Moderate 2-4 days 12 steps

Squarespace to Square Online Migration Guide

Squarespace

Square Online

Migrate from Squarespace to Square Online to unify your point-of-sale and online store operations for seamless omnichannel retail. This guide covers data transfer, design adaptation, and leveraging Square's integrated ecosystem.

Get started with ConvertMate Need migration help?

Migrating from Squarespace to Square Online

A step-by-step guide to successfully migrate your website and ecommerce store from Squarespace to Square Online for unified POS and online store management.

Set Up Your Square Account and Choose Plan

Create a Square account if you don't have one, then select your Square Online plan based on your needs. The free plan works for basic stores, while Plus ($29/mo) or Premium ($79/mo) offer advanced features like abandoned cart recovery and custom domains.

Export Your Squarespace Product Data

In your Squarespace Commerce panel, navigate to Settings > Import & Export to download your product catalog as a CSV file. This export will include product names, descriptions, prices, and inventory data that you'll need for Square Online.

Export Website Content from Squarespace

Use Squarespace's WordPress export feature in Settings > Advanced > Import/Export to download your pages, blog posts, and other content. You'll need to manually recreate this content in Square Online since there's no direct import option.

Import Products to Square Online

Upload your Squarespace CSV file through Square Online's bulk import feature in the Items section. Review and adjust product categories, images, and inventory settings since some formatting may need manual correction.

Recreate Your Website Design and Content

Choose a Square Online template and customize it to match your brand, then manually add your exported content to pages and blog sections. Square Online's design options are more limited than Squarespace, so focus on clean, mobile-friendly layouts.

Configure Domain and Launch Settings

Connect your custom domain to Square Online (available on paid plans) and update your DNS settings to point to Square's servers. Test all functionality including checkout, inventory sync, and POS integration before making the switch live.

Complete Migration Guide: Squarespace to Square Online

A comprehensive step-by-step process to migrate your e-commerce store from Squarespace to Square Online, enabling unified POS and online store management. This guide covers data export, account setup, product migration, and optimization for omnichannel retail operations.

Export Products and Content from Squarespace

30-45 minutes

Navigate to Settings > Advanced > Import/Export in your Squarespace admin panel to export your product catalog as a CSV file. For content migration, use Settings > Advanced > Import/Export to generate a WordPress XML export file containing your pages, blog posts, and media. Download both files and verify that all product variants, pricing, and inventory data are included in the CSV export.

Tips:

• Export during low-traffic hours to ensure complete data capture
• Review the CSV file in Excel or Google Sheets to identify any formatting issues
• Create a backup of your current Squarespace site before starting the migration

Important:

• Squarespace's CSV export may not include all custom product fields
• Image URLs in the export will still point to Squarespace servers

Set Up Square Online Account and Connect POS

20-30 minutes

Create a Square Online account at squareup.com/us/en/online-store and link it to your existing Square POS account or create a new one. Configure your business information, including legal name, address, and tax ID in the Square Dashboard. Enable the Square Online integration to ensure seamless synchronization between your physical and online store inventory.

Tips:

• Use the same business email across all Square services for easier management
• Complete Square's identity verification process early to avoid payment delays
• Set up two-factor authentication for enhanced security

Important:

• POS integration requires a verified Square account with completed banking setup
• Some features may be limited until identity verification is complete

Choose and Customize Square Online Theme

1-2 hours

Browse Square Online's theme library and select a template that matches your brand aesthetic and functional requirements. Customize colors, fonts, and layout using the built-in design editor to maintain brand consistency from your Squarespace site. Configure your header, footer, and navigation structure to optimize user experience for both retail and online customers.

Tips:

• Choose themes optimized for your product type (fashion, electronics, services, etc.)
• Test theme responsiveness on mobile devices before finalizing
• Save your brand colors and fonts as presets for consistent application

Important:

• Square Online themes have less customization flexibility than Squarespace
• Some advanced design features may require upgrading to paid plans

Prepare and Import Product Catalog

2-4 hours

Clean and format your Squarespace product CSV to match Square Online's import requirements, ensuring product names, descriptions, prices, and SKUs are properly formatted. Upload product images separately to Square Online's media library, then use the bulk import tool to add your products. Map product categories and variants carefully, taking advantage of Square Online's unlimited variant capability if you were previously limited by Squarespace's 250-variant restriction.

