Moderate 2-4 days 12 steps

Square Online to BigCommerce Migration Guide

Square Online

BigCommerce

Migrating from Square Online to BigCommerce eliminates transaction fees and provides advanced built-in features that reduce reliance on costly third-party apps. This guide walks you through the complete migration process step-by-step.

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Square Online to BigCommerce Migration Guide

Migrate from Square Online to BigCommerce to eliminate transaction fees and leverage built-in features that reduce dependency on third-party apps.

Export Your Square Online Data

Access your Square Dashboard and navigate to the export section to download your product catalog, customer data, and order history as CSV files. Ensure you export all product variants, images, and inventory levels before proceeding with the migration.

Choose Your BigCommerce Plan

Select between Standard ($39/mo), Plus ($105/mo), or Pro ($399/mo) plans based on your sales volume and feature requirements. Consider the Plus plan if you need advanced features like abandoned cart recovery and customer segmentation that were previously handled by Square's ecosystem.

Set Up Your BigCommerce Store

Create your BigCommerce account and configure basic store settings including currency, shipping zones, and tax settings. Choose a theme that matches your Square Online design aesthetic to maintain brand consistency during the transition.

Import Products and Optimize Variants

Upload your Square Online product CSV to BigCommerce, being mindful of the 250 variant limit per product. If you have products exceeding this limit, restructure them as separate products or use BigCommerce's modifier options to maintain functionality.

Configure Built-in Features

Set up BigCommerce's native features like abandoned cart recovery, customer reviews, and SEO tools that replace any third-party apps you used with Square Online. This maximizes the cost savings from eliminating transaction fees and reducing app dependencies.

Test and Launch Your Store

Thoroughly test your checkout process, payment gateways, and shipping calculations to ensure everything functions correctly. Set up 301 redirects from your Square Online URLs to maintain SEO rankings and provide a seamless transition for existing customers.

Complete Migration Guide: Square Online to BigCommerce

A comprehensive 12-step process to migrate your store from Square Online to BigCommerce, taking advantage of advanced built-in features and eliminating transaction fees while maintaining SEO rankings and customer data.

Export Product Data from Square Online

30-45 minutes

Access your Square Dashboard and navigate to Items & Orders > Items. Click the Export button and select CSV format to download your complete product catalog. The export will include product names, descriptions, prices, SKUs, categories, and inventory levels. Review the exported file to understand the data structure and identify any products with more than 250 variants that need to be split for BigCommerce compatibility.

Tips:

• Export during off-peak hours to avoid missing recent orders
• Save multiple backup copies of your export file
• Document any custom fields or attributes that may need manual recreation

Important:

• Square's export may not include all image URLs - prepare to re-upload images
• Product variants exceeding 250 will need to be restructured as separate products

Export Customer and Order Data

20-30 minutes

From your Square Dashboard, go to Customers section and export your customer database as CSV. Then navigate to Orders and export your order history for the past 12-24 months. This data will help you understand customer behavior and maintain order records for customer service purposes. Note that Square's customer export includes contact information, purchase history, and customer notes.

Tips:

• Export customers who have made purchases in the last 2 years for better data quality
• Include customer notes and tags if available
• Export orders in smaller date ranges if you have a large volume

Important:

• Customer passwords cannot be migrated - customers will need to reset passwords
• Order data is for reference only and cannot be directly imported to BigCommerce

Set Up BigCommerce Account and Plan

45-60 minutes

Create your BigCommerce account and select an appropriate plan based on your expected sales volume and feature requirements. The Standard plan works for most small businesses, while Plus or Pro plans offer advanced features for growing stores. Complete the initial store setup by choosing your store name, currency, and basic settings. Configure your store's primary domain during this process.

Tips:

• Choose a plan that accommodates your growth projections for the next 12 months
• Set up your primary domain immediately to avoid delays later
• Enable two-factor authentication for enhanced security

Important:

• Plan upgrades can affect your monthly costs significantly
• Domain changes after launch can impact SEO rankings

Select and Customize Your BigCommerce Theme

2-4 hours

Browse BigCommerce's theme marketplace and select a theme that matches your brand aesthetic and functional requirements. Consider mobile responsiveness, loading speed, and built-in features like product filtering and search functionality. Install your chosen theme and begin basic customization including logo upload, color scheme adjustment, and font selection. Many themes offer industry-specific layouts that can enhance your store's professional appearance.

