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As the Head of Product here at Square, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what really keeps a business running smoothly — and honestly, it’s often the things you don’t see. Your network, for example. It’s one of those things where, when it’s working well, it’s invisible. But when it’s not, everything comes to a halt.
We’ve all seen it happen: payments slowing down, online orders failing to come through, printers suddenly not connecting. In many cases, the root cause isn’t the device. It’s the network. And one of the most common issues we see is businesses relying on residential-grade equipment that simply isn’t built for the demands of a commercial environment. Even for smaller operations, consumer hardware can fall short when multiple devices are competing for bandwidth, or when layout and coverage need to be tuned to keep things running smoothly. A stable, reliable network is paramount to how Square supports your business, and that’s why we’ve been working behind the scenes to improve access to professional-grade networking solutions that just work.
This year, we launched Square Premium Networking Solutions to do exactly that. From commercial-grade equipment to install support, we’re giving you the tools you need to build a resilient, business-ready network that minimizes downtime and keeps operations moving, even during the busiest hours.
To get started, set up your Square Ubiquiti UniFi network.
Why your network matters
If you’ve ever had a printer mysteriously stop working mid-service or watched online orders fail to come through, chances are the culprit was your network.
There are really two layers to think about: the quality of your local network (how your devices talk to each other) and your access to the internet. Both are critical. A poor setup in either area can cause everything from slow load times to a complete inability to take orders or process payments.
And in a fast-paced business where every second counts, even a little lag can snowball into bigger issues: missed tickets in the kitchen, slower checkouts, frustrated staff, and ultimately, a hit to the customer experience.
Laying the foundation: How to build a rock-solid network
Before we get into what Square is doing to help, it’s worth stepping back to look at the basics. These best practices are the safeguards you can put in place to ensure your setup can handle the demands of a busy, connected business.
1. Invest in commercial-grade equipment
A lot of businesses start out with the default setup, which is usually whatever modem or router came from their internet provider. That might be fine for an apartment or a small office, but in a busy business environment, especially one with multiple devices and a lot of traffic, it often just doesn’t hold up. That’s why I always suggest investing in networking equipment that’s built for commercial use and matched to your business’s size and layout. A small café won’t need the same level of coverage or complexity as a multi-location restaurant group, but both need something designed with business performance in mind.
2. Install it properly
Even the best equipment won’t perform well if it’s not set up correctly. I’ve seen issues that came down to access points placed in the wrong part of the store or cabling that wasn’t rated for the job. Strong Wi-Fi coverage starts with good placement, and making sure that wherever possible, key devices are connected via an ethernet cable when possible. For example, we recommend one access point for each large room (up to 1,000 sq. ft. coverage) and at least 35 feet in between each access point, to avoid over-saturating your network. These details may seem minor, but they make a big difference in how reliable your setup will be under pressure.
3. Configure it correctly
Once the equipment is in place, configuration becomes just as important. A common challenge we see is around guest Wi-Fi. It’s a nice touch for customers, but if it’s not configured carefully, it can end up competing with your critical systems. That’s where proper segmentation and bandwidth limits come in. You want to make sure your core operations like payments, printing, and ordering get priority, especially during peak times.
4. Have a backup internet connection
Finally, even the strongest setup can’t prevent an outage from your main internet provider. That’s why I always recommend planning for backup connectivity. If your primary line goes down, a secondary connection (on a different network or technology) can keep you going. This could mean a separate provider or even a cellular-based internet service. It might not be something you use every day, but when you need it, it can save a shift. And if you’re concerned about the cost of maintaining a separate provider, you could think of it this way: If you’re able to keep running for a full shift during an outage, the backup will essentially pay for itself.
How Square is helping: Introducing Square Premium Networking
We’re not just telling you to invest in commercial-grade equipment — we’re actually making it easier to do just that. Our goal has always been to empower you to run your operations smoothly, not burden you with figuring out complicated technical setups. Networking is one of those areas that’s incredibly important but often hard to get right. So we took a close look at what we could do to simplify things.
Our partnership with Ubiquiti
As we explored different networking partners, Ubiquiti1 and its UniFi platform stood out immediately. What really impressed us was how closely their values aligned with ours.
Ubiquiti’s products are meant for business use, yet plug and play, and easy to understand, even for people who don’t have an IT background. That matters, because networking can be a complex topic, and we know you just want a solution that works without requiring a crash course in infrastructure.”
