For cleaning providers
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 a satisfaction guarantee — free during the founding pilot.
Guildry vs Square, side by side
| Guildry | Square | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly subscription | Free during the founding pilot | 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 universal, 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 | None | 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) |
| Satisfaction guarantee on the work | Yes, on every job (backed by Guildry) | 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 2026-07-13 from Square's Reserves FAQ. 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, universal money timing — a 2-day hold that is the same for everyone, with no opaque reserve system that names your deposits as a risk trigger.
- A satisfaction guarantee and payment protection on every job.
- 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 its founding providers — 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 universal, transparent, and the same for everyone.
- 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). During Guildry’s founding pilot the provider nets 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?
- We are launching in the Phoenix, Arizona metro and hand-picking our first founding providers. More areas follow as the pilot stabilizes.
Ready to leave the subscription behind?
Guildry is invite-only while we onboard our first founding providers in the Phoenix metro. Tell us about your business and we will get back to you within a business day.