See Why Small Businesses Choose VMS over Square for Long-Term Success
Learn MoreCheaper Processing
Better Support
Scalable Solutions
Payment Processing That Puts Small Business First.
★★★★★
“VMS has been with our family since I was a kid. Their customer service is honestly the best I’ve ever experienced. Anytime we needed help, they were right there. We trust VMS with all our restaurants, and I would never switch.”
Ferris A.
Owner at Tandoor Al Badia
★★★★★
“We’ve been processing with VMS for about eight years, and honestly, they’ve become part of our team. I wasn’t expecting the level of support we’ve received — Sarunas is always there for us, and he’s played a big role in helping us grow. When we wanted to launch our Jack’s Bar-B-Que app, he made the whole process easy. VMS has truly stepped up for us every time we’ve needed them.”
Skip Smith
CFO at Jack’s Bar-B-Que
★★★★★
This product has completely transformed our workflow. The attention to detail and customer support are outstanding. We’ve seen a 40% increase in productivity since implementing this solution.
Sarah Johnson
CEO at TechStart
VMS vs Square at a Glance
| Features |  |  |
| Core Model | Traditional merchant services provider; you get your own merchant account | Payment aggregator; you’re a sub‑merchant under Square |
| Main POS | Clover POS (kiosks, dual‑screen stations, handhelds, KDS, etc.) | Square POS (Register, Terminal, Stand, readers) |
| Pricing Approach | Custom rates + cash discount/dual pricing options to reduce or eliminate fees | Flat‑rate per‑transaction fees (e.g., ~2.6% + $0.10–$0.15 in‑person, higher online) |
| EBT / SNAP | Full EBT program: USDA application help, compliance guidance, device setup | No native EBT; relies on third‑party apps like TotilPay and extra configuration |
| Online Ordering & Web | Done‑for‑you online ordering + website options tied to Clover & VMS services | Built‑in DIY website & online store tools inside Square dashboard |
| Working Capital / Loans | Merchant funding & Clover Capital options with revenue‑based payback | Square Loans based on your Square processing volume |
| Support Style | Relationship‑driven, in‑house team focused on small businesses | Self‑serve help center, community forum, and tiered support |
| Best Fit For | Established small & mid‑sized businesses ready to optimize costs and operations | New, low‑volume, or ultra‑simple setups just getting started |
PRICING & FEES
Go Beyond “One‑Size‑Fits‑All” Flat Rates
Square’s flat‑rate fees are easy to understand… and easy to overpay once you’re doing real volume.
- Square: Commonly around 2.6% + $0.10–0.15 per in‑person transaction, and 2.9–3.3% + $0.30 online, depending on plan.
- VMS: Uses custom pricing and can layer in cash discount/dual pricing programs, letting many merchants dramatically cut what they pay on card transactions.
| Pricing Factor | | |
| Base Pricing Model | Custom merchant pricing based on industry & volume | Flat published rates |
| Cash Discount / Dual Pricing | Yes – fully supported & implemented with signage, programming, and training | Not offered as a turnkey program |
| Ability to Reduce % of Fees Over Time | High – especially as volume grows and programs are optimized | Limited – you pay the set rate per transaction, unless you qualify for custom enterprise pricing |
| Best For | Businesses processing $10k+/month who want to keep more margin | Very small / new businesses that value simplicity over optimization |
POS & HARDWARE
Hardware Built for Real‑World Chaos, Not Just Pop‑Up Payments
Square hardware is fantastic when you have a single counter, a tablet, and a simple menu.
VMS outfits you with Clover – a POS platform often ranked as one of the best value‑for‑money systems for multi‑location and service‑heavy businesses.
| Device | | |
| Self‑Order Kiosks | Available, configured for QSR/fast casual flows | Limited; usually requires extra setup or third‑party tools |
| Dual‑Screen Terminals | Clover Duo and similar front‑of‑house setups | Square Register |
| Kitchen Display Systems (KDS) | Full KDS support for restaurants | KDS available; more DIY configuration |
| Handheld Ordering / Table Service | Clover Flex / Go, integrated with main system | Square Terminal / Handheld options |
| Multi‑Location Management | Built with multi‑location and franchise setups in mind | Possible, but more complex and app‑dependent |
| Setup & Training | Installed, configured, and trained by VMS specialists | Primarily DIY with guides and optional onboarding for paid tiers |
EBT & COMPLIANCE
If You Need EBT, “Workarounds” Aren’t Good Enough
For groceries, convenience stores, markets, and some restaurant concepts, EBT/SNAP acceptance is non‑negotiable.
