to provide additional documentation before you e-sign your application.
- If you began processing with Square in 2020 or 2021 (Table 3 in the RRF application), then you will need to apply through the SBA. You can get useful information from your Square account to include in your application — to learn how, please take a look at our Support Center.

Why you should or should not apply with Square:
- If you apply through Square can save time completing and submitting your application with pre filled data from your Square account.
- Submitting through Square can help you get your application in front of the SBA quickly — before the RRF funds run out.
- Square will enable you to add supplemental revenue information in your application for either Table 1 or Table 2 applicant. However, if you are a Table 3 applicant, you will need to apply via SBA because Square will not let you upload supporting documentation for eligible expenses.

How can you apply with Square:
- If you are eligible to apply through Square, you’ll need to log in to your dashboard when the application window opens, using the owner’s login. From there, you’ll find a specific RRF module from where you can start your application.
- Square will have pre-filled your application with the information we know about your business. That said, there is information we do not have access to. To complete your application as fast as possible we recommend to have the following information handy:
  - The date (day, month, and year) you began operations.
  - How many months you operate in every location. This is especially important if you operate a seasonal business.
  - Any additional income you may have earned in 2019 and 2020 that was not processed through Square. Ideally you are tracking this income by location. If this information is not available feel free to distribute this across locations ensuring the total revenue by location (through Square and other sources)stays under $5M.
  - Your PPP loan information — especially if you did not process these loans with Square.
- After submitting your award application through your Square Dashboard, you’ll need to eSign your application. Here’s how it works:
  - Open an email from Square with the title “Your RRF award application is not yet complete.” Follow the link in the email to visit the SBA portal.
  - If you see a page with the title “Third Party Signup,” you are in the right spot. Enter the text you see in the grey pixelated image in the appropriate field and click Complete Sign Up.
  - You’ll then receive an email from SBA with the title “SBA Restaurant Revitalization Fund - Password Reset E-mail.” Click the link included in the email to reset your password.
  - Once you complete your password reset, scroll to the bottom of the page and click Sign and Submit Application to sign your application via DocuSign.
  - The SBA may also require additional documentation for your application if you indicated revenue outside of Square. From the SBA portal, you will be able to upload supporting documentation to the Additional Info Needed section if required by the SBA.

How can you get help if you have more questions?
- We will try to answer as many additional questions as possible here through the weekend.
- Call the SBA call center hotline (844-279-8898): Applicants can call this number for multilingual application or program support.

Reach out to your SBA District Office: Applicants can reach out to their local District Office for tailored regional SBA support.

Ani
Gestora de la Comunidad de Vendedores / Seller Community Manager, Square

View Solution >

Ani_ · ‎04-29-2021

Hey @ThirdPlaceJen! By applying through Square, information from you account will be prefilled, including processing data for 2019 and 2020. Alternatively, if you apply through the SBA, you are able to access report information from your Square Dashboard.

Ani
Gestora de la Comunidad de Vendedores / Seller Community Manager, Square

dillydahldeli · ‎04-27-2021

I'm unable to attend the webinar; will the application appear to apply appear on Square soon?

Tom · ‎04-27-2021

Hey @dillydahldeli — thanks for checking in! We're teaming up with the SBA to answer questions right here in this thread (there will be no webinar). I'll make sure they see your question about application timeline. Keep an eye out for updates here.

️ Tom | he/him
Square Community Program Manager | Square, Inc.
Find step-by-step help in our Support Center

OntheBeach · ‎04-27-2021

Tom: There is a lot of information coming in. Your recent post confuses me a bit. The SBA webinar today was very clear as to the application process. Sign up starting 9 am PST this Friday. Application open up 9 a.m. PST next Monday. Square applications open up at that same time. Will there be a similar registration for Square on Friday?

Ani_ · ‎05-02-2021

Hi @OntheBeach, sorry for the confusion. Registration with the SBA is not needed if you apply with Square.