Tips:

• Test theme responsiveness on multiple devices before finalizing
• Choose themes with built-in SEO optimization features
• Consider themes with advanced product display options for better conversion

Important:

• Extensive theme customization may require additional development time
• Some premium themes have ongoing licensing costs

Prepare and Import Product Catalog

4-8 hours

Format your Square Online product export to match BigCommerce's CSV import template, which you can download from the BigCommerce control panel. Map fields like product names, descriptions, prices, and categories to BigCommerce's structure. Split any products with more than 250 variants into separate parent products. Upload product images separately through the BigCommerce media manager, then reference these images in your CSV file using the appropriate image URLs.

Tips:

• Use BigCommerce's CSV template exactly to avoid import errors
• Optimize product images for web before uploading
• Create logical product categories that match your Square Online structure

Important:

• Product variants over 250 must be restructured as separate products
• Import errors can corrupt product data - always test with a small batch first

Configure Payment Processing

1-2 hours

Set up your payment gateways in BigCommerce by navigating to Store Setup > Payments. Unlike Square Online, BigCommerce doesn't charge transaction fees on top of payment processor fees. Configure your preferred payment methods such as PayPal, Stripe, or Square (ironically, you can still use Square as a payment processor). Enable multiple payment options to maximize customer convenience and set up proper SSL certificates for secure transactions.

Tips:

• Enable multiple payment methods to reduce cart abandonment
• Test all payment methods with small transactions before launch
• Configure payment method ordering based on your customer preferences

Important:

• Each payment gateway has its own fee structure separate from BigCommerce
• Some payment methods require additional verification and approval time

Set Up Shipping Rules and Zones

2-3 hours

Access Store Setup > Shipping in your BigCommerce dashboard and recreate your shipping structure from Square Online. Configure shipping zones, methods, and rates based on weight, price, or item count. BigCommerce offers more advanced shipping options than Square Online, including real-time carrier rates from FedEx, UPS, and USPS. Set up handling times, shipping restrictions, and free shipping thresholds to match your business model.

Tips:

• Use real-time shipping rates for more accurate customer costs
• Set up shipping zones strategically to optimize delivery costs
• Configure handling times realistically to manage customer expectations

Important:

• Complex shipping rules can confuse customers at checkout
• Real-time shipping rates require carrier account setup and may have additional fees

Configure Tax Settings

1-2 hours

Navigate to Store Setup > Tax in BigCommerce and configure your tax settings based on your business location and sales tax requirements. BigCommerce offers automatic tax calculation through integrations with Avalara or TaxJar, which is more sophisticated than Square Online's basic tax features. Set up tax zones, rates, and exemptions for different product categories. Configure tax-inclusive or tax-exclusive pricing based on your target market requirements.

Tips:

• Use automatic tax services for multi-state sales compliance
• Configure tax exemptions for wholesale customers if applicable
• Test tax calculations across different shipping addresses

Important:

• Tax compliance is your responsibility - consult with a tax professional for complex situations
• Automatic tax services have monthly fees but provide better compliance

Import Customer Data and Set Up Accounts

2-3 hours

Use BigCommerce's customer import feature to upload your customer database from Square Online. Format the customer CSV file according to BigCommerce's template, including names, email addresses, phone numbers, and addresses. Create customer groups if you had different pricing tiers in Square Online. Set up the customer account creation process and configure email notifications for new account registrations and password resets.

Tips:

• Send welcome emails to existing customers about the platform migration
• Create customer groups for wholesale or VIP pricing if needed
• Set up abandoned cart recovery emails to capture lost sales

Important:

• Customers will need to create new passwords for their accounts
• Customer purchase history cannot be directly imported but can be referenced

Migrate Content and Set Up Pages

3-5 hours

Recreate your essential pages from Square Online including About Us, Contact, Privacy Policy, Terms of Service, and any custom landing pages. BigCommerce's Page Builder offers more design flexibility than Square Online's basic page editor. Copy content directly from your Square Online pages and enhance with BigCommerce's advanced formatting options. Set up your blog if you had one, and configure the main navigation menu to match your site structure.

Tips:

• Use BigCommerce's Page Builder for more professional-looking pages
• Optimize page content for SEO with proper headings and meta descriptions
• Create custom landing pages for marketing campaigns

Important:

• Page URLs will change - prepare redirect mapping for SEO preservation
• Complex page layouts may require theme customization or professional help

Set Up 301 Redirects and SEO Configuration

2-4 hours

Create a comprehensive redirect mapping from your Square Online URLs to your new BigCommerce URLs to preserve SEO rankings and prevent broken links. Use BigCommerce's built-in redirect manager or .htaccess rules to implement 301 redirects for products, categories, and pages. Configure SEO settings including meta titles, descriptions, and URL structures. Set up Google Analytics and Search Console with your new domain to monitor traffic and search performance.