- VMS has a dedicated EBT program and walks you through USDA approval, FNS application, compliance, and terminal setup so your EBT transactions are clean, separated, and compliant.
- Square does not process EBT natively and typically relies on integrations like TotilPay with additional hardware/apps acting alongside Square Register.
| EBT Factor | | |
| USDA / FNS Application Help | Yes – step‑by‑step assistance | No – handled separately by the merchant |
| Native EBT Acceptance on Main POS | Yes – EBT configured on Clover terminals | No – requires TotilPay or similar extra solution |
| Terminal Programming for EBT | Done for you as part of setup | Separate app + integration and configuration |
| Compliance Guidance & Updates | Provided by VMS through education and support content | Limited to community posts & third‑party advice |
ONLINE ORDERING & WEB PRESENCE
Take Orders Where Your Customers Already Are
Both VMS and Square understand that customers don’t just walk in anymore—they tap, click, and scroll.
- VMS: Provides online ordering and website options tailored to your industry, with deep integration into Clover, so menu or product changes sync automatically between POS and online.
- Square: Offers a DIY website builder and online store directly in your Square dashboard, great for simple, self-managed setups.
| Online Capability | | |
| Done‑For‑You Website Builds | Available – especially for ecommerce & restaurants | Not typical; mainly DIY |
| Online Ordering Synced to POS | Yes – built around Clover menus & modifiers | Yes – via Square Online, with settings in dashboard |
| Branding Flexibility | High – can be developed around your existing brand | Good, but within Square’s template ecosystem |
| Best Fit | Businesses that want experts to handle setup & integration | Owners comfortable building and managing everything themselves |
WORKING CAPITAL & FUNDING
Turn Your Processing History Into Smart Capital
Sometimes you don’t need a bank. You just need a partner that understands your revenue.
- VMS: Offers revenue‑based funding and Clover Capital options, with repayments taken as a small, agreed‑upon percentage of daily card sales instead of fixed monthly notes.
- Square: Provides Square Loans, which work similarly—fixed fee, repaid via a slice of your daily Square volume.
| Funding Aspect | | |
| Based On | Your card processing volume & revenue profile | Your Square processing volume |
| Repayment Style | % of daily card sales through your merchant account | % of daily Square sales |
| Human Guidance | Dedicated account reps walk you through options | Offers appear automatically; you accept/decline via dashboard |
| Ideal For | Businesses wanting funding integrated with a broader strategy (fees, POS, EBT, web) | Sellers already deep in the Square ecosystem needing quick capital |
SUPPORT & PARTNERSHIP
Do You Want Another App, or an Actual Partner?
When your main terminal dies on a Friday night or a deposit looks off, you don’t want to “open a ticket and wait for an email.”
With Velocity Merchant Services:
- You get direct access to a team that knows your setup and your industry.
- They help with hardware, EBT, online ordering, funding, and pricing, not just “card declined” questions.
With Square:
- You get a huge ecosystem with help articles, community forums, and support, plus more responsive phone support on higher‑tier plans.
| Support Area | | |
| Onboarding & Install | Hands‑on setup, training, and optimization | DIY with guides; onboarding help on certain paid plans |
| Ongoing Support | In‑house team; phone & account-level help for complex setups | Knowledgebase, community, chat/email, plus phone support on selected plans |
| Focus | Long‑term small business success (fees, compliance, growth) | Scalable support model for millions of users |
WHO EACH PLATFORM IS BEST FOR
Which One Fits Your Business Right Now?
Square is a great fit if:
- You’re just starting out or testing a new concept
- You only process cards occasionally or at small pop‑ups
- You want something you can set up yourself in an afternoon
- You don’t need EBT, advanced fee programs, or deep POS customization
Velocity Merchant Services is the better fit if:
- You’re processing $10k+ per month and want to stop overpaying on fees
- You run a restaurant, retail store, grocery, salon, smoke shop, auto shop, or multi‑location business
- You want the option to reduce or nearly eliminate processing costs with cash discount / dual pricing
- You need EBT/SNAP handled correctly, from USDA application to daily transactions
- You want Clover POS installed, optimized, and supported by a team that believes in small business
