Guides on mobile ordering, loyalty, and growth for independent cafés and restaurants on Square — from the team behind Tany.https://tany.ca/enhttps://tany.ca/blog/does-apple-take-30-percent-restaurant-app-orders/https://tany.ca/blog/does-apple-take-30-percent-restaurant-app-orders/No. Apple and Google only take a cut of in-app digital purchases. Food ordering is a real-world service, so your app pays 0% commission on orders.Tue, 21 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTapp storegoogle playmobile orderingrestaurant appapp feescafe operationshttps://tany.ca/blog/gst-hst-cafe-online-orders-canada/https://tany.ca/blog/gst-hst-cafe-online-orders-canada/Online and app orders are taxed the same as counter sales. How GST/HST works on prepared food, Ontario's $4 rebate, and how to set it up in Square.Tue, 21 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTGST/HSTSquare POSonline orderingcafe operationsCanadaaccountinghttps://tany.ca/blog/time-based-menus-square-breakfast-cutoff/https://tany.ca/blog/time-based-menus-square-breakfast-cutoff/Set up a breakfast menu that disappears at 11am on Square Online and your app, using time-based categories and Square for Restaurants menu hours.Tue, 21 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTSquare POSonline orderingmenu managementcafe operationsSquare Onlinemobile orderinghttps://tany.ca/blog/app-store-rejection-reasons-restaurant-app/https://tany.ca/blog/app-store-rejection-reasons-restaurant-app/The App Store and Play Store rules that actually sink café and restaurant apps — template rules, account deletion, login services — and the fix for each.Mon, 20 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTapp store reviewGoogle Playmobile appwhite label apprestaurant technologycafe operationshttps://tany.ca/blog/square-payment-links-cafe/https://tany.ca/blog/square-payment-links-cafe/What Square Payment Links cost, how to create one, and the six café jobs they do well — catering deposits, class tickets, subscriptions — plus where they fall short.Mon, 20 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTSquare POSpayment linksonline orderingcafe operationscateringpaymentshttps://tany.ca/blog/where-app-downloads-come-from-cafe/https://tany.ca/blog/where-app-downloads-come-from-cafe/How to read App Store Connect and Google Play Console like an operator — real metric definitions, traffic sources, and how to tag a counter QR code so it reports.Mon, 20 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTapp analyticsapp store optimizationmobile appGoogle Playcafe marketingrestaurant technologyhttps://tany.ca/blog/cafe-labour-cost-percentage-square-shifts/https://tany.ca/blog/cafe-labour-cost-percentage-square-shifts/What labour percentage should a café run at, why Square's number isn't comparable to industry benchmarks, and how to schedule against your own hourly sales.Sun, 19 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTlabour costSquare Shiftsschedulingcafe operationsSquare POSreportinghttps://tany.ca/blog/menu-calorie-labelling-rules-cafe-canada-us/https://tany.ca/blog/menu-calorie-labelling-rules-cafe-canada-us/Ontario's calorie rule and the US FDA rule both start at 20 locations. Here's whether your independent café is covered, and what applies to your online menu.Sun, 19 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTmenu labellingcaloriescomplianceallergenscafe operationsonline orderinghttps://tany.ca/blog/respond-to-negative-google-reviews-cafe/https://tany.ca/blog/respond-to-negative-google-reviews-cafe/Google won't delete a review just for being negative. Here's the reply framework, what actually gets a review removed, and what the research really shows.Sun, 19 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTgoogle reviewsgoogle business profilelocal seoreputation managementcafe operationscustomer servicehttps://tany.ca/blog/corporate-coffee-accounts-square-invoices-cafe/https://tany.ca/blog/corporate-coffee-accounts-square-invoices-cafe/Set up house accounts for offices and recurring catering on Square Invoices: real CAD and USD rates, card-on-file rules, and terms that protect your cash flow.Sat, 18 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTSquare POSSquare Invoicescorporate accountscateringcafe operationscash flowhttps://tany.ca/blog/menu-engineering-cafe-coffee-shop/https://tany.ca/blog/menu-engineering-cafe-coffee-shop/Apply the four-quadrant menu engineering matrix to your café menu: pull item counts from Square, add contribution margin, and fix the items costing you money.Sat, 18 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTmenu engineeringmenu pricingmarginSquare POScafe operationsreportinghttps://tany.ca/blog/train-staff-mobile-ordering-app-launch-cafe/https://tany.ca/blog/train-staff-mobile-ordering-app-launch-cafe/A two-week runbook for launching order-ahead in a café: prep times, pacing limits, pickup zone setup, staff scripts, and the metrics to watch in week one.Sat, 18 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTmobile orderingstaff trainingcafe operationsSquare POSorder aheadlaunchhttps://tany.ca/blog/get-cafe-recommended-by-chatgpt-ai-search/https://tany.ca/blog/get-cafe-recommended-by-chatgpt-ai-search/AI answer engines now recommend local cafés by name. A practical guide to getting your Square café cited by ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, and Gemini.Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTAEOAI searchChatGPTlocal SEOGoogle Business Profilecafe marketinghttps://tany.ca/blog/how-much-should-cafe-spend-on-marketing/https://tany.ca/blog/how-much-should-cafe-spend-on-marketing/A practical framework for setting a café marketing budget: the percentage-of-revenue rule, where to spend it, and why retention beats acquisition for cafés.Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTcafe marketingmarketing budgetcustomer retentionlocal marketingrestaurant marketinghttps://tany.ca/blog/set-prep-times-square-online-ordering-cafe/https://tany.ca/blog/set-prep-times-square-online-ordering-cafe/Quoting the right pickup time keeps online orders realistic and customers happy. A café guide to setting prep times and lead times on Square Online.Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTSquare POSSquare Onlineprep timeorder-aheadpickup orderscafe operationshttps://tany.ca/blog/app-privacy-labels-data-safety-cafe-app/https://tany.ca/blog/app-privacy-labels-data-safety-cafe-app/Apple's privacy labels and Google's Data safety form are required to ship a café ordering app. What a Square-based app collects, and how to declare it.Thu, 16 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTapp storegoogle playprivacymobile appsSquare POSrestaurant technologyhttps://tany.ca/blog/cafe-online-ordering-accessibility-ada-wcag/https://tany.ca/blog/cafe-online-ordering-accessibility-ada-wcag/What the ADA, AODA and WCAG require of a café's ordering page and app — which rules bind a small independent, and the five fixes that matter most.Thu, 16 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTaccessibilityonline orderingWCAGrestaurant technologycafe operationsmobile appshttps://tany.ca/blog/holiday-hours-cafe-square-google-apple/https://tany.ca/blog/holiday-hours-cafe-square-google-apple/Google, Apple and Yelp support special hours — Square Online can only block a date outright. The holiday checklist that keeps customers off your locked door.Thu, 16 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTSquare POSSquare OnlineGoogle Business Profilelocal SEOcafe operationsonline orderinghttps://tany.ca/blog/square-offline-mode-payments-cafe/https://tany.ca/blog/square-offline-mode-payments-cafe/How Square offline mode keeps your café taking card payments when the internet goes down — the real limits, the chargeback risk, and how to set it up safely.Wed, 15 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTSquare POSoffline paymentspayment processingcafe operationschargebacksSquare hardwarehttps://tany.ca/blog/tip-pooling-splitting-square-cafe/https://tany.ca/blog/tip-pooling-splitting-square-cafe/Split and pool tips fairly on Square — the per-transaction, hours-worked, and percentage methods, what it costs, and the compliance rules to check first.Wed, 15 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTSquare POStipstip poolingstaff managementcafe operationsSquare for Restaurantshttps://tany.ca/blog/track-inventory-square-coffee-shop/https://tany.ca/blog/track-inventory-square-coffee-shop/Set up Square inventory tracking for your café — stock counts, low-stock alerts, and the honest limits when you sell drinks made from ingredients.Wed, 15 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTSquare POSinventory managementcafe operationsstock alertscoffee shopretailhttps://tany.ca/blog/gift-cards-expire-cafe-canada-us/https://tany.ca/blog/gift-cards-expire-cafe-canada-us/Whether your café's gift cards can expire depends where you sell them. A plain guide to Canadian provincial rules, the US CARD Act, and how Square handles it.Tue, 14 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTgift cardsegift cardsSquare POScompliancecafe operationsCanadahttps://tany.ca/blog/good-repeat-customer-rate-coffee-shop/https://tany.ca/blog/good-repeat-customer-rate-coffee-shop/How to calculate your café's repeat customer rate, what counts as a healthy benchmark, and the concrete levers that move it — with a worked example.Tue, 14 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTcustomer retentionloyaltycoffee shopmetricsrepeat customerscafe operationshttps://tany.ca/blog/google-business-profile-posts-cafe-specials/https://tany.ca/blog/google-business-profile-posts-cafe-specials/Google Business Profile Posts put your café's specials in the Maps and Search panel. A guide to post types, timing, and what actually works for cafés.Tue, 14 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTGoogle Business Profilelocal SEOmarketingcoffee shopspecialscafe operationshttps://tany.ca/blog/86-sold-out-items-square-online-cafe/https://tany.ca/blog/86-sold-out-items-square-online-cafe/Run out of a pastry or a syrup mid-rush? Here's how to 86 items on Square so online orders stop selling what your kitchen can't make — step by step.Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTSquare POSonline orderinginventorymenu managementcafe operations86 itemshttps://tany.ca/blog/local-seo-coffee-shop-map-pack/https://tany.ca/blog/local-seo-coffee-shop-map-pack/How coffee shops rank in Google's local 3-pack for 'coffee near me' — the categories, reviews, and profile signals that decide who shows up on the map.Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTlocal SEOGoogle Business Profilediscoveryreviewscafe marketingmap packhttps://tany.ca/blog/sell-end-of-day-surplus-cafe-square/https://tany.ca/blog/sell-end-of-day-surplus-cafe-square/Turn day-old pastries and over-prepped food into revenue instead of trash. How cafés sell end-of-day surplus on Square vs Too Good To Go, with the math.Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTfood wastesurpluspromotionspush notificationsSquare POScafe operationshttps://tany.ca/blog/is-square-marketing-worth-it-cafe/https://tany.ca/blog/is-square-marketing-worth-it-cafe/Square Marketing runs email from about $15/month and text from about $10/month plus per-message fees. Here's what a café gets and when push wins.Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTSquare Marketingemail marketingSMS marketingpush notificationscafe marketingcustomer retentionhttps://tany.ca/blog/should-cafe-loyalty-points-expire/https://tany.ca/blog/should-cafe-loyalty-points-expire/Expiring café loyalty points quietly cut redemption and annoy regulars. Here's when expiration helps, when it backfires, and what to actually set on Square.Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTloyalty programpoint expirationcustomer retentioncoffee shopSquare Loyaltybreakagehttps://tany.ca/blog/square-interac-debit-fees-canada-cafe/https://tany.ca/blog/square-interac-debit-fees-canada-cafe/Interac debit costs Canadian cafés 0.75% + 7¢ on Square, versus 2.5% for in-person credit. Here's the savings math, how tap works, and where it fits online.Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTInterac debitSquare feesCanadapayment processingcafe operationsSquare POShttps://tany.ca/blog/cash-app-pay-cafe-square/https://tany.ca/blog/cash-app-pay-cafe-square/Cash App Pay lets Square customers pay with a QR code instead of a card. Here's how it works for cafés, what it costs, where it's available, and who it's for.Sat, 11 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTCash App PaySquare POSpayment methodsdigital walletscafe operationsmobile orderinghttps://tany.ca/blog/square-account-hold-funds-reserve-cafe/https://tany.ca/blog/square-account-hold-funds-reserve-cafe/Square can put a reserve or hold on your café's payouts. Here's why it happens, how long it lasts, and the operator moves that lower your risk of one.Sat, 11 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTSquare reservesfund holdsSquare payoutscash flowchargebackscafe operationshttps://tany.ca/blog/tiered-vip-loyalty-program-coffee-shop/https://tany.ca/blog/tiered-vip-loyalty-program-coffee-shop/Tiered loyalty rewards your biggest fans with status and better perks. Here's how to design café tiers that lift spend without crushing your margin.Sat, 11 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTloyalty programtiered loyaltyVIP programcustomer retentioncoffee shopSquare loyaltyhttps://tany.ca/blog/afterpay-buy-now-pay-later-cafe-square/https://tany.ca/blog/afterpay-buy-now-pay-later-cafe-square/An honest look at Afterpay and buy-now-pay-later on Square for cafés — the 6% merchant fee, where BNPL helps a coffee shop, and where it makes no sense.Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTSquare POSAfterpaybuy now pay laterpayment processingcafe operationscateringhttps://tany.ca/blog/does-my-coffee-shop-need-a-mobile-app/https://tany.ca/blog/does-my-coffee-shop-need-a-mobile-app/A straight answer for independent café owners: when a branded ordering app pays off, when it doesn't, and what customer adoption to realistically expect.Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTmobile orderingbranded appSquare POScafe operationscustomer retentionhttps://tany.ca/blog/launch-seasonal-drink-square-cafe/https://tany.ca/blog/launch-seasonal-drink-square-cafe/Set up a seasonal or limited-time drink on Square the right way — time-based menus, scheduled availability, and the push and loyalty tactics that sell it out.Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTSquare POSseasonal menulimited-time offermenu managementpush notificationscafe marketinghttps://tany.ca/blog/a2p-10dlc-sms-registration-cafe/https://tany.ca/blog/a2p-10dlc-sms-registration-cafe/US carriers now require A2P 10DLC registration before you can text customers from a local number. Here's what it costs, why it exists, and how a café sets it up.Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTSMS marketingA2P 10DLCcompliancecustomer retentioncafe marketinghttps://tany.ca/blog/drive-cafe-orders-from-tiktok/https://tany.ca/blog/drive-cafe-orders-from-tiktok/A café owner's playbook for turning TikTok views into pickup orders — bio links, on-screen CTAs, local reach, and how to measure whether it actually works.Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTTikToksocial media marketingcafe marketingonline orderingcustomer acquisitionhttps://tany.ca/blog/sell-coffee-beans-merch-online-square/https://tany.ca/blog/sell-coffee-beans-merch-online-square/Turn your café's retail shelf into a second revenue stream. A practical guide to selling coffee beans, mugs, and merch online on Square — fees, shipping, and setup.Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTSquare Onlineretailcoffee beansecommercecafe operationshttps://tany.ca/blog/square-happy-hour-time-based-discount-cafe/https://tany.ca/blog/square-happy-hour-time-based-discount-cafe/Set up a scheduled happy hour discount on Square that applies automatically at set times — the exact steps, what each plan supports, and margin tips.Wed, 08 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTSquare POSdiscountshappy hourcafe operationspromotionsmarginhttps://tany.ca/blog/square-team-management-staff-permissions-cafe/https://tany.ca/blog/square-team-management-staff-permissions-cafe/How to set up staff logins, roles, and permissions on Square for a café — what the free tier covers and when Advanced Access is worth its $35/month.Wed, 08 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTSquare POSteam managementstaff permissionscafe operationspoint of salesecurityhttps://tany.ca/blog/switch-from-toast-to-square-migration/https://tany.ca/blog/switch-from-toast-to-square-migration/Moving your café off Toast to Square — what your contract may cost to exit, what data transfers, the CSV import method, and how to cut over without a bad morning.Wed, 08 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTToastSquare POSPOS migrationmenu importcafe operationsswitching POShttps://tany.ca/blog/gift-cards-vs-loyalty-cafe-repeat-visits/https://tany.ca/blog/gift-cards-vs-loyalty-cafe-repeat-visits/eGift cards and loyalty both bring café customers back — differently. An honest comparison of what each does, what it costs, and when to run both.Tue, 07 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTgift cardsloyaltycustomer retentionrepeat visitscafe marketingSquarehttps://tany.ca/blog/is-square-pci-compliant-cafe/https://tany.ca/blog/is-square-pci-compliant-cafe/Do