Ani
Gestora de la Comunidad de Vendedores / Seller Community Manager, Square

Ani_ · ‎04-29-2021

Hi @dillydahldeli - We plan to launch on 5/3 when SBA launches. If you are eligible for the grant and we have sufficient processing data in your account, then you will have a module notifying you on Dashboard that you are eligible. We will also be emailing eligible businesses on 5/3.

Ani
Gestora de la Comunidad de Vendedores / Seller Community Manager, Square

ThirdPlaceJen · ‎04-27-2021

I attended the SBA webinar and they said that SBA and certified POS venders (Square) will be able to access application to begin applying on Monday, May 3, 12 pm EDT

Onriver · ‎04-27-2021

I have been trying to find information for this eligibility question without success:

I run a seasonal business. I was not able to operate for the season of 2020 because of COVID restrictions in my area, and particularly at the venue where I operate. Therefore i have no revenue for 2020. However, my business is still open and I intend to continue this season. Am still filing quarterly reports, etc. Will I be eligible for grant without any 2020 revenue? Anyone else dealing with this situation?

NmontaSBA · ‎04-29-2021

Hi @Onriver,

Yes, as long as you are not permanently closed and satisfy all other eligibility requirements you will still be eligible for funding.

Nicola
SBA Guest Speaker
sba.gov/restaurants

danandcatherine · ‎04-27-2021

I'm planning to use Square as the portal for submitting my Restaurant Revitalization Fund Application. How will Square define "Gross Receipts" for purposes of the Restaurant Revitalization Fund Application? The SBA guidance says "Gross Receipts" should not include tips. Will Square use "Net Sales" when it populates my application?

flyingbull · ‎04-29-2021

I have this same question.

Ani_ · ‎05-02-2021

Hey @danandcatherine @flyingbull! Square will use gross sales numbers.

Ani
Gestora de la Comunidad de Vendedores / Seller Community Manager, Square

BroadsidesBrews · ‎04-27-2021

Does the business have to have been open prior to the pandemic or can I show "pandemic-related revenue loss" because I was unable to open due to the pandemic?

Ani_ · ‎04-29-2021

Hey @BroadsidesBrews! If you opened in 2020 and 2021 you will still be able to apply through the SBA portal.

Ani
Gestora de la Comunidad de Vendedores / Seller Community Manager, Square

prestonrosefarm · ‎04-27-2021

My question is, as a brewery who does most of our normal revenue through onsite sales, we are qualified for the RRF...will square be able to provide the additional information needed to show that more than 33% of sales were onsite in 2019? we do separate our items by wholesale and retail in our POS, so our records do reflect that.

Ani_ · ‎04-29-2021

Hey @prestonrosefarm Unfortunately we will not be able to support your application and recommend that you apply through the SBA.

Ani
Gestora de la Comunidad de Vendedores / Seller Community Manager, Square

danandcatherine · ‎04-27-2021

If I use Square as the portal for submitting my Restaurant Revitalization Fund application, will my grant be deposited into the banking account linked to my Square account?

Ani_ · ‎04-29-2021

@danandcatherine Yes!

Ani
Gestora de la Comunidad de Vendedores / Seller Community Manager, Square

Ani_ · ‎04-27-2021

Hi all!

Thanks for the questions so far! If you meet the program requirements, you can submit your application starting Monday, May 3rd at 12:00 PM EST through your Square Dashboard or through the SBA Portal. For more information about eligibility, visit the SBA Portal. The SBA will respond to your questions directly in this post on Thursday, April 29th at 1:30-2:30 PM PST /4:30 PM-5:30 EST. Click reply below to add any additional questions you may have.

Ani
Gestora de la Comunidad de Vendedores / Seller Community Manager, Square

PPastry · ‎04-27-2021

We are asked to attach three months worth of bank statements. Is this three months from 2019 or 2020 or 2021?

NmontaSBA · ‎04-29-2021

Hi @PPastry,

Please supply the three most recent months of bank statements.

Nicola
SBA Guest Speaker
sba.gov/restaurants

Live Q&A: Restaurant Revitalization Fund for Square Food and Beverage Sellers

When can you apply:

Who can apply through Square:

Why you should or should not apply with Square:

How can you apply with Square:

How can you get help if you have more questions?