For most small business owners, managing money isn’t just part of the job—it is the job. Whether it’s ensuring employees are paid, properly stocking inventory, or strategically investing in growth, ensuring everything moves smoothly is rarely simple. Cash flow is unpredictable, traditional loans can be intimidating, and budgeting often relies more on gut instinct than hard data.
That’s where Square is stepping in. First known for its easy-to-use point-of-sale systems, Square has steadily built a suite of financial tools designed specifically for small businesses. And according to Lan An, Square’s Product Marketing Manager for Money, these tools are less about fancy features and more about one goal: giving sellers control.
“We know small business owners operate with extremely thin margins and tight cash flow,” Lan explained. “A delay in payment deposit could mean the difference between paying or not paying employee wages, or missing an inventory purchase that allows sellers to keep their doors open.”
Square’s financial ecosystem is built to address those real-world struggles. From Instant Transfers and Square Card to Square Loans and Balance Folders, all the necessary tools are accessible to those who need them most. Together, they’re reshaping how entrepreneurs think about and manage money with flexibility, speed, and simplicity at the core.
Instant Access to Cash
For many small business owners, waiting even a single day for funds to clear can feel like an eternity. While most major payment processors offer next-business-day transfers as standard, Square recognized that wasn’t enough.
With Square Card and Instant Transfers, sellers can access their funds immediately, we’re talking within seconds of making a sale. “Both tools allow sellers to have instant access to funds they process with Square,” Lan said. “That’s a huge differentiator for us.”
Square Card acts as a free business debit card that connects directly to a seller’s Square Balance. That means the moment money comes in, it can be spent without waiting for a traditional bank transfer. Whether it’s used for payroll, supplies, or even a last-minute equipment fix is completely up to the individual. The flexibility doesn’t end there. Square offers multiple transfer options, including custom close-of-day schedules and manual transfers. Sellers choose what works best for them, instead of being stuck with rigid banking rules.
For businesses where every hour counts, such as restaurants, cafés, or retailers in peak season, this immediacy can be the difference between imperative growth opportunity and unfortunate setback.
Growth on Your Terms
Beyond day-to-day cash flow, access to capital is one of the biggest hurdles small businesses face. Traditional loans are notorious for being slow and complex.
Lan pointed out that 7 in 10 Canadian small business owners have never accessed traditional funding—and nearly half admit to relying on personal credit cards just to keep their businesses afloat. Even those who apply for loans often find the process overwhelming. In a Square survey, 92% of owners who’d received traditional loans called the process “intimidating,” and 84% said it was overly complicated.
Square Loans takes a different approach. “Sellers don’t need to jump through the hoops required for a traditional loan application,” Lan said. “We proactively surface customized offers to eligible sellers using their Square transaction data. There are no credit checks, no reams of paperwork, and no ongoing interest rates—just one flat fee.”
That simplicity has resonated. Since launching Square Loans in Canada, the company has extended $785 million in funds to Canadian sellers, supporting everything from expansion projects to seasonal cash flow support.
Some sellers use the funds to open new locations or ramp up marketing. Others lean on them to manage the peaks and valleys of seasonal demand. “In today’s challenging economy, many are finding creative uses,” said Lan. “We’re seeing a focus on maintaining stability, improving efficiency, and finding ways to be adaptable.”
Repayment is equally seller-friendly. Instead of fixed monthly payments, Square deducts a small, predictable percentage of daily sales. On busy days, sellers pay more; on slow days, they pay less. It’s an intuitive repayment structure that flexes with the natural rhythm of a business, reducing stress while providing clarity.
Smarter Budgeting
Even with the best intentions, expenses like payroll, rent, and taxes have a way of creeping up on small business owners. And with volatile costs, particularly in industries like food service, budgets often depend more on educated guesses than reliable systems.
“Sellers tend to struggle with budgeting, especially when there’s high cost and inventory volatility,” said Lan. “They don’t always know how well they’re sticking to their budgets, so they go by ‘gut feeling’ and reactively adjust. That can mean underestimating what to set aside and scrambling later to cover expenses.”
This is where Balance Folders come into play. It’s a free feature that allows sellers to automatically set aside a percentage of sales into digital “folders.” Using the abovementioned examples, a seller might have one folder for payroll, another for rent, and another for taxes. The money is separated automatically, making it easier to plan, manage, and stick to budgets.
The beauty of Balance Folders is in its flexibility. Sellers can seamlessly move funds between folders, spend directly with Square Card, or transfer to an external account. The best part is that all of these variables are visible in a single dashboard. And unlike many traditional bank accounts, there are no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements.
“It takes the thinking out of budgeting,” Lan said. “You set it, and it runs in the background. That frees sellers up to focus on running their businesses instead of worrying about whether they’ve saved enough for the tax bill.”
An Ecosystem That Works Together
What makes Square’s financial products especially powerful isn’t just the individual tools but rather how they strategically align with one another. In theory, it’s smart. In practice, it’s brilliant. Just think about it for a moment. A sale is made, and funds instantly hit the seller’s Square Balance. Those funds can be spent immediately using Square Card. From there, a percentage is automatically routed into Balance Folders for payroll and taxes. If the seller needs additional capital, they may see a customized Square Loan offer in their dashboard. All activity—sales, transfers, fees, and repayments—are tracked in one place, providing a clear, holistic view of the business’s financial health.
This integration reduces the stress and administrative burden that often weigh down small business owners. Instead of juggling multiple banks, credit cards, and spreadsheets, everything flows through one streamlined platform. It’s also important to note the way in which Square goes beyond banking. The brand’s mission has always been about more than transactions. “We are committed to economic empowerment, and that starts with supporting the local economy’” said Lan. “Small businesses are the backbone of local communities, creating over 62% of Canada’s jobs.”
That value does more than shape how Square designs its products. It directly impacts the way in which they continue to evolve. Take Square Loans for instance. Instead of relying solely on outdated credit bureau models, Square uses real-time business data to evaluate creditworthiness. This approach opens the door to entrepreneurs who might otherwise be shut out of traditional financing due to short credit histories or lack of collateral.
Block (Square’s parent company) has even published a modern approach to credit framework, which emphasizes using timely financial signals such as transaction volume and revenue patterns instead of rigid, backward-looking metrics. The result? More small businesses can access meaningful and timely credit when they need it most.
For all the technology behind Square’s financial products, what shines through in Lan’s perspective is a focus on the human side of entrepreneurship. Whether it’s helping a café cover payroll without stress, giving a boutique owner the confidence to expand, or enabling a restaurant to plan for taxes without panic, the tools are designed around real-world needs.
And beyond the immediate benefits, there’s a bigger picture. Square’s disaster relief partnerships, community involvement, and focus on empowerment all point to a simple philosophy: when small businesses thrive, communities thrive.
Looking Ahead
As the economy continues to shift, small businesses will face both challenges and opportunities. Rising costs, changing consumer behavior, and new competition mean owners need tools that are not just functional but adaptable.
Square is positioning itself to meet that need. With instant access to funds, flexible loans, smart budgeting features, and an ever-evolving approach to credit, the company is equipping sellers with more than just financial products—it’s giving them peace of mind. “At the end of the day, our goal is to reduce stress and give sellers more control, so they can focus on what they do best: running and growing their businesses,” said Lan. Ultimately, Square is redefining what it means to support entrepreneurs.
It’s not about replacing banks or reinventing finance—it’s about meeting small businesses where they are, listening to their struggles, and building tools that make life easier. And in doing so, Square isn’t just helping businesses stay open. It’s helping them dream bigger, grow stronger, and remain the beating heart of their communities.