Tips:

• Use Square's CSV template to ensure proper formatting before import
• Compress product images to under 2MB while maintaining quality
• Create logical category hierarchies that work for both online and POS systems

Important:

• Large product catalogs may require multiple import batches
• Product images must be re-uploaded as Squarespace URLs won't transfer

Configure Payment Processing and Square Integration

45-60 minutes

Set up Square Payments as your primary payment processor, configuring accepted payment methods including credit cards, digital wallets, and buy-now-pay-later options. Link your Square Online store to your Square POS system to enable unified inventory management and customer data synchronization. Test payment processing with small transactions to ensure proper integration between online and offline sales channels.

Tips:

• Enable all relevant payment methods to maximize conversion rates
• Set up automatic inventory sync between POS and online store
• Configure payment notifications and receipt customization

Important:

• Payment processing fees may differ from your previous Squarespace setup
• POS integration requires compatible Square hardware for physical locations

Set Up Shipping Zones and Methods

1-1.5 hours

Configure shipping zones in Square Online based on your delivery areas, setting up rates for local, national, and international shipping as needed. Import shipping rules from your Squarespace setup and adjust for Square Online's shipping calculator. Enable real-time carrier rates if you previously used this feature, and set up local delivery options that integrate with your physical store locations.

Tips:

• Use Square's shipping calculator for accurate real-time rates
• Set up local pickup options for customers near physical store locations
• Configure shipping notifications and tracking integration

Important:

• Shipping integrations may need reconfiguration for carrier accounts
• International shipping rules may require tax compliance updates

Configure Tax Settings and Compliance

30-45 minutes

Set up tax rates in Square Online for all jurisdictions where you have tax obligations, including state, local, and international taxes. Configure automatic tax calculation based on customer location and product categories. If you have physical store locations, ensure tax settings accommodate both online sales and POS transactions with proper nexus configuration for omnichannel compliance.

Tips:

• Use Square's automatic tax calculation feature for accuracy
• Set up tax-exempt customer categories if applicable to your business
• Enable tax reporting features for easier bookkeeping

Important:

• Tax obligations may change when switching platforms and processors
• Consult with a tax professional for complex multi-jurisdiction setups

Migrate Website Content and Pages

3-5 hours

Use your WordPress XML export from Squarespace to recreate essential pages like About, Contact, Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service in Square Online's page editor. Manually copy and reformat content as Square Online doesn't support direct WordPress imports. Optimize content for Square Online's SEO features and ensure all internal links are updated to reflect your new site structure.

Tips:

• Prioritize high-traffic pages for migration first
• Update all internal links to match your new Square Online structure
• Optimize page content for Square Online's built-in SEO tools

Important:

• Content migration is largely manual and time-consuming
• Some advanced page layouts may not be replicable in Square Online

Import Customer Data and Set Up Accounts

1-2 hours

Export customer data from Squarespace and format it for Square Online's customer import tool, including email addresses, names, and order history where possible. Set up customer account features in Square Online, enabling customer registration, order tracking, and loyalty program integration if applicable. Configure email marketing integration to maintain customer communication continuity.

Tips:

• Clean customer email lists to improve deliverability rates
• Set up automated welcome emails for migrated customers
• Enable customer loyalty features to enhance retention

Important:

• Customer passwords cannot be migrated and will need to be reset
• Comply with data privacy regulations when transferring customer information

Set Up URL Redirects and Domain Transfer

1-2 hours

Create a comprehensive redirect map from your Squarespace URLs to corresponding Square Online pages to maintain SEO value and prevent broken links. Configure your custom domain to point to Square Online by updating DNS settings or transferring domain management. Set up 301 redirects for all product pages, categories, and important content pages to ensure seamless user experience during the transition.

Tips:

• Use Google Search Console to identify your most important URLs for redirection
• Test redirects thoroughly before going live
• Keep your Squarespace site active until all redirects are confirmed working

Important:

• DNS changes can take 24-48 hours to propagate globally
• Some SEO ranking may be temporarily affected during the transition

Comprehensive Testing and Quality Assurance

2-3 hours

Conduct thorough testing of your Square Online store including product browsing, cart functionality, checkout process, and payment processing. Test the integration between your online store and Square POS system by processing orders through both channels and verifying inventory synchronization. Verify that all redirects work correctly and test customer account creation and login processes.

