How do I do a test order on square before I make it live on my site?

[MonicaCanale]

How do I do a test order on square before I make it live on my site?

[Katie_SQ · Accepted solution]

Thanks for your question, @MonicaCanale!

Currently, it's not possible to create a test order on your unpublished Square Online site. The only way to test the checkout flow is by publishing your site first.

If you'd like to test the process and then remove your site from public view afterward, you can easily unpublish it by following these steps:

1. On your Square Dashboard, go to Online > Website > Site Preferences.
2. Click the Unpublish button.

This will allow you to thoroughly test your checkout experience while maintaining control over when your site is publicly accessible.

If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to reach out! 😊

[doc_choc]

We also set up a test item for a minimum amount and do a test purchase on the system once published to make sure the email notifications are all working and are formatted how you want them, everything connects, the transaction goes through and the money lands in the account. You can then go back and unpublish the site and fine tune if needed and don't forget to delete or hide the test item once you are happy with the everything.

[NCSWBooks]

The problem with the testing of a published site is that it COSTS you money. Even if I try a 'test' registration for $400, Square keeps the fees even if I delete it immediately. So there really is not a way to "test" a sale on Square. Stripe has this capability and I can't believe Square does not. 

[doc_choc]

Set up system how you want it, then create a test item, price $1, run the tests. Once you have verified that all the automations etc are connected delete the test item and off you go. Simplz! 😀

[NCSWBooks]

I've done that, done the $1 thing so I'm only out a few cents that Square keeps to process it, even though I deleted it immediately!  My issue is testing a $360 purchase (I want to see the receipts, etc.) but I don't want to eat the ten bucks Square will keep when I cancel the order. Stripe does this so well, it just has me reconsidering so many things. Thanks for your help! 

[doc_choc]

Trying to think if there would be any difference from testing on $1 or $400, are you thinking of the automated emails workflow on fulfilment or all of these. Not sure there would be much difference no matter what the item value is (apart from the transaction fees). Luckily for our business we are a low value item, so fees when testing would be significantly less. Probably if I were you in the absence of a Stripe style system I would run as many tests as necessary with the $1 item and iron out as much as possible and then if you feel necessary run a 1 or 2 with the 'real' item price so you have the confidence it is doing what you expect. Agreed it would be nice to have something to allow a few test orders to be placed without being hit by fees.