Tips:

• Map every important URL from Square Online to prevent 404 errors
• Use SEO-friendly URL structures in BigCommerce
• Submit an updated sitemap to Google Search Console after launch

Important:

• Missing redirects can significantly impact search rankings
• URL structure changes may temporarily affect search visibility

Comprehensive Testing and Launch Preparation

4-6 hours

Conduct thorough testing of your BigCommerce store including product browsing, cart functionality, checkout process, payment processing, and email notifications. Test on multiple devices and browsers to ensure consistent functionality. Place test orders using different payment methods and shipping options to verify the complete customer experience. Review all automated emails, check inventory levels, and confirm that analytics tracking is working properly before making your store live.

Tips:

• Create a testing checklist to ensure no functionality is missed
• Test with real payment amounts (then refund) to verify complete transaction flow
• Have friends or colleagues test the store from a customer perspective

Important:

• Launch only after all critical functionality is verified
• Keep Square Online active until you confirm BigCommerce is working perfectly

What will be migrated

products

Products, descriptions, SKUs, prices, images. Variants: Square Online supports Unlimited vs BigCommerce's 250.

customers

Customer contact info, addresses, marketing preferences transfer. Passwords must be reset for security.

orders

Order history for reference. Consider importing last 3-6 months for customer service.

Common challenges and solutions

Essential questions and answers for businesses migrating from Square Online to BigCommerce, covering technical migration steps, cost considerations, and operational continuity.

How long does it typically take to migrate from Square Online to BigCommerce?

A complete migration usually takes 2-4 weeks depending on your store size and customization needs. This includes exporting data from Square Dashboard, setting up BigCommerce, importing products via CSV, and testing all functionality before going live.

Will I lose my Google search rankings when switching from Square Online to BigCommerce?

You can minimize SEO impact by setting up 301 redirects from your old URLs to new BigCommerce URLs and maintaining the same page structure where possible. BigCommerce offers better SEO tools than Square Online, which can improve your rankings over time.

Can I export my order history and customer data from Square Online?

Yes, you can export order data and customer information through CSV exports in your Square Dashboard. However, customer passwords cannot be migrated, so customers will need to create new accounts on your BigCommerce store.

How do BigCommerce's built-in features compare to Square Online's functionality?

BigCommerce offers more advanced built-in features like abandoned cart recovery, advanced SEO tools, and multi-channel selling capabilities that aren't available in Square Online. You'll also get up to 250 product variants compared to Square Online's more limited options.

Will there be any downtime during the migration process?

You can build your BigCommerce store while keeping Square Online running, minimizing downtime to just the DNS switching period (typically 24-48 hours). Plan the switch during low-traffic periods and communicate the change to customers in advance.

How should I test my new BigCommerce store before going live?

Use BigCommerce's preview functionality to test all store features, payment processing, shipping calculations, and mobile responsiveness. Create test orders and verify that all product variants, pricing, and checkout flows work correctly before switching your domain.

Are Square Online themes compatible with BigCommerce?

No, themes are not directly transferable between platforms. You'll need to choose from BigCommerce's theme marketplace or have a custom theme developed to match your current design aesthetic.

How do I handle existing customers during the migration?

Export customer data from Square Dashboard and import it into BigCommerce, but customers will need to reset their passwords since login credentials can't be transferred. Send advance notice about the migration and provide clear instructions for account access.

Can I continue processing orders during the migration?

Yes, keep your Square Online store operational while building on BigCommerce to avoid losing sales. Only switch over when your BigCommerce store is fully tested and ready, ensuring continuous order processing throughout the migration.

How will my costs change when moving from Square Online to BigCommerce?

While BigCommerce has higher monthly fees ($39+ vs Square's $29+ plans), you'll save on transaction fees since BigCommerce doesn't charge per-transaction costs. The built-in features may also reduce your need for paid apps, potentially lowering overall costs.

Will my product reviews transfer from Square Online to BigCommerce?

Product reviews typically cannot be directly migrated from Square Online to BigCommerce through standard export tools. You may need to manually recreate important reviews or use BigCommerce's review system to start fresh and encourage new customer feedback.

What's the best way to get started with BigCommerce after using Square Online?

Begin with BigCommerce's Standard plan to test the platform, use their migration resources and support team for guidance, and take advantage of their more robust built-in features. The learning curve is steeper than Square Online, but the additional functionality supports business growth better.