Looking for a Square Alternative? Why Hemp and CBD Retailers Should Start Preparing Now
For years, Square was a popular POS and payment solution for hemp and CBD retailers because it was familiar and easy to set up. But Square has now announced that affected accounts will be closed, giving retailers a limited window to find a new provider and prepare for the transition.
According to Nothing But Canna, Square has reportedly notified affected businesses that their accounts will close on November 5, 2026, although we’ve also heard reports of some retailers receiving earlier closure dates in October. Retailers using the platform should start preparing now to transition their technology, preserve important business data, and evaluate their options.
At the same time, the regulatory landscape is shifting. The U.S. Senate recently advanced legislation that could delay federal hemp restrictions originally expected to take effect in November. Read the latest update from Marijuana Moment.
That may give the industry more breathing room.
But a regulatory delay does not necessarily change Square’s business decision or its November deadline.
For retailers affected by the change, the smartest move is to use that extra time to prepare rather than wait until the final few weeks and scramble to migrate years of business data and critical systems.
What to Look for in a Square Alternative
Switching providers is about more than replacing one piece of technology with another. For highly regulated businesses, your technology partner should understand the industry, support the way you operate, and make the transition as painless as possible.
Here are three things to consider.
1. Choose a Platform Built for Hemp and CBD Retail
Square and most generic payment platforms are built to serve many different types of businesses. Hemp and CBD retailers have more specific needs, from product tracking and age verification to compliance requirements, regulatory scrutiny, and constantly changing laws.
At Cova, we understand those challenges. Our platform is purpose-built for regulated retail, including hemp, CBD, and cannabis businesses. We design around the realities of your industry, helping simplify complex workflows, keep up with changing requirements, and make day-to-day operations easier to manage.
Learn More about Cova POS and Payments for CBD and Intoxicating Hemp Retailers.
2. Look Beyond the Headline Price
When comparing Square alternatives, don’t look at just one number. Consider the total value of the platform, including software, hardware, fees, integrations, support, and the cost of managing multiple systems.
Just as important, choose a partner that understands your industry and can adapt as regulations, compliance requirements, and timelines continue to change.
Cova is more than just POS and payments. You get highly competitive processing rates built into a powerful retail platform, plus the industry expertise, compliance know-how, and real human support to help your business adapt and keep running smoothly as regulations and market conditions change.
3. Make the Transition Stress-Free
Changing your POS and payment system takes planning, especially when years of business data are involved.
The earlier you start, the more time you have to organize your data, prepare your team, test new workflows, and resolve issues before they become last-minute emergencies.
Cova’s implementation and support teams help make the transition easier, from onboarding and data migration to training and ongoing support.
And when questions come up, you get real, in-house experts, not AI chatbots. Our highly rated support team consistently earns five-star reviews, with an average wait time of under 30 seconds.
Regulations Change. Cova Is Built for It.
Hemp regulations, deadlines, and requirements continue to evolve, and there’s still plenty of uncertainty about what comes next.
For Cova, navigating change is nothing new. We’ve spent years supporting highly regulated retailers through shifting rules, compliance requirements, and market changes.
Our team stays on top of regulatory developments so we can help retailers understand what’s changing, prepare for what’s next, and adapt with less disruption.
The rules may keep changing. Cova will be here to help you navigate them.