Client Guide · Buy Now, Pay Later
Capers Ventures · How-To
Setting up
buy now, pay later
"Buy now, pay later" lets a customer split a purchase into smaller payments — while you still get paid in full, up front. The pay-later company handles the installments and takes on the risk. Here's how to turn it on, and which brands work where.
The idea in one minute
You get your full amount today; the customer pays it off over time to the pay-later provider. It removes sticker shock and lifts your conversions — especially on higher-priced offers.
The catch is that each checkout system supports different pay-later brands. The two that matter:
| Checkout | Pay-later brands | Notes |
|---|
| Square | Afterpay | Built in. Just switch it on. |
| Stripe | Klarna, Zip, Afterpay, Affirm | A separate checkout you connect. More brands. |
Most important thing to know: if you're on Square, Afterpay is your buy-now-pay-later — it does the same "pay in 4" that customers are asking for. Square does not offer Klarna or Zip. Those two live on Stripe.
Turn on Afterpay in Square
On your computer (Square Dashboard)
~2 min
squareup.com/dashboard
- Sign in at squareup.com/dashboard.
- Go to Settings → Payments → Payment methods.
- Find Afterpay and toggle it ON (for online, and in-person if you take payments in person).
- That's it — Afterpay now shows automatically at checkout on your payment links, invoices, and online store.
What it costs: no monthly fee. Afterpay sales run at 6% + $0.30 per online transaction (a bit higher than a normal card swipe) — the trade for more customers saying yes and no chargeback risk to you.
On your phone (Square app)
~2 min
Square app
- Open the Square app → tap ≡ More → Settings.
- Tap Payments (or Checkout / Payment methods) → find Afterpay.
- Toggle it ON. Done — customers can now choose Afterpay at checkout.
If Afterpay is already on, you're set — no action needed.
If you specifically want Klarna or Zip
Klarna and Zip aren't available through Square — you'd add Stripe as a second checkout. Stripe supports Klarna, Zip, Afterpay, and Affirm.
- Create a free account at stripe.com and complete business verification.
- In the Stripe Dashboard, go to Settings → Payments → Payment methods and enable Klarna and Zip.
- Use a Stripe payment link (or connect Stripe to your site/checkout) so those options appear for customers.
Full walkthrough: Connect Stripe for Klarna & Zip →
Our honest take: Afterpay on Square already covers the "let me pay over time" need for most customers, with nothing new to manage. Only add Stripe if customers are asking for Klarna or Zip by name — then the extra brands are worth the second checkout.
Want us to set it up for you?
We'll confirm Afterpay is live on your Square, and — if you want Klarna and Zip — connect Stripe and build the links. Just reply to the message, or reach us below.