Willem Avé → Head of Product at Square
For example, with Ubiquiti tools, you can easily implement some of the recommended best practices we covered, like segmenting your network and setting bandwidth limits.
Ubiquiti also offers something that’s surprisingly rare in this space: transparent pricing. There are no licensing fees or surprise add-ons down the road, which helps you stay in control of your costs. And their hardware and software scale incredibly well. Whether you’re running one location or ten, the experience is consistent and reliable. Just like Square, they prioritize intuitive, user-friendly tools, so you can focus on your business, not your tech stack.
What that partnership means in practice is this: We now offer Ubiquiti UniFi routers, access points, and switches on the Square Shop, with pre-vetted options tailored to different business sizes. You can purchase networking kits for quick-service and full-service restaurant operations, so it’s easier to find the right fit without wading through hundreds of product listings or spec sheets.
Step-by-step installation support
We also know that even with great hardware, success depends on proper setup. That’s why we created detailed installation guides to walk you through everything, including where to place equipment, how to configure it, and how to ensure your devices stay connected and discoverable. If you’ve got a tech-savvy team or just prefer to do things yourself, these guides give you a clear, step-by-step process to follow, built around best practices for Square environments.
Professional installers for hands-off setup
Of course, not everyone wants to go the DIY route. If you prefer to leave it to the pros, we’ve built a network of certified installers who follow the same configuration guidelines we recommend. This is especially useful for larger or more complex spaces, where a professional setup can really make a difference in long-term performance and stability. Connect with your Sales rep to understand if you are eligible for site assessment and installation of networking equipment.
Extras: New troubleshooting tools
We also wanted to make sure you have a simple way to check if your network is actually the problem, without needing to guess or call in outside help right away. So we built connectivity reports into Square Point of Sale devices, or you can access this from Square Dashboard if you are not on site.
With just one tap, you can now run a quick diagnostic that checks three things: your connection to the internet, your connection to Square’s systems, and the stability of your local network. If something’s off, the report makes it easy to pinpoint where the issue might be.
What’s especially useful is that the test generates a snapshot of the results that you can share. Whether you’re sending it to your IT person or reaching out to Square Support, it gives you a clear starting point and saves time on back-and-forth troubleshooting. We created it to remove the guesswork, especially if you know something’s wrong but don’t have a technical background. It’s a small addition, but one that’s already making a big difference.
Our philosophy: Empowerment and giving back control
As we built out this networking experience, one thing became very clear to us: we’re not here to control how you run your business. We’re here to empower you. That’s been a guiding principle for Square since day one, and it absolutely shaped how we approached networking.
Too often, networking provider systems are built to lock sellers into rigid proprietary setups. You’re often required to use a specific service provider. You don’t own the hardware and can’t switch it out. Even basic troubleshooting means waiting on support or jumping through hoops. Typically, when you buy an end-to-end networking solution from a POS provider, you are unable to add devices or equipment to the network to scale it. This can reduce your flexibility and increases costs. Plus, for every single change or even for minor troubleshooting you are reliant on your services provider to help you every step of the way. We’ve taken a different approach.
With Square, you have the flexibility to choose the internet provider that works best for your business, use pre-vetted commercial-grade equipment without being forced into a proprietary setup, and access clear tools and guides to configure and troubleshoot your network on your own terms.”
Willem Avé → Head of Product at Square
While we’ve designed everything to be as easy and intuitive as possible, support is always there when you need it.
It all comes back to your network
At the end of the day, network reliability matters because it affects nearly every part of your operation. It’s what ensures your online orders come in on time. It keeps your front-of-house and back-of-house systems in sync. It allows you to run an omnichannel setup by serving customers in-store, online, and through delivery platforms while keeping operations smooth and consistent. It’s also what keeps you up and running during those unexpected internet outages. All of that depends on having a solid, stable foundation.
Because Square is a cloud-based solution, a strong and stable network is essential to getting the most out of it. That’s true today, and it’ll only become more important as your business grows. We’re committed to helping you build that foundation — and supporting you every step of the way.
1. About Ubiquiti Inc.
Ubiquiti Inc. is focused on democratizing network technology on a global scale. Our professional networking products are powered by our UniFi and UISP software platforms to provide high-capacity distributed Internet access and unified information technology management. Ubiquiti, UniFi, UISP and the U logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Ubiquiti and/or its affiliates in the United States and other countries. For more information, please visit Square Ubiquiti UniFi network.
