A Square alternative built for cleaning jobs
Square Appointments has a genuinely free tier, and many cleaners already use it. But it is a salon-style scheduler and invoice pad, not a field-service operating system — and Square’s own Reserves policy names deposits, “home contracting / professional services,” and irregular transaction sizes as reasons it can hold your money. Guildry gives Phoenix-area cleaning providers a job-based workflow, transparent money timing, and Guildry’s outcome guarantee (up to $1,000 per job), with no subscription.
Guildry vs Square, side by side
| Guildry | Square |
|---|---|
| Monthly subscription | |
| No subscription, no per-user fees | Free tier ($0); no-show protection + better rates start at Plus — $49/mo per location |
| Built for | |
| Field-service jobs: quote → job → invoice | Appointments/salons — no quote→job→invoice pipeline, no crews or routing, no service-area/ZIP model |
| Card processing | |
| You choose — pass the card fee to the customer ($0 to you), or absorb it (~2.9% + 30¢, Stripe's rate, no markup) | Free tier: 3.3% + 30¢ online invoices, 3.5% + 15¢ card-on-file (verified 2026-07-05) |
| Money timing | |
| A transparent 2-day hold — then you are paid | Next-business-day payout — but funds can be held under Square’s Reserves policy |
| Reserve risk for a new cleaning shop | |
| No rolling reserve on your sales. A payout can pause while a claim, a reported problem or a card dispute on that job is open (Terms B5) | Square’s Reserves FAQ names deposits, “home contracting / professional services,” irregular ticket sizes, and no processing history as triggers |
| No-show / deposit protection | |
| Free (deposits + reminders) | $49/mo (Plus plan) |
| Guarantee on the work | |
| Yes — Guildry’s outcome guarantee, up to $1,000 per job | None |
| Reviews | |
| Count only from completed-and-paid jobs | Private feedback + automated Google-review requests |
| Who the customer hires | |
| Guildry — and Guildry stands behind the work | You |
Square details verified from Square's Reserves FAQ (opens in a new tab). Reserve-trigger language is from Square’s Reserves FAQ (re-checked 2026-07-13). Square processing rates and plan prices were verified 2026-07-05 on squareup.com; Square’s pricing is complex and changes — confirm current rates there. Guildry payment and guarantee terms are in our Terms and Refund & Cancellation Policy.
Where Square genuinely wins
- A genuinely free, broad tier: unlimited staff calendars, a booking site, reminders, recurring appointments, unlimited invoices and estimates, next-business-day payouts, and a free AI scheduling assistant. For “free scheduling + invoicing,” Square is a complete answer today.
- One of the best-rated schedulers on the App Store — and many cleaners already have a Square reader in a drawer.
- Fast, cheap money mechanics: free next-business-day payouts and a $0 chargeback fee.
Where Guildry is different
- Built for field work: quotes, jobs, recurring occurrences, and service areas — not salon-style appointment slots.
- Transparent money timing — a 2-day hold written into the Terms, with the reasons a payout can pause written there too, and no reserve system that names your deposits as a risk trigger.
- Guildry’s outcome guarantee (up to $1,000 per job) and payment protection.
- A rating system where reviews count only after completed-and-paid work — no imported or self-solicited reviews.
- No-show protection (deposits + reminders) is free, not a $49/mo upgrade.
- Momentum you can steer: Guildry ships new features every week, and the roadmap is driven by the providers using it — ask for what you need and it gets built fast.
Who each is best for
Choose Guildry if…
Phoenix cleaning shops that run real jobs — quotes, recurring visits, crews, and service areas — and want transparent money timing plus trust features.
Choose Square if…
Solo, appointment-based businesses that want a free booking page and invoice pad from a brand they already use, and do not need field-service workflow.
Frequently asked questions
- Isn’t Square already free?
- Yes, and it is a good free scheduler. The difference is fit and money timing: Square is built for appointments, not field jobs, and its Reserves policy can hold a new service business’s funds. Guildry is built for cleaning jobs, with transparent 2-day money timing.
- Why would Square hold my funds?
- Square’s own Reserves FAQ lists deposits, “home contracting / professional services,” irregular transaction sizes, and no processing history as reasons it may hold a portion of your funds — the exact profile of a new cleaning shop. Guildry’s 2-day hold is written into the Terms. A payout can pause while a customer’s claim, reported problem or card dispute on that job is open, and Guildry tells you the reason in writing.
- Is Guildry cheaper than free Square?
- Often, yes. Square’s free tier still charges card processing (3.3% + 30¢ on online invoices; verified 2026-07-05). With Guildry, on the customers you add yourself, you net the full invoice, minus only standard Stripe processing.
- Can I switch from Square to Guildry?
- Yes. Guildry covers the core workflow — quotes, scheduling, invoicing, and getting paid — with a job-based structure built for cleaning. Email hello@guildry.net and we will help you get set up.
- Is Guildry available outside Phoenix?
- Guildry serves the Phoenix, Arizona metro. Providers join by invitation. More areas follow over time.
Ready to leave the subscription behind?
Guildry serves the Phoenix metro, and providers join by invitation. Tell us about your business and we will get back to you within one business day.