February 23, 2026 | Edward Ip Disclosure: POSadvice.com may earn a referral fee if you purchase through links on this page. This does not affect our independent reviews or rankings.\n\n💰 Business Relief • May 2020Square Waives Fees, Launches $1B Emergency FundSquare commits unprecedented resources to keep small merchants afloat during COVID-19$1BEmergency Lending90 DaysFee Waiver2M+Merchants Helped📋 Relief Program DetailsProgramWhat It CoversEligibilityFee Waiver90 days of $0 software feesAll Square sellersEmergency LoansUp to $250K via Square CapitalSellers with 6+ months historyFree Online StoreE-commerce with pickup/deliveryAll sellersDeferred Hardware60-day payment deferral on hardwareNew hardware purchases📊 Real Impact$500MLoans Disbursed (Q2 2020)340KNew Online Stores Created89%Merchants Survived to 2021“Without Square’s fee waiver and emergency loan, we would have closed permanently. That $30K loan kept us alive until dine-in returned.”— Café owner, Austin, TX💡 Square’s emergency fund had a 92% repayment rate — higher than pre-pandemic lending — suggesting the program successfully targeted viable businesses.📚 Related Articles → Square vs Toast POS: The Ultimate 2026 Comparison for Restau → Square Acquires Afterpay: Expands Into BNPL → Square Cash App Now Processes $250 Billion Annually → Square Raises Processing Fees: What Merchants Need to KnowPOSadvice.com — Independent ReviewsFind Your Perfect POS SystemAnswer 3 quick questions. Get free, no-obligation quotes from top providers matched to your business.Get Free Quotes →Takes 2 minutes · No spam · No commitmentRelated Reading: For a complete comparison, see our guide to the Best POS System for Small Retail Stores 2026.\n\n