café owners on Square need to worry about PCI compliance? A plain-English guide to what Square covers, what you still own, and the one thing that voids it.Tue, 07 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTPCI complianceSquare POScard securitypayment securitycafe operationsdata protectionhttps://tany.ca/blog/square-online-ordering-page-seo-google/https://tany.ca/blog/square-online-ordering-page-seo-google/Your Square Online ordering page can rank for local searches — if you set it up right. A café owner's SEO checklist for titles, custom domains, and indexing.Tue, 07 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTSEOSquare Onlinelocal searchonline orderingGooglecafe marketinghttps://tany.ca/blog/menu-photos-descriptions-online-ordering-cafe/https://tany.ca/blog/menu-photos-descriptions-online-ordering-cafe/Photos and copy do the selling your counter staff can't online. A café owner's guide to menu images and descriptions that lift conversion and order value.Mon, 06 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTonline orderingmenu photographyaverage order valueconversionSquare Onlinecafe marketinghttps://tany.ca/blog/set-up-delivery-square-online-cafe/https://tany.ca/blog/set-up-delivery-square-online-cafe/Offer delivery on your Square café without hiring drivers. A step-by-step guide to on-demand couriers, self-delivery, zones, real fees, and honest cost math.Mon, 06 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTSquare Onlinedeliveryon-demand deliveryDoorDash Drivecafe operationspickup and deliveryhttps://tany.ca/blog/square-kds-kitchen-display-cafe/https://tany.ca/blog/square-kds-kitchen-display-cafe/Square KDS costs $20–$30/month per screen and replaces paper tickets. An honest look at when a café should buy one, what it needs, and cheaper alternatives.Mon, 06 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTSquare KDSkitchen display systemSquare for Restaurantscafe operationsorder managementonline ordershttps://tany.ca/blog/recover-abandoned-online-orders-cafe/https://tany.ca/blog/recover-abandoned-online-orders-cafe/Most online carts never check out. Here's why café customers abandon orders and how to recover them with Square's tools, better checkout, and a branded app.Sun, 05 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTonline orderingabandoned cartSquare POSconversioncustomer retentioncafe operationshttps://tany.ca/blog/reduce-chargebacks-square-online-orders-cafe/https://tany.ca/blog/reduce-chargebacks-square-online-orders-cafe/Online café orders carry more fraud risk than counter sales. Here's how Square disputes work, what they cost you, and how to prevent chargebacks before they start.Sun, 05 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTSquare POSchargebackspayment disputesonline orderingfraud preventioncafe operationshttps://tany.ca/blog/set-up-curbside-pickup-square-cafe/https://tany.ca/blog/set-up-curbside-pickup-square-cafe/A step-by-step guide to turning on curbside pickup in Square Online for a café or coffee shop—setup, order flow, staffing, and how to avoid parking-lot chaos.Sun, 05 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTSquare POScurbside pickuponline orderingpickup orderscafe operationsorder fulfillmenthttps://tany.ca/blog/handle-refunds-square-online-orders-cafe/https://tany.ca/blog/handle-refunds-square-online-orders-cafe/A cafe owner's guide to refunding Square online orders: full vs partial refunds, the processing-fee catch, refund timelines, and when store credit wins.Sat, 04 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTSquare POSonline orderingrefundscafe operationscustomer servicerestaurant technologyhttps://tany.ca/blog/reduce-square-processing-fees-cafe/https://tany.ca/blog/reduce-square-processing-fees-cafe/A practical guide to lowering your cafe's Square payment fees: stop keying cards, raise ticket size, lean on prepaid, and know when custom rates apply.Sat, 04 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTSquare POSSquare feespayment processingcafe operationsrestaurant technologycost controlhttps://tany.ca/blog/set-loyalty-reward-earn-rate-cafe/https://tany.ca/blog/set-loyalty-reward-earn-rate-cafe/How generous should a cafe loyalty program be? A margin-first guide to setting your earn rate, reward thresholds, and effective discount so loyalty pays for itself.Sat, 04 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTloyalty programcustomer retentioncoffee shopSquare Loyaltycafe marketingmarginhttps://tany.ca/blog/is-yelp-worth-it-cafe-coffee-shop/https://tany.ca/blog/is-yelp-worth-it-cafe-coffee-shop/Is Yelp worth it for an independent café? A clear-eyed look at Yelp ad costs, what a free listing does, and where your local marketing dollars work harder.Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTYelplocal SEOcafe marketingGoogle Business Profileonline reviewslocal discoveryhttps://tany.ca/blog/punch-card-vs-points-cafe-loyalty/https://tany.ca/blog/punch-card-vs-points-cafe-loyalty/Punch cards vs points for a coffee shop: which drives more repeat visits, what each costs on Square, and the loyalty psychology behind why stamps often win.Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTloyalty programpunch cardpoints programcoffee shopcustomer retentionSquare Loyaltyhttps://tany.ca/blog/schedule-pickup-orders-square-cafe/https://tany.ca/blog/schedule-pickup-orders-square-cafe/Set up scheduled and advance pickup orders on Square step by step: prep time, fulfillment windows, cut-off times, and order limits so your café never gets slammed.Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTSquare POSscheduled orderingonline orderingorder aheadpickup orderscafe operationshttps://tany.ca/blog/birthday-rewards-coffee-shop-loyalty/https://tany.ca/blog/birthday-rewards-coffee-shop-loyalty/How to run a birthday reward program at your café — what to give, how to collect birthdays, automation options on Square, and the margin math that makes it pay.Sun, 28 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTloyaltybirthday rewardscafe marketingretentionSquare loyaltypush notificationshttps://tany.ca/blog/build-customer-list-square-pos-cafe/https://tany.ca/blog/build-customer-list-square-pos-cafe/Turn anonymous café transactions into a customer list you own. How Square's Customer Directory works, how to collect contacts, and how to actually use them.Sun, 28 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTSquare POScustomer directorycustomer dataretentioncafe marketingemail marketinghttps://tany.ca/blog/square-deposit-payout-times-cafe-restaurant/https://tany.ca/blog/square-deposit-payout-times-cafe-restaurant/When Square deposits your sales, how the daily close-of-day cutoff works, what instant transfer costs, and three ways to speed up cash flow for your café.Sun, 28 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTSquare POScash flowpayoutscafe operationspayment processingrestaurant financehttps://tany.ca/blog/menu-pricing-online-ordering-cafe/https://tany.ca/blog/menu-pricing-online-ordering-cafe/Food-cost math, delivery-markup strategy, and psychological pricing for café owners building an online menu on Square — with worked examples in CAD.Fri, 26 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTmenu pricingfood costonline orderingSquare Onlinecafe operationsrestaurant marginhttps://tany.ca/blog/refer-a-friend-program-coffee-shop/https://tany.ca/blog/refer-a-friend-program-coffee-shop/A practical guide to building a referral program for an independent coffee shop on Square — reward structures, the margin math, and how to track referrals.Fri, 26 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTreferral programrefer a friendcustomer retentionloyaltycafe marketingSquare POShttps://tany.ca/blog/square-online-vs-chownow-cafe/https://tany.ca/blog/square-online-vs-chownow-cafe/Square Online is free with per-order processing; ChowNow is a flat monthly subscription. A café owner's breakdown of cost, ownership, and when each one wins.Fri, 26 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTSquare OnlineChowNowonline orderingcommission-free orderingSquare POScafe operationshttps://tany.ca/blog/phone-orders-vs-online-ordering-cafe/https://tany.ca/blog/phone-orders-vs-online-ordering-cafe/Phone orders tie up staff and get missed in the rush. Honest café comparison with Square online ordering: labour, accuracy, missed revenue, when phones still win.Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTonline orderingphone ordersSquare POScafe operationsorder accuracydirect orderinghttps://tany.ca/blog/square-online-menu-modifiers-allergens/https://tany.ca/blog/square-online-menu-modifiers-allergens/Set up modifiers and allergen info for Square online ordering so customers customize accurately, your kitchen reads tickets clearly, and you upsell on autopilot.Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTSquare Onlinemenu setupmodifiersallergensonline orderingcafe operationshttps://tany.ca/blog/win-back-lapsed-cafe-customers/https://tany.ca/blog/win-back-lapsed-cafe-customers/A margin-aware playbook for winning lapsed café customers back on Square: define the win-back window, target the right people, and message them without discounting.Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTcustomer retentionwin-back campaignsSquare Marketingloyaltycafe operationspush notificationshttps://tany.ca/blog/apple-wallet-loyalty-card-coffee-shop/https://tany.ca/blog/apple-wallet-loyalty-card-coffee-shop/How Apple Wallet and Google Wallet loyalty passes work for cafés, what they cost, and where a branded app beats a digital stamp card. An operator's breakdown.Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTapple walletgoogle walletloyalty programdigital loyalty cardcafe loyaltycustomer retentionSquare POShttps://tany.ca/blog/run-cafe-promotions-without-losing-margin/https://tany.ca/blog/run-cafe-promotions-without-losing-margin/Discounts and BOGO offers can quietly cost a café money. Here's the break-even math, the offers that work, and how to run promotions that actually add profit.Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTcafe promotionsdiscountsmenu pricingmarginrestaurant marketingSquare POShttps://tany.ca/blog/square-sales-reports-analytics-cafe/https://tany.ca/blog/square-sales-reports-analytics-cafe/A café owner's guide to Square Dashboard reports: which metrics matter, how to read sales by hour and item, and the decisions each report should drive.Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTSquare reportsSquare dashboardcafe analyticssales reportsSquare POSrestaurant operationshttps://tany.ca/blog/mobile-order-tipping-square-cafe/https://tany.ca/blog/mobile-order-tipping-square-cafe/How to collect tips on Square online and mobile orders, why pickup tips run lower than dine-in, and how preset prompts and saved-card checkout lift tip rates.Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTtippingSquare POSmobile orderingonline orderingcafe operationsaverage order valuehttps://tany.ca/blog/publish-restaurant-app-app-store-google-play/https://tany.ca/blog/publish-restaurant-app-app-store-google-play/What it takes to get a café or restaurant app onto the Apple App Store and Google Play: developer accounts, fees, review times, and how to skip the hard parts.Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTapp storegoogle playmobile appASOrestaurant technologywhite label apphttps://tany.ca/blog/square-vs-shopify-cafe-online-ordering/https://tany.ca/blog/square-vs-shopify-cafe-online-ordering/A fair comparison of Square and Shopify for a café taking pickup and online orders: pricing, restaurant fit, processing rates, and which one actually fits food.Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTSquare POSShopifyonline orderingcomparisoncafe operationspoint of salehttps://tany.ca/blog/manage-online-orders-square-kitchen/https://tany.ca/blog/manage-online-orders-square-kitchen/How online orders flow into Square and how to run them without chaos: kitchen displays, prep times, order-ready alerts, and busy-mode throttling for cafés.Mon, 22 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTonline orderingkitchen display systemSquare for Restaurantscafe operationsorder managementSquare POShttps://tany.ca/blog/pwa-vs-native-app-restaurant-ordering/https://tany.ca/blog/pwa-vs-native-app-restaurant-ordering/PWA or native app for your café's mobile ordering? A clear comparison of cost, app-store approval, home-screen presence, and push notification reliability.Mon, 22 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTPWAnative appmobile orderingpush notificationscafe technologySquare POShttps://tany.ca/blog/square-hardware-cafe-reader-stand-terminal-register/https://tany.ca/blog/square-hardware-cafe-reader-stand-terminal-register/A café owner's guide to Square hardware — Reader, Stand, Terminal, Kiosk, and Register — with 2026 US prices and which to buy for your counter and volume.Mon, 22 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTSquare hardwareSquare RegisterSquare Terminalcafe operationsSquare POSpoint of salehttps://tany.ca/blog/credit-card-surcharge-restaurant-canada-us/https://tany.ca/blog/credit-card-surcharge-restaurant-canada-us/A plain-English guide to credit card surcharging for cafés and restaurants in Canada and the US: the 2.4% cap, Quebec, debit rules, and whether it's worth it.Sun, 21 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTcredit card surchargeprocessing feesSquare feesCanadarestaurant paymentscafe operationshttps://tany.ca/blog/how-long-to-launch-restaurant-app/https://tany.ca/blog/how-long-to-launch-restaurant-app/From custom builds to white-label apps on Square, here's a realistic timeline to launch a café or restaurant app—plus the app store review steps that slow you down.Sun, 21 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTrestaurant appbranded appapp store reviewmobile orderingSquare POScafe operationshttps://tany.ca/blog/square-online-ordering-setup-pickup-guide/https://tany.ca/blog/square-online-ordering-setup-pickup-guide/Turn on Square Online ordering for pickup at your café in an afternoon. A practical, screen-by-screen setup guide with real fees, prep times, and pickup rules.Sun, 21 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTSquare Onlineonline orderingorder aheadpickupSquare POScafe operationshttps://tany.ca/blog/email-text-cafe-customers-canada-casl/https://tany.ca/blog/email-text-cafe-customers-canada-casl/A plain-English CASL guide for Canadian cafés: when you can email or text customers, consent rules, the 2-year window, and why push notifications differ.Sat, 20 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTCASLemail marketingSMS marketingpush notificationsCanadacafe operationshttps://tany.ca/blog/reduce-coffee-shop-morning-rush-wait-times/https://tany.ca/blog/reduce-coffee-shop-morning-rush-wait-times/Practical ways to shorten the morning rush at a café: order-ahead, pickup time slots, station layout, and a worked throughput example for Square coffee shops.Sat, 20 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTmorning rushorder aheadcafe operationsspeed of serviceSquare POScoffee shophttps://tany.ca/blog/square-vs-lightspeed-cafe-coffee-shop/https://tany.ca/blog/square-vs-lightspeed-cafe-coffee-shop/An honest 2026 comparison of Square and Lightspeed for cafés: real CAD pricing, processing rates, online ordering, loyalty, and which fits a coffee shop.Sat, 20 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTSquare POSLightspeedPOS comparisoncafe operationscoffee shoprestaurant technologyhttps://tany.ca/blog/drive-cafe-orders-from-instagram/https://tany.ca/blog/drive-cafe-orders-from-instagram/Turn café followers into paying orders: the link-in-bio, content mix, Stories tactics, and tracking that move Instagram fans to your own order page.Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTInstagram marketingsocial mediacafe marketingonline orderingorder aheaddirect orderinghttps://tany.ca/blog/get-more-google-reviews-cafe/https://tany.ca/blog/get-more-google-reviews-cafe/A white-hat playbook for cafés to earn more Google reviews — why they drive local search, exactly when to ask, and how to make the ask automatic.Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTGoogle reviewslocal SEOGoogle Business Profilecafe marketingcustomer retentionreputationhttps://tany.ca/blog/square-kiosk-vs-mobile-ordering-cafe/https://tany.ca/blog/square-kiosk-vs-mobile-ordering-cafe/A clear cost and use-case comparison of Square Kiosk self-ordering vs a branded mobile order-ahead app for cafés — what each costs and when to use which.Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTSquare Kioskself-order kioskmobile orderingorder aheadSquare POScafe operationshttps://tany.ca/blog/multi-location-mobile-ordering-square/https://tany.ca/blog/multi-location-mobile-ordering-square/Running two or more café locations on Square? Here's how to set up mobile order-ahead across all of them, keep menus and pricing in sync, and what it costs per site.Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTsquaremulti-locationmobile orderingcafe operationsorder aheadchain operationshttps://tany.ca/blog/reduce-no-shows-pickup-orders-cafe/https://tany.ca/blog/reduce-no-shows-pickup-orders-cafe/Cold lattes and uncollected bags cost cafés real money. Here's how to cut no-shows and abandoned order-ahead pickups with timing, prepay, and push reminders.Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTcafe operationsorder aheadpickup ordersno-showspush notificationsmobile orderinghttps://tany.ca/blog/restaurant-app-roi-calculator-cafe/https://tany.ca/blog/restaurant-app-roi-calculator-cafe/A café owner's worked example for figuring out whether a branded ordering app pays for itself, using real industry numbers and a simple break-even formula.Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTrestaurant appROIbranded appcafe operationsmobile orderingcustomer retentionhttps://tany.ca/blog/accept-pre-orders-catering-square-cafe/https://tany.ca/blog/accept-pre-orders-catering-square-cafe/A step-by-step guide to taking scheduled pre-orders, holiday specials, and catering orders on Square Online — fulfillment timing, prep windows, and pickup setup.Wed, 17 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTSquare Onlinepre-orderscateringorder schedulingcafe operationsmobile orderinghttps://tany.ca/blog/coffee-shop-loyalty-program-cost/https://tany.ca/blog/coffee-shop-loyalty-program-cost/A clear cost breakdown of café loyalty programs — punch cards, Square Loyalty's monthly fee, third-party apps, and branded-app loyalty — with the math that matters.Wed, 17 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTloyalty programcoffee shopSquare Loyaltycustomer retentioncafe operationsrewards programhttps://tany.ca/blog/increase-average-order-value-coffee-shop/https://tany.ca/blog/increase-average-order-value-coffee-shop/Proven ways to lift your café's average order value — menu anchoring, upsell timing, bundles, and mobile-ordering nudges — with the math behind each tactic.Wed, 17 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTaverage order valuecoffee shopupsellingmenu strategymobile orderingcafe operationshttps://tany.ca/blog/email-vs-sms-vs-push-cafe-marketing/https://tany.ca/blog/email-vs-sms-vs-push-cafe-marketing/A café owner's honest comparison of email, SMS, and push — what each costs, who opens it, and which channel to use to bring regulars back without overspending.Tue, 16 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTemail marketingSMS marketingpush notificationscustomer retentionSquare Marketingcafe operationshttps://tany.ca/blog/switch-from-clover-to-square-migration/https://tany.ca/blog/switch-from-clover-to-square-migration/A café owner's plan to move from Clover to Square — what transfers, what doesn't, the CSV import method, and how to keep your menu and customers intact.Tue, 16 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTCloverSquare POSPOS migrationmenu importcafe operationsswitching POShttps://tany.ca/blog/tap-to-pay-on-iphone-square-cafe/https://tany.ca/blog/tap-to-pay-on-iphone-square-cafe/How to accept contactless cards and Apple Pay on your iPhone with Square — the device requirements, Canadian and US fees, tap limits, and when it falls short.Tue, 16 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTTap to PayiPhoneSquare POScontactless paymentsApple Paycafe operationshttps://tany.ca/blog/clover-vs-square-for-cafe-coffee-shop/https://tany.ca/blog/clover-vs-square-for-cafe-coffee-shop/Clover and Square both run a café, but they price very differently. A side-by-side of hardware, monthly fees, processing, and contracts for 2026.Mon, 15 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTClover POSSquare POSPOS comparisoncafe operationspayment processingrestaurant technologyhttps://tany.ca/blog/customer-lifetime-value-coffee-shop/https://tany.ca/blog/customer-lifetime-value-coffee-shop/Customer lifetime value tells you what a regular is really worth — and why retention beats discounts. How to calculate CLV for a café, with a worked example.Mon, 15 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTcustomer lifetime valueloyaltycustomer retentioncafe operationscafe marketingregularshttps://tany.ca/blog/skipthedishes-fees-restaurants-canada/https://tany.ca/blog/skipthedishes-fees-restaurants-canada/SkipTheDishes commission runs roughly 20–30% per order in Canada. Here's how the fees break down, what they really cost a café, and the commission-free alternatives.Mon, 15 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTSkipTheDishesdelivery commissionsCanada restaurantscommission-free orderingonline orderingcafe operationshttps://tany.ca/blog/coffee-subscription-membership-square/https://tany.ca/blog/coffee-subscription-membership-square/A step-by-step guide to launching a coffee subscription or café membership on Square — pricing models, processing fees, worked margins, and how to drive sign-ups.Sun, 14 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTcoffee subscriptioncafe membershipSquare Subscriptionsrecurring revenuecafe operationscustomer retentionhttps://tany.ca/blog/get-customers-to-download-restaurant-app/https://tany.ca/blog/get-customers-to-download-restaurant-app/A practical playbook for driving café and restaurant app downloads — QR codes, receipts, staff scripts, a launch offer, and the in-store habits that actually work.Sun, 14 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTrestaurant appmobile orderingcustomer retentioncafe marketingapp downloadsloyaltyhttps://tany.ca/blog/toast-vs-square-for-cafe-restaurant/https://tany.ca/blog/toast-vs-square-for-cafe-restaurant/An honest, fee-by-fee comparison of Toast and Square for an independent café — hardware, monthly software, processing rates, contracts, and what fits a small shop.Sun, 14 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTToast vs SquareSquare POSrestaurant POScafe operationspayment processingrestaurant technologyhttps://tany.ca/blog/qr-code-ordering-cafe-restaurant/https://tany.ca/blog/qr-code-ordering-cafe-restaurant/How QR code ordering works on Square, what it really costs, where it helps a café, and where a branded order-ahead app does more. A 2026 operator's guide.Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTQR code orderingSquare Onlinemobile orderingcafe operationsself-serve orderingorder aheadhttps://tany.ca/blog/square-fees-for-restaurants-explained/https://tany.ca/blog/square-fees-for-restaurants-explained/Exactly what Square costs a café or restaurant in 2026: in-person, online, and keyed-in rates, software plan fees, and a worked monthly example in CAD.Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTSquare POSSquare feespayment processingrestaurant costscafe operationspricinghttps://tany.ca/blog/square-for-restaurants-vs-square-pos-cafe/https://tany.ca/blog/square-for-restaurants-vs-square-pos-cafe/A café owner's guide to choosing between Square Point of Sale and Square for Restaurants in 2026 — what's different, what it costs, and when to switch.Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTSquare POSSquare for Restaurantspoint of salecafe operationsrestaurant technologySquare setuphttps://tany.ca/blog/add-online-ordering-link-google-business-profile/https://tany.ca/blog/add-online-ordering-link-google-business-profile/Google retired its built-in food ordering in 2024. Here's how a café on Square adds its own commission-free 'Order online' link to its Google Business Profile.Wed, 10 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTGoogle Business Profilelocal SEOonline orderingSquare POScafe operationsdirect orderinghttps://tany.ca/blog/app-store-optimization-restaurant-cafe-app/https://tany.ca/blog/app-store-optimization-restaurant-cafe-app/A practical ASO guide for independent cafés: how to name, describe, and list your branded ordering app so regulars actually find and download it on iOS and Android.Wed, 10 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTapp store optimizationASObranded appmobile orderingcafe operationsrestaurant technologyhttps://tany.ca/blog/square-online-vs-branded-app-cafe/https://tany.ca/blog/square-online-vs-branded-app-cafe/An honest comparison of Square Online's free ordering site versus a branded iOS/Android app for a café — cost, loyalty, push, and who owns the customer.Wed, 10 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTSquare Onlinebranded appmobile orderingloyaltycafe operationsSquare POShttps://tany.ca/blog/apple-pay-google-pay-cafe-mobile-ordering/https://tany.ca/blog/apple-pay-google-pay-cafe-mobile-ordering/How to offer Apple Pay and Google Pay for your café's online and app ordering on Square — setup, real costs, and why one-tap checkout lifts conversion.Tue, 09 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTApple PayGoogle PaySquare POSmobile orderingdigital walletscafe operationscheckout conversionhttps://tany.ca/blog/push-notifications-cafe-customer-retention/https://tany.ca/blog/push-notifications-cafe-customer-retention/How café push notifications work, realistic open rates vs. email and SMS, what to send without annoying people, and why they need a branded app on Square.Tue, 09 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTpush notificationscustomer retentionmobile appSquare POScafe marketingloyaltyhttps://tany.ca/blog/sell-egift-cards-cafe-square/https://tany.ca/blog/sell-egift-cards-cafe-square/A café owner's guide to selling Square eGift cards: setup, the real load and processing fees, breakage, and how digital gift cards drive repeat visits.Tue, 09 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTeGift cardsgift cardsSquare POScafe operationscustomer retentionprepaid revenuehttps://tany.ca/blog/custom-restaurant-app-cost/https://tany.ca/blog/custom-restaurant-app-cost/An honest 2026 cost breakdown of building a restaurant app — agency, freelancer, white-label SaaS, and POS-included — with real dollar ranges and a year-one TCO.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTrestaurant app costmobile app developmentwhite-label appsapp builderSquare POSrestaurant technologyhttps://tany.ca/blog/square-loyalty-cafes-regulars/https://tany.ca/blog/square-loyalty-cafes-regulars/How to set up a Square Loyalty program that drives repeat café visits — what it actually costs, an earn/redeem structure that works, and the retention math.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTSquare Loyaltycustomer retentioncafe operationsloyalty programSquare POSpush notificationshttps://tany.ca/blog/square-mobile-order-ahead-coffee-shop/https://tany.ca/blog/square-mobile-order-ahead-coffee-shop/Turn the morning rush into throughput. A café owner's step-by-step guide to mobile order-ahead and pickup on Square, with real prep-time and fee math.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTmobile orderingorder aheadSquare POSSquare Onlinecoffee shopcafe operationshttps://tany.ca/blog/doordash-uber-eats-fees-restaurants/https://tany.ca/blog/doordash-uber-eats-fees-restaurants/The real 2026 breakdown of what DoorDash and Uber Eats charge restaurants: commission tiers, pickup rates, hidden fees, and the true take-rate, with the math.Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTdoordashuber-eatsdelivery-commissionrestaurant-marginssquaredirect-orderingfood-delivery-feeshttps://tany.ca/blog/marketplace-vs-direct-ordering-customer-data/https://tany.ca/blog/marketplace-vs-direct-ordering-customer-data/Does DoorDash give restaurants customer data? Here's exactly what marketplaces share, what they keep, and who really owns the customer in direct ordering.Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTcustomer datadelivery appsDoorDashUber Eatsdirect orderingrestaurant marketingfirst-party dataloyaltyhttps://tany.ca/blog/take-online-orders-without-commission/https://tany.ca/blog/take-online-orders-without-commission/Stop losing 15-30% per order to delivery apps. A café owner's step-by-step guide to commission-free online ordering on Square, with real CAD savings math.Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTcommission-free orderingonline orderingSquare POSdirect orderingdelivery commissionscafe operationsrestaurant technology