Square not allowing to change name or transfer all information

[RSD0711]

I recently changed my last name. With speaking to square I've learned I cannot change my legal name on my business and need to create another one, which would be fine if they offered a service to transfer all my business's information, but they do not. I would lose my sales history, and their suggestion is to just download it. Has anyone dealt with this process as a hairdresser? It's not okay that I lose access to all my businesses history because my last name changed, should I just switch to Vagaro at this point?

[TheRealChipA]

Hi @RSD0711.  Before I posted a reply, I spent a little time doing some research.  Unfortunately, I came up dry.  All paths I tried led to the same conclusion you’ve already been given — Square does not allow name changes.  If you want to stay with Square, you are going to have to close this account and open a new one.  However, all is not lost, whether you open a new account with Square or with Vagaro (or someone else).

1. You can export your customer directory to a CSV file and import it into your new account.
2. You can do the same for your Item & Services directory.  Weirdly, while the item directory export does show which modifier lists are used for each item, there is no way to export the actual modifier lists, nor is there a way to export how the modifier lists are customized for each item.  You’d have to re-create those by hand.
3. You can also export other Square reports (for the entire length of your business) to archive things like transactions, payments, etc.  Here’s a link to a help article of these, but basically you can export most everything in the Reports section of your online dashboard.  Unfortunately, you can not import these to your new account.  You will be starting over here.

Obviously, this is by no means a perfect solution.  I wish I knew of one, but I don’t.  A few years ago, I switched to a Square competitor, which turned out to be a very bad decision for my business.  The point is that I learned that there is no easy transition, even to a new Square account.  I agree with you that it doesn’t make a lot of sense, but it is what it is.

Whatever your decision about your new account, if you need any pointers, suggestions of help with archiving your Square data, please do not hesitate to reach out here and ask questions.  I’ll be more than happy to help, if I am able to do so.

[Candlestore]

I have one Idea, Square does not let anyone Transfer information when a Business is sold, but can Transfer it to someone In the business.... with verification.  My thinking is Your previous name, is Transferring the Business to your New legal name.  Make sure you have all accounts SS EIN etc showing your new name and contact Square Support.

Here is what Square states I took a Screen shot from my accounts section.

Squares Support # is in my signature line and I would reach out to them and ask about this.

[TheRealChipA]

Keith, I looked into that possibility in the Square help article on transfers. But in the FAQs it says it won’t work. It seems that if the EIN/SSN is the same it blocks the transfer, for some weird reason. 

 

[Candlestore]

@TheRealChipA ;  Maybe to keep Identity Thieves from stealing Square accounts also and just saying they changed their name.  Thanks for showing this to me at least I know that changing the name of an account holder is not Possible and that I should just get copies of everything if my Son ever wants to take over.