Starbucks Partners for Mobile Payments

Starbucks Coffee Company, with its mobile payment platform, and Square, announce a broad partnership that aims to bring the best possible payment experience to both sides of the Starbucks counter.

 

“As the largest retail mobile payment platform in the U.S., we’re excited and proud to accept payments with Square,” says Howard Schultz, Starbucks chairman, president and CEO. “The evolving social and digital media platforms and highly innovative and relevant payment capabilities are causing seismic changes in consumer behavior and creating equally disruptive opportunities for business. Both Starbucks and Square take a similar approach when building products and running our businesses, and together we can bring the best possible payment experience to Starbucks customers.”

 

The partnership terms include:

 

    --Customers will be able to use Pay with Square, Square’s payer application, from participating company operated U.S. Starbucks stores later this fall, and find nearby Starbucks locations within Square Directory;

    --Square will process Starbucks U.S. credit and debit card transactions, which will significantly expand Square’s scale and accelerate the benefits to businesses on the Square platform, especially small businesses, while reducing Starbucks payment processing costs;

    --Using Square Directory, Starbucks customers will be able to discover local Square businesses -- from specialty retailers to crafts businesses -- from within a variety of Starbucks digital platforms, including the Starbucks Digital Network and eventually the Starbucks mobile payment application;

    --Starbucks will invest $25 million in Square as part of the company’s Series D financing round;

    --Starbucks Chairman, President and CEO Howard Schultz will join Square’s Board of Directors.

 

By accepting Pay with Square, Starbucks is giving millions of customers another way to enjoy a quick and seamless payment experience at approximately 7,000 Starbucks stores. The partnership will also accelerate the ability of small businesses to grow with Square’s innovative technology and a stronger and more widely available Square network.

 

Beginning this fall, in addition to the existing iPhone and Android Starbucks mobile payment applications, Starbucks customers will be able to use Pay with Square to pay for their purchases at participating company operated Starbucks locations in the United States. Customers simply need to download the Pay with Square application and set up an account on their iPhone or Android device.