Tips:

• Test with different browsers and mobile devices for compatibility
• Process test orders using various payment methods
• Verify email notifications and automated workflows function properly

Important:

• Use test payment methods to avoid processing fees during testing
• Some integration features may require 24-48 hours to fully synchronize

Go Live and Monitor Performance

Ongoing monitoring for first week

Switch your domain DNS to point to Square Online and monitor the site closely for the first 48 hours to catch any issues quickly. Set up analytics tracking and conversion monitoring to compare performance with your previous Squarespace metrics. Communicate the migration to your customers through email and social media, highlighting new features like improved POS integration and expanded product variants.

Tips:

• Schedule the go-live during low-traffic periods to minimize impact
• Prepare customer service team for potential migration-related inquiries
• Monitor site speed and performance metrics closely in the first week

Important:

• Keep Squarespace backup accessible for at least 30 days after migration
• Some customers may experience temporary confusion with the new interface

What will be migrated

products

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

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.

Squarespace to Square Online Migration: Common Challenges and Solutions

Essential questions and answers for businesses planning to migrate from Squarespace to Square Online, covering technical challenges, feature differences, and operational considerations.

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

A complete migration usually takes 2-4 weeks depending on your catalog size and customization needs. You'll need time to export products via CSV, recreate your design (since themes aren't transferable), and test all functionality before going live.

Will I lose my search engine rankings when switching from Squarespace to Square Online?

You'll likely experience temporary SEO impact since Square Online has different URL structures and fewer SEO customization options than Squarespace. Set up 301 redirects where possible and be prepared for a potential ranking dip during the transition period.

Can I transfer my existing order history and customer data from Squarespace?

Order history cannot be directly transferred to Square Online, though you can export customer data from Squarespace for your records. You'll need to manually recreate customer profiles in Square Online, and customers will need to create new accounts.

What Squarespace apps and integrations won't work with Square Online?

Most third-party Squarespace integrations won't transfer since Square Online has a more limited app ecosystem. However, Square Online excels at native integrations with Square POS, payments, and basic marketing tools, which may replace some of your current apps.

How do the design capabilities compare between Squarespace and Square Online?

Square Online offers significantly less design flexibility than Squarespace, with fewer themes and limited customization options. You'll need to adapt your current design to fit Square Online's more rigid template structure, which may require compromising on visual uniqueness.

How much website downtime should I expect during the migration?

You can minimize downtime to just a few hours by building your Square Online site in parallel before switching your domain. The main downtime occurs when updating DNS settings, which typically takes 24-48 hours to fully propagate.

What's the best way to test my Square Online store before going live?

Use Square Online's preview mode to test all functionality, including checkout processes, product variations, and mobile responsiveness. Create test orders using Square's sandbox mode to ensure payment processing works correctly before switching your domain.

Will my existing customers be able to log in with their current passwords?

No, customer passwords cannot be migrated between platforms for security reasons. Your customers will need to create new accounts on Square Online using the "forgot password" process, which may temporarily impact customer experience.

How should I handle ongoing operations during the migration process?

Continue processing orders on Squarespace until the migration is complete, and avoid making major inventory changes during the transition. Consider scheduling the final switch during low-traffic periods and have a plan to manually sync any orders received during the DNS changeover.

What are the real cost differences between Squarespace and Square Online?

Square Online's Free plan seems attractive but includes transaction fees and Square branding. The Plus plan ($29/mo) is comparable to Squarespace Commerce Basic ($27/mo), but you'll save money if you're currently on Squarespace's Advanced plan ($49/mo).

Can I migrate my Squarespace customer reviews to Square Online?

Squarespace reviews cannot be directly transferred to Square Online's review system. You'll need to manually recreate important reviews or consider using a third-party review platform that can import your existing reviews and work with Square Online.

What happens to my Squarespace blog content during the migration?

You can export blog content using Squarespace's WordPress export feature, but you'll need to manually recreate blog posts in Square Online since there's no direct import tool. Square Online's blogging features are also more basic than Squarespace's content management system.