QuickBooks vs Square

2023. Intuit launches generative AI–powered digital assistant for small businesses and consumers



Intuit, the prominent U.S. financial and accounting software company, has introduced its inaugural customer-centric generative AI-driven solution known as Intuit Assist. Functioning as a digital assistant, it is seamlessly integrated into Intuit's suite of platforms and products, including TurboTax, Credit Karma, QuickBooks, and Mailchimp. With a consistent user interface, Intuit Assist leverages contextual datasets to deliver personalized recommendations to the company's vast customer base of over 100 million small businesses and consumers worldwide. This innovative offering also facilitates human assistance through Intuit's live platform when necessary. The digital assistant was created using GenOS, Intuit's proprietary operating system based on generative AI, which was launched in June to empower developers in incorporating AI across the company's product portfolio.


2021. Square acquires buy-now, pay-later company Afterpay for $29 billion



Square has reached an agreement to acquire Afterpay, an Australian buy-now, pay-later service, in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $29 billion. This acquisition stands as one of the largest in Australian history. Square has announced its intention to incorporate Afterpay into both Cash App and Seller. Cash App facilitates payments and money transfers for customers, while Seller caters to retailers. Following the integration, Cash App users will have the ability to manage their Afterpay payments directly within the app, and Seller merchants will be able to offer Afterpay as a payment option to their customers.


2020. Intuit acquires inventory management software TradeGecko



Intuit, a US-based business and financial software company, has made a deal to purchase TradeGecko, a Singaporean software-as-a-service company specializing in online inventory and order management software for small businesses. The acquisition, valued at $80 million, aims to combine TradeGecko's inventory and order management capabilities with Intuit's QuickBooks accounting platform. This integration will enable QuickBooks Online customers to effectively launch and oversee products across online and offline sales channels. Additionally, they will be able to handle orders and inventory fulfillment from different channels and multiple inventory locations, as stated in the announcement.


2020. Square acquires inventory management company Stitch Labs



The financial services, merchant services aggregator, and mobile payment company Square has acquired Stitch Labs, a company that specializes in inventory management software. Square, which is widely used by over 33.5 million small businesses for various purposes like accepting credit card payments, tracking sales and inventory, and obtaining financing, aims to enhance its Seller ecosystem by incorporating Stitch Labs' expertise. Currently, Square's functionality falls short of providing a complete inventory and order management system or fully meeting the needs of advanced Stitch Labs users. However, there is potential for Square to expand its software capabilities in the future with the assistance of the Stitch Labs team. In the meantime, we have compiled a list of the best alternatives to Stitch Labs that are currently available on the market.


2018. Square acquired website builder Weebly



Square, renowned for its payment software, has announced its acquisition of Weebly for a sum of $365 million. Weebly specializes in providing user-friendly website-building tools primarily tailored for small businesses and e-commerce companies. The company has successfully secured $35.7 million in funding. Square's objective in acquiring Weebly is to establish a unified solution that caters to entrepreneurs seeking to establish a robust online and offline business presence. This strategic move will also facilitate Square's global expansion, given that 40 percent of Weebly's 625,000 paid subscribers are based outside of the United States.


2017. Intuit acquired time-tracker TSheets



Intuit, the company renowned for products like QuickBooks, has recently made a significant acquisition. They have acquired TSheets, a time-tracking service and employee scheduling app with a customer base exceeding 35,000, for a total of $340 million. Given the substantial overlap in their target markets, primarily catering to small and medium-sized businesses, it's evident that QuickBooks and TSheets complement each other. In fact, Intuit reveals that the two companies already share 12,000 customers, indicating an existing synergy. This acquisition is not primarily aimed at acquiring new customers but rather at enhancing the QuickBooks ecosystem. It's worth noting that TSheets already integrates with QuickBooks. Throughout my discussions with Intuit in recent months, it has become apparent that their current product plans revolve around minimizing friction, particularly in relation to QuickBooks, aligning with their commitment to creating seamless experiences for their users.


2017. Mobile POS system Square launched Retail app



Square is introducing an all-new Square Retail app that complements an extensive backend package of tools. This package includes comprehensive inventory management, customer relationship management, and employee tools. The aim of this new offering is to deliver a top-notch retail solution for merchants and shop owners who require more than just the Square Reader and basic Square mobile app. The scalability of this solution allows it to cater to clients ranging from single-location shops to merchants with multiple storefronts and extensive inventory tracking needs. Initially, Square is primarily targeting retailers in the "finished goods" industry, which includes those selling packaged products, apparel with barcodes, as well as items like wine or games.


2016. Square now allows to charge loyal customers without card swiping



Mobile payment processing service Square has introduced a new feature called Card on File, which enables businesses to charge recurring customers without physically swiping their cards or requesting them. This feature benefits customers as well, as they can visit your shop or restaurant without carrying their cards or cash. They can simply choose what they want and leave, while you effortlessly charge the appropriate amount directly from their cards. To avail this service, customers must initially opt in and provide their card information to your company's Square account. Additionally, Card on File allows businesses to charge remote customers even without an internet payment connection. However, it is important to note that this feature comes at a slightly higher cost for businesses, with a fee of 3.5% plus 15 cents, as compared to the standard 2.75% commission for card swiping.


2015. Square launched a dashboard app for iOS



Mobile payment processing service Square has introduced its second non-consumer application, an iOS dashboard app designed for business owners. This app enables business owners to monitor real-time sales data and gain valuable insights into the performance of their business through analytics. While this app is not intended for the barista on duty, it serves as a valuable tool for owners who need to oversee operations remotely. With this app, business owners can conveniently track stock levels across multiple locations, enabling them to make informed decisions on the go, without the need for a desktop computer.


2015. Square launched payroll service for small businesses


Mobile payment startup Square has introduced Square Payroll, a software solution designed to assist businesses in managing payroll, tracking taxes, and handling other expenses related to both hourly and salaried employees. The pricing for this product is set at $20 per month, with an additional charge of $5 per employee. Square aims to position itself as a relatively straightforward and uncomplicated option within the payroll software market, at least for the time being. The software includes features such as timecard management, tax management, and the capability to handle payments for both hourly and salaried workers, all bundled together at a single price. Square Payroll enters a competitive landscape, facing established players like Intuit's QuickBooks, ADP, Paychex, and others. While some competitors like Wave Accounting offer similar features, they may not provide the complete range of services offered by Square Payroll. For instance, Wave Accounting does not handle tax payments or tax filings, only estimated tax liabilities. Additionally, Wave Accounting offers lower pricing, with two base tiers starting at $10 and $15 plus an additional $4